The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-05-24
n CLOSED WITH SUCCESS
The Mitchell May Mas,e Fesssvs
Faded With a Glorious Success
ia the Messiah"

an end Tuesday evening Waeli tina
grand oratorao, II he Messiah, va:
presented by the Choral Union o
University and down town singer
with the accompaniment being playec
by the Theodore Thomas Orchessrs
and Miss ..Fannie j. Mccormick, 0
this city, presiding at the piano
It was an immense audience which
was present during the evening. The
lower door was three-IourthS hllee
and the balcony containe1 nearly
as many. 1t was nearly a corr
palace crowd-aud that means a Very
large one. There was a notably
large attendance by people from
outside the city, and the surround
ing towns contributed very much
toward the grand ucces that came
to the enterprise.
The chorus was stationed Oh raised
seats Oh the real of the stage OF the
corn palace. the orchestra was placed
in trout OF them and the solo singers
occupied seats at the front OF the
stage.
II was Sis O'Clock when Director
Hubsou tool his position at the con-
ductor's stand and started the beautl-
ful overture to 1.-The Messiah. and
with that finished ard the audience
finally seated. the singing began.
Edward Johnson, the tenor solulst.
had the ..%distinction of singing the
first note of the great oratorio. when
he sang the tender message OF soiace,
ssCounfort Ye." and this was fol-
lowed by every Valley Shall be
Exilted.' This solo in the Messiah
is re. aided us a strong test for the
tenor, but Mr.. johnson met the re-
auirements in every detail, singing
the selection with a strength and
smoothness of voice that warmed
the hearts OF the people to him. The
difficult passages, OF which there
were many, we've handled with ease
and grace Of singing that was some
thing of a revelation. Throughout
the entire evening Mr.. johnson
maintained the high standard he set
in his first solo. His popularity was
fully attested at the afternoon con-
cert when he was recalled twice.
The singing of Mr.. Herbert With
erspoon, the bass %soloist, found a
very responsive chord in the hearts
of his hearers after his first solo.
"But Who May Abide,'' and the
applause that followed his magniti-
cent rendition OF 1.-The People That
Walked in Darkness attested his
popularity. The solo IS n that
takes much cultivation to render
faultlessly and his grand voice
responded to the demands Of the
occasion unfalteringly. There is a
wealth of music in MIR. Withelspoon's
voice, and his solo work in every
instance was of a character as to
stamp him as brilliant artist, which
was made particularly prominent IN
his rendition OF "Why do Nations. so
,Furiously Rage Together was a
grand effort 1t is a florid number
and his voice was heard to excellent
advantage in it.
Miss Janet Spencer's work of the
evening i.r.ceived the unstinted com
:pendation o! the audience. Her
first number was 80 Thou That
Telleth Good Tidings to Zion," which
vas one Of the fine contralto num-
bers, and with 1t she received the
stamp OF approval Of the audience.
Her singing OF the plain live and
mourntul selection "He Was Despised
and Rejected was a beautiful thing,
and touched the hearts of ALL. Not
the least pleasing was Miss Spencer's
singing Of "He Shall Feed His
Flock'' that has a beautiful lythm Of
song and a very pretty melody. Miss
Spencer is guted with a wonderful
voice aud her singing brought the
greatest pleasure.
Mrs. Corinne Rider-Kelsey, the
soprano, won the high admiration. of
the audience at the very start when
she sang That digniied and majestic
number, "Rejoice, o Daughter OF
Zion," which was led up to by
several recitatives. She sang it with
a happy spirit aud a precision that
marked her splendid success as an
oratorio singer. ST Know That Ny
Redeemer Ltveth'' was one OF Mrs.
Kelsey's most pleasing numbers,
which she sang with a reverence and
an approximation OF the depth of the
number. Her voice was rich in
musical quality and she threw hel
soul into her work so that 1t gave
added iMpresstveness to her singing.
aJhe chorus was composed of nearly
100 voices, and the singing of it was
aarand surprise to the people Of the
city. Every chorus was given with a