New Britain herald., 1916-05-15

| | accompanied.
 | The concert drew record attend | ance and we'll it might as the efforts l of the Upion were we'll nigh perfect. l While the Union is composed of mem l bers recruited from choirs of Gath l ollie churches the patronage was not l limited to cOmmunicants of this faith | but was inclusive of all sects and creeds
 Spontaneous applause, generous in the extreme, greeted the efforts of the principals and chorus. If the Cath, ollie Choral Union was never estab- lished before, it now occupies a niche in the hearts of even the most crit ical music lovers of New Brltain It was great victory and the members deserve all the credit that can be accorded them. Always at the com mand of Professor Harmon's baton, the chorus demonstrated finish and polish that could hardly be expected of any but professionally trained sing CTS. The enunciation was excellent The blending of the voices was in- comparable. There was not a hitch, not a break. Every singer knew his or her work and did it masterfully.
 Great interest was shown in the
 
 from New York. It is hardly neces- sary to dwell on the charms of Miss Stoddard. She had established her self and had endeared herself to New Britain's world of music on previous occasions. Sufficient it is to say that she lived up to expectations and scored another hit with her friends in this city. If possible, her voice is even more charming today than it was when she first came to New Britain.
 Miss Baker, contralto, is possessed of wonderfully melif1uous voice and her work was on a par with that of her associates. In bringing her here. Professor Harmon made no mistake and it is hoped that she will be en- gagged another year as her visit was all too short.
 MT. Chalmers was also a new conner but now he seems like an old friend. ! It was @ delight to hear him, a pleasure to listen to his golden bass that rolled so easily and so well-con- trolled from his lips His range of tone was not the least pleasing fea- ture of his work and his mellow, pow erful rendition will not soon be for gotten.
 And what shall be said of Mr. Fin negan? Comparisons are odicus But Tn justice to MT. Finnegan it must De said he made the distinct impress sion of the evening. This may be que to either of two causes. the in- stantaneous popularity of good ten Ors, or the Individuality of his voice. The writer prefers to accept the lat ter solution. Tn his solo in .'Stabat Mater" MT. Finnegan was triumph ant. He possessed pathos without bathOs, and his sweet sympathe1ic rendition was an ideal musical trans latiOn of one of the sweetest passa ees in church music Mir. Finnagan must be brought back to New Britain again at some future date. Through his stage presence, friendly yet dignifed. he established a bond of friendship with his audience that will bridge the chasm between now and the next | concert of the Union.
 Haydn's Spring. was part one of ! the program. The characters were "Simon, farmer" Mr Chalmers: Jane, his daughter" Miss Stoddard. and Lucas, a young countryman," Mr. Flnnegan. This colorful nastoraIe l was wonderfully rendered, the nlusic ] itself breathing the fragrance of that most charming and most welcome of | seasons. The work of the chorus :n | Spring. could not be improved upon
 and the membe are to be congratu- | lated on their sympathetic interpreta- | t1on of a work that is not any too l well known except to those who fol- 1 low music closely
 l It was the beautiful "Stabat MaterF' | that so impressed the audience, how ever. In this number the quartet was | supreme and had a much more labori- l ous role than in Spring" The senti- i ment, the heart-throbs of "Stabat Ma ter" are known to every man and woman who was brought up in the Catholic faith and the number is per- haps one of the most popular and best known of church compositions.