Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-19
COLLEGE CHORAL UNION
WINS GREAT APPLAUSE
Many Gather at Simpson Auditorium
to Hear Chorus Give the "EllJah,"
Under Direction of Prof.
Bacon
BY CHARLES BowEs

Pomona college added a big feather to
It's cap by bringing its chorus ot over
one hundred voices from Claremont last
evening and giving the Elijah" at Simp-
son auditorium.
The combination of a splendid chorus,
a capable orchestra, eminent sololsts'
with an earnest, live director, assured an
interesting evening, and the audience was
in nowise disappointed.
AS reviewed the Claremont produce
ton in this paper yesterday morning l
fear I must repeat myself muchly, as l
almost ran out of the encomiums IN that
article.
1 seriously doubt If Los Angeles has
ever heard better choral work.
The precision of attack was wonder
full. and while the male voices at times
lacked in power to balance the women
the ensemble work in its shading was
most enjoyable.
The sopranos were especially to be COM
mended, their bright, fresh voices SHOWN g
to admirable advantage in all the work
They took their many high AS without
strain, clear and true.
Herbert Witherspoon, who sang ELL
jah. was in good form again, and In
all the subtle changes of emotion, from
the most pleading tone to the most In
tense dramatic passage, showed his Won
derful art.
We read considerably of tone pictures,
but this artist made you live with MIN
through all the varied life as portrayed
in Mendelssohn's masterpiece.
His diction is little short of marvellous,
and while some of his upper tones some"
what lacked the beauty of his glorious
middle register one forgot that in the
personality of the man, enjoying his
work.
Mrs. Genevra Bishop was a
queen in her work! Her full, rich voice
never was better than in her Hear Ye,
Israel" and in the simple though try
ing part of the youth was beautifully
clear and pure.
The duet by Mrs. Bishop and M.
Witherspoon, ''What Have I to Do with
Thee?' the returning to life of the
Widows son through the prayers OF Eli
1ah, was most Interestingly rendered
with all the meaning of sorrow, then OF
joy.
Mrs. Robbins, the contralto of the even
ing. while not possessing a big voice,
uses excellent judgment in her inter-
pretations.
20 Rest in the Lord" displayed her
very sympathetic voice to good advan-
tage, and she received splendid recogni-
ton from the house.
Mr.. Miller was most satisfactory in his
work. He is a conservative and con-
to listen to him.
In 'If with All Your Hearts he
showed splendid control, rather startling
us by singing what is usually taken In
two phrases in one, well sustained.
And now for a word about Professor
Bacon.
While Claremont claims him now, as
the boys say 1--WE saw him first"
His conception of the tempt of Elijah
is most excellent and his solid grip on
both his orchestra and chorus was no
ticeable through the whole evening.
Los Angeles is willing to acknowledge
GOOD choral work, and the "bravos"
shouted by some of our best musicians
must have been sweet music to Professor
Bacon. whose earnest work showed true
study and great sympathy between di-
rector and chorus.
The orchestra with Arnold Krauss did
for the most part excellent work. The
soloists standing too far back kept many
of the players from seeing the director
many minutes at time and in conse-
ouence a slight raggedness occasionally.
I think the orchestra did the best work
of any that have played for oratorlo pro-
auctions in Los Angeles Our sincere
compliments to Professo Bacon.