Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-07
CHORAL SOCIETY REVIVES
"DAMNATION OF FAUST"
Splendid Performance of Berlioz Ora
torio Not Properly Appreciated
in Patronage

The grace OF apprecIativo patronage COM
menHurats with the ambition and the
achievement was not accorded the revival
after number OF years absence from tho
local repertorium, OF Hector Bcrlolz's Tho
Damnation OF Faust" with which the
Choral Society opened its twentieth season
last evening In the Academy of Music
Particularly was the need OF filed seats
and the financial encouragement which
goes with them deserved last evening. FOR
the performance was splendid Tho soloists
were Julia Heinrich, soprano, late of the
Metropolitan Opera Company: Walter
Pontius. young and excellent Phlladel-
phia tenor; Henri Scott, baritone. whose
work with the Philadelphia Operate So
clety led him frst into the ranks or tho
Philadelphia-Chlcago Company and then
into the METROPOLITAN roster, and Henry
Hotz bRsso, who has sung with the Oper-
attic Society and with the country's leading
choral organizations. The chorus was in
creased considerably over that Of last year
and the presence OF number Of young
and fresh voices was noticeable, the addi-
tion strengthening and balancing better
some OF the chuirs
Berlolz called his work an operatlc leg
end, but II falls under the general cIass-
fcation Of oratorlO or cantatag In that II Is
opera without scenery or costumes
The writing for the chorus Is grandlose
except In couple OF passages, and this sf-
rect was augmented uS tue NOlune Ot the
body OF singers heard. The tonal quality was
good and the shading nicely graduated
while no exception could be taken to pre-
clsOn of attack and cessation and cleAFness
OF enunclation. Mr. Thunder had his forces
thoroughly In hand and also exercised an
understanding control over the orchestra so
that the performance took on added value
as study In the strnnge harmones, au-
preme understanding OF the brasses and
unusual instrumental devices OF master
polyphonist from whom even Richard wag-
ner did not disdain TO get points.
The Marguerite has comparatively little
TO do quantitatlvely, but her cooperation Is
very vital from the dramatic standpoint
Miss Heinrich lived up to the distinguished
prestige OF her father. Max Heinrich. who
was the Mephisto when the work was intro
duced to Philadelphia In 1883, She sang the
"King OF Thule air with fine simplicity and
feeling and brought tender and unaffected
sentiment to her share OF the duet with
Faust. Angel Adored," Mr.. Pontlus's tenor
Is notably mainly FOR sweet hut not sac
charlns quality and this seemed better
adapted 10 the sentimental side OF his score
than TO that calling for passionate deelama-
tion. He was excellent also In the psnslve
and meditatiye passages. Sardonic humor
and sinister intent dominated Mr.. seotts
Arch Fiend. There was comedy. but not
OF the rollichng kind IN his rendering or
the famous ballad
There was King once reigning
Who had big black flea.
Mr. Hotz's humor was of different sort,
a lusty comic spirit OF the people, In the
equally celebrated ballad OF the RAT I'm
the Cellar Nest" and his noble bass was
ever smooth and resonant In his eontrlbu.
tions 10 the success Of the production.
W. II. n.