New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-27
MUSICAL ECHOES
OF CHRISTMAS
The Oratorio Society's Annual
messiah" Function and the
Fairy Opera.
Ey ~. r.. kREHBifL.

The Oratorio Society performed HAN
ders Messiah" for the eighty-fourth
time in its history yesterday afternoon
and will perform It again tonight. rs
rule. the duty OF the daily reviewer OF
musical matters is finished when the fact
OF the performance IF the annual Christ
man function Is recorded. with some
times an added note touching the singing
of the principals When there Is more
it is usually something in the nature OF
protest challenged by an attempt on the
part OF conductor, or an editor. to put
effects into the music which the com
poser did not intend or want, which was
not sanctioned by tradition (which has us
merits despite the mouthings of would-oe
radicals) and which fell unpleasantly into
the ears OF the many who have long loved
and revered the work. This was the
case on memorable occasion long ago
when Dr. Leopold Damrosch. in a spirit
prompted by what he considered
pious duty toward the composers text
as he read ii, did violence to the
verities Of the Biblical story ana
emasculatcd the GLORY TO God chorus
Years afterward IL was again the case
when Dr. Damroscl's younger son ala
strange things 10 Handel's score OF the
plea that he was restoring il 10 its origl-
ma. n ffn
gave new cause for regretful complaint
b. completely destroying the effect OF the
great ciimaXcs in the chorus "For unto
us Child is born" At each recurrence OF
the propheticsl appellation Wonderful!
counsellor" etc, up TO which the music
OF the fuGue leads with so marvellous ali
illustration Of the dramatic force ana
beauty of contrast. just as the hddleS
should have burst into their scintiliant
EXPLOSIONS so characteristic OF Handel
iubilant proclamation. Mr.. koemmenich
suddenly slowed down the tempo 70
nearly. n not quite. one-half the pace ana
the sluggish flow, particularly OF the IN
str,imcntal parts. robbed the music OF
every vcstigc Of its majesty and pomp.
The proceeding was utterly without JUS
tifcatiou-a wanton innovation. and the
more deserving Of condemnation because
il destroyed an effect which has called
forth admiration ever since II vas heard
Neither the autograph, nor any OF Han
del's conducting scores, nor any edition
Of the oratorio OF which we have ever
heard has q hint of the change in tempo.
This record OF a Grevous fault disposed
of. il may be said in praise Of the per-
Torrance that Mr.. Koemmenicn has won
the willing obedience OF his choristers'
who sang with less perfunctoriness thah
they have at many previous perform
ances. that the orchestra or the sym
phony Society was efficient I'm its WORK
and the solo quartet. composed OF Nine.
Corinne Rider-Kelsey. Miss Christine Mil
Ier. Evan Williams and Frederick Martlii'
seasoned and capable.
There were changes. too. in the custom
ary Christmastide representation OF
"Hansel und Gretel" which took place
IN the Metropolitan opera House yes
terday afternoon. but none To cause
grievous reflections. On the contrary,
tncre was some new and handsome
scenery to ACCOMPANY the angelic stair
case which is but glorifcd Jacobs lad
der. and though the inimitable GoritZ
was not in the play he had decidedly
accountable substitute in Robert Leon
hardt who showed himself TO the Ne"
York public for the first time on this oc-
casion. Two Of the younger singers OF
tho company. Miss Braslau and Miss
.oulse Cox. sang the songs Of the Sand
man and DeWman. respectively. Pretty
and simple are the incidents winch these
songs illustrate. but the tasks which they
set. though pretty, are anything but sim
ME. and il was not surprising that the
novices showed much nervousness both
In song and action. There was also
now conductor. Mr.. MO-
i'm place Of Mr. Hertz. who mad
veightier duties awaiting him in the even
ING Mr. Morgenstern has conducted the
work before. however; it has his SYM
matthias as IL has those ~ the orchestra
playcrs. and so all went well. ana Bela
AIteu Marie Mattfeld. Nliss Robson and
Mr. Reiss filled the hearts OF hundreds
NJ children with a delight that frequently
broke out IN shouts OF jubilation. The
change OF the fairy operas day from
Christmas 10 the day after proved to be
an entirely successful experiment and
the great house was crowded.