The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-25
ORATORIO SOCIETY
CONCLUDES SEASON
Nolf-Fcrrari's "La Vita MI
ova' and Bach's "Mag-
nificat" Given.
PERFORMANCE Is UNEVEN

The final concert OF the or,.or,o
Socletys season o place last evening
IN carnegie Hall The programme rom.
pris"d two works, Rach's ''Magninca,,
and Wolf-Ferrari's La Vita Nouv,"
me former calls for a rte, ~ so,o
voices az well as chorus. orchestra and
organ. The solo singers were Nar,e
Sunde'us, soprano; Rose Bryant. con.
'ra'to Albert shaw. tenor. and c,ar.
ence Whitehill. bass. The soprano and
pass were heard also In the Wolf.
Ferrari composition. Louis Roam.
menich. conductor Of the soci.,y. Al.
rec'ed the concert. and the orchestra
was that of the Symphony Society.
No ommen 10 needed by the Bach
composition Ii Is not heard oft.p
enough. and when II Ia heard IL should
he given much better than IL was las,
evening. The chorus sang accertsb,y
ana In the last two numbers ex~cellent,y
nut no one OF the sololsts approached
the possibilities Of the music and all q,
them made numerous and afnictinr de-
partures from the pitch.
with the work OF the modern oom.
poser matters were vastN. better. II
Is not an Easy composition TO perform
well. but minor defects in its pre.enta.
ton are mt subject to the relentless.
exposition made by Bach's rigorous poly.
phonic method. II is a subject, for
thought and a cause for regret that
Wolf-Ferrar has not eaualled this pro-
duction Of his young manhood. When
ne wrote II he was an enthusiastic
youth of rs. with lovely ideals and a
beautiful faith. But doubtless the sad
necessity OF making music pay fell upon
him and his transition from the con-
temptation Of Dante's great Inspiration
TO the study II stage effects was not one
TO give Joy to lovers Of the best in
musical art.
La Vita Nuova' was introduced to
New York by the oratorio Society On
December I, 1907. Since the Nc have
made the Acquaintance of the c,mposer's
lie Dome Curiose." I'll segreto di
Susanna" II Giojolli della Madonna
and "L'Amore Medico.' These are all
good operate works. and stand among
the best additions to the italian theatre
cal repertory in recent years. but while
some OF them nave exquisite lyric
beauty. especially III Segreto di SUI
sanna," while the operas Of the buffi
type show exquisite finesse in the treat
ment Of humorous dialogue and orches-
trail de~,ineation. and while the painful
story OF the theft and the M%adonna's
jewels discloses great mastery OF stage
craft n the application II musical
structure TO its needs. no serious music
lover can help lsmentlng the fact that
there has been M second embodiment
of such lofty ideals. no repetition OF
such high and moving musical speech,
as are found in the early cantata.
Wolf-Ferrari was 81 years OF age
when this work was first given here
and THE IL then said Il; will be
evident to connoisseurs that the world
has received the gift OF a new talent,
endowed with originality of conception.
ooldness OF methods and Imagination.
and capable of embodying high poetic
thoughts" a rehearing OF the WORK
last evening did not ask for any recon-
siderat!on OF the estimate placed upon
II by these comments hut II did serve
to remind one thai the promise had not
been adequately fulflled. and manifestly
because OF the transfer OF the com
poser's activity to the theatre.
To complete the record OF last even
ing's performance ~ should be noted
that Charles Baker played the Important
piano part In the score and Frank Sea Y
the organ. The necessary body Of boys
voices was supplied by a chorus trained
by DR.. Nicholas Elsenheimer, choirmas-
ter OF 81. Ignatius's Church.