Evening star., 1909-05-12
EVENING WITH MENDElSSoHN
CHORAL SOCIETY CELEBRATES
ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH.
Selections From the Works of Great
German Composer Sung Under
Conductor Hammer.

Celebrating the one hundredth ami
versary of the year of the birth OF Men
delssohn, the Choral Society OF Wash
ington, assisted by quartet of soloists
and an orchestra of amateurs OF the
city. gave splendid concert of the works
of the German composer last evening IN
the d. A. r. Continental Hall, In 18th
street, before a large audience. The con-
cert was an artistic success from all
standpoints, and was the third and last
of the twenty-sixth season of the society.
Not a little of the success of the So
ciety, which numbers $50 mixed voices.
and Of the orchestra of amateurs. assisted
by several professional inStrumentaltStS,
was due to the new conductor of the
society, Heinrich Hammer. BY his force
full direction he had the chorus and the
instruments under complete control
throughout every number, and his inter
pretation of the musical work was most
artistic.
This was especially true and notice
able in the opening number of the pro-
gram. Mendelssohn's ''Ruy Bias Over
chestra. Excellent shading, especially in
the pianissimo parts, made the rendition
very effective and beautiful One of the
mere repeated themes Of the number,
where the cellos have a delicate solo. to
which the other strings play soft STAG
cato accompaniment. was exceedingly
well done The orchestra deserves much
credit, especially for an organization COM
posed mainly of amateur musicians.
Selections From "Loreley."
Three selections from the opera "Lor-
eley,' one of the works which Mendels-
sohn left unfinished, were sung, and
we'll exhibited the efforts Of the chorus.
The numbers were the Ave Maria,' the
Vintage Song and the Finale" from
80 &f,@
chorus. as With the orchestra. the con-
ductor produced some of the most beau
tiful effects in the pianissimo passages.
In these numbers the chorus was aug
mented by hogh school chorus of boys
and girls. selected and trained by Miss
A!ys E. Bentley.
The second part Of the program for
the chorus was The Walpurgis Night
for solo voices and choral, beautiful
composition which Mendelssohn wrote
as a setting for the poem by Goethe.
Again the vocal work reflected credit
upon the members of the society and
upon the new conductor. Probably the
greater part Of the numbers of this COM
position, however, are given over to the
soloists. and those who sang in the
parts last evening. all of them products
of Washington, and all save one, resident
singers, gave artistic interpretations of
the music.
Sang the Solo Parts.
In the numbers from the "Loreley,"
Miss Edith Pickering, the soprano, who
has been known as a church choir singer
in the city and a concert soloist, sang
the solo parts with good dramatic effect
in clear voice. She sang the despair
blighted love with much expression. Max
ing the most of the short contralto part
In ''The Walpurgis Night" Mrs. Esther
J. Gumprecht, also of this city. and
1t
did herself credit in a voice showing rare
sympathetic quality.
John Humbird Duffey of New York.
formerly of Washington. who has already
an established reputation for baritone
voice of unusual beauty and range, and
who has sung in oratorio in many parts
OF the east, gave beautiful Interpretation
of the baritone and bass parts in the
music of the Goethe poem. His tones and
finished style of singing have improved
even since he was last heard here last
season. in the Redemption" The tenor
themes in the same number were excel
lently sung by Joseph F. Matthew, who
has rapidly. growing reputation as a
soloist. He is the tenor in the New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church and Of
the Musurgia Club.
officers Of the Society.
Besides Mr. Hammer, as director, and
Arthur d. Mayo. as accompanist, the
officers Of the Choral Society are: Ber-
nard r. Green, president: Edwin A. Fill,
vice president: David L. Selke, secretary;
George P. Tucker, treasurer: Henry ].
DAILY financial secretary; John W. Cham
bers, librarian; Joseph B. Wilson. chair
man chorus committee: Oscar G. Son.
neck, editor of bulletin and chairman
con- committee.
The board Of managers includes Miss
Alys Bentley. III. Campbell Black, Nor
man H. Camp. ]. w. Chambers. Henry ].
Green. DIR. Edwin A. Hill. A. II. Raynal.
David L. Selke, o. G. Sonneck, Jas. G.
Traylor. George P. Tucker and Joseph
B. Wilson.