New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-27
0RATOR|O AND SYMPHONY
Music by Venerable Societies.
Christmas Choral and Phil
harmonic Concert.

The book OF words distributed at a con-
cert OF the Oratorio Society in Carnegie
Hall Yesterday afternoon. mentioned the
fact that the performance Of Handles
Messiah" which was TO be given, was
the eighty-second in the history or the
society. The concert was the second OF
it's fortleth season, so that the oratorlo
has been performed by 1t on an average
Of more than twice year. As matter
Of fact the Ora.orlo Society took up the
lovely obligation of an annual Christmas
tide performance of The Messiah In
1874. before then il had been the custom
for a long time Indeed. there have been
few years since 1172 in which 1t mas not
been heard I'm New York. II Is tradition
which loses nothing with age. hester-
DAYS performance was listened TO as rev.
erent!v and enjOyed as thoroughly as any
Of its predecessors within the present
generation and almost as deserNedly.
The solo quartet composed OF Mrs 90
rhine Rider Kelsey Miss Christine Miller
Mr. Reed Miller and Nj Herbert With
erspoon. was I'm every respect capable
and II ought. perhaps, to be mentioned
that i'm It's performances there was
less evidence OF the periunctoriness
which usually mars the work thaP
in those of the chorus. although
here. too. Mr. Recommended, the new con-
ductor Of the society. succeeded IN orih6-
Ing out an unusual freshness. Nsor' pre-
cision and balance 81 tone. Tie draw
back 10 complete enjoyment lay in the
metrouomic ririllty which was MAN
tanned from beginning TO end OF the
choral work and in some departures from
tempo with which old lovers Of the woiK
found 1t difficult to become reconci'ed.
Questions Of tempo are frequently deoa-
table ground. but they cease 10 be such
when they enter the field OF deciamauoH'
and defamation ought To nave mu'h
consideration when some OF the finest NJ
terancos IN English. magnlicently ana
eloquenuy set 10 music. are the suDje'l
matter IL H. iutolerable to hear the o''
Mcssianlc prophecies reeleo of as u l''
medium of inspiration were ume-oeal-
INK machine set at a rapid pace. II was
much T., the credit OF the solo singers
Yesterday that nearly an Of the elasticity
of movement lu the work was compeIt'
by them. Nj. WltherspOou In particular
The Philharmonic concert IN the same
room I'm tie evening began with hne
performance OF q really fine piece OF ORA
matte music by Richard Strauss-the pref
ude to the foolish opera 'GuntTah'
After II came the inevitable Pathetic
symphony by Tschaikowsky so conIen-
tionalIy played that its third movement
appeared 10 he what IL probably ls-'he
most dctostable and vulgar piece OF mu''-
cal claptrap ever put into the frame OF
symphony After IT there was real noo'i-
itv in the r minor piauofortc concerto IA"
solo uart Of which was played IN a manly
and beautiful STYLE by Mr.. Ernest Schel-
ling. with q large singing tone ana me
sentiment The other numbers OF the pro
grar7ne were the tone poem From 30
hemia's Woods and Fields BY Smetana'
which All ~ Mr. Strausky's predecessors
have SHARED us. and LISTS orchestral
TRANSCRIPTION % q very familiar Hungar-
an march hy schubert H. r. u