Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-15
CROWD ATTENDS
VENICE CONCERT
0RATORIO "ST. PAUL" IS SUNG
TO BIG AUDIENCE
CHORUS WORK A SUCCESS
Nine. Johnstone-5lshop, Miss Heartt,
Mr.. Leeman and Mr.. England
Are Heard In Solo
Parts

Part Of Mendelssohn's beautiful ora
torio est Paul" was sung last evening
before an audience of nearly 1000,
assembled in the big auditorium at
Venice.
A greater part of the audience occu-
pied the gallery, which was reserved
for the holders Of season tickets, and
for that reason the house had a top
heavy appearance. In the chairs on the
main floor sat numerous representative
musicians of Los Angeles and their
friends. In addition to the real music
lovers many of the usual Monday
nighters' who are regular attendants
at the theaters during the season were
in the audience.
Before the performance the pier pre-
sented a most attractive scene, for
promenaders in full dress watched the
eclipse of the moon while they waited
for the opening of the auditorium.
Success of the oratorio
From social point of view, the
oratorio was success; from musical
point of view, it offered many sur
prises. The chorus of 900 voices did
remarkable work, when it is considered
that it had been drilled for less than six
weeks. 1t was fairly well balanced and
it contained number of voices superior
in tone quality. After the opening
A. 10
nize the excellence of the interpreta-
tion of words and music. After the
singing of "Stone Him to Death" and
Happy and Blest Are They there was
prolonged applause.
The soloists were received with much
cordiality. Madame Johnstone-Bishop
was compelled to divide the honors with
Miss Estelle Catherine Heartt, Ernest
Reginald Leeman and Paul England.
Madame Johnstone-B Bishops voice was
not heard to the best advantage last
evening. In some Of the recitations 1t
was beautifully smooth and true, but it
lacked sweetness and it failed to con-
vey any of the traditional feeling.
Miss HEARTS Reception
Miss Heartt enjoyed special triumph
that must have been doubly pleasant,
coming as it did after somewhat cold
greeting. Before the oratorio began
Miss Heartt was heard in the three
Grieg songs-"Ich liebe dich," "Mor-
genthau" and "Jagerlied." These did
not produce a good impression, for they
brought out certain defects in tone
production. The recitative and arioso,
"But the Lord is Mindful of His own"
gave the young contralto the right op-
portunity. She sang this number artis-
tically, for the score kept her well
within the lower register of her splen-
did voice which gives promise of future
possibilities.
Mr.. Leeman, the tenor, won the au-
dience. He has voice of beautiful
quality and he sings with much intel
lligence. Mr.. England brought to his
part the artistic training which enabled
him to adhere strictly to the traditions
Of oratorio. His first solo, the aria
Consume Them ALP was received with
long continued applause. His phrasing
and enunciation added much to the
charm of fine voice we'll placed and
perfectly controlled.
R. Blomquist, first bass, and A. T.
Van Sickle, second bass, contributed
to what was a fairly satisfactory
presentation of the oratorio. Frank H.
Colby, the organlst, did brilliant service,
and to him both chorus and orchestra
owe much, for he covered the weak
places. Arend's Venice orchestra proved
equal to the demands upon 1T, after
more or less uncertainty in the over
ture.
The success of est, Paul promises
much for the September musical festi-
val In Venice.
49,. - Aua- HIIAnA AZ nnnllEIIAH