The Washington times., 1918-12-26
LARGEST CHORUS
TO SING MESSIAH
BY J. Mach.


Washington and its home musical
interests is the chief concern OF the
holiday season.
With Christmas carols a thing OF
yesterday, there is yet one more ceIe-
bration, through music, of the, holy
Christmastide, and that Is the giving
Of the sacred oratorio of "The Mes
siah" that will have its rendition. ac-
cording to tradition. in this city late
in January, by the oratorio Section OF
Washington under the direction OF
Sydney Lloyd Wrightson.
To show how this custom is estab-
lished and revered in our country, a
notice of the ninety-third perform
ance of it in New York city will be OF
interest:
The interesting record of ninety
two performances of The Messiah at
Christmastide is the achievement OF
the Oratorio Society of New York.
These have been given under the con-
ductorship of Leopold Damrosch,
Walter Damrosch. Frank Damrosch.
and Louis Koemmenich. and now
again under Walter Damrosch. The
ninety-third performance will be
given on Friday evening, December
oN S0A LldAls Win OliNc
Kline. MarQ Jordan, Craig Campbell.
and Arthur Middleton as soloists. and
the New York Symphony Orchestra
assisting the chorus of 225."
The Oratorio Section of Washing
ton will this year give "The Messiah"
with a chorus of 425. Mr.. wrightson
has conducted this Christmas ora
torio for fifteen consecutive years IL
Washington, and this year will have
the largest chorus ever assembled
here. 1t is good to feel this interest
in the National Capital growing. Our
ambitions for music here are great,
and each achievement, such as this,
brings us nearer the goal when the
Capital Of the United States may offer
for its music a suitable environment,
such as the national opera houses of
other lands AFFORD.
Lieut." Albert Spalding has sent his
Christmas greetings to the Music De-
partment of the Washington Times
from Italy, where this foremost Of
American violinists is serving with
the American aviation forces.
Lieutenant Spalding has a unique
personal crest on his card OF greet
ing. 1t is a violin garlanded IN holly.
and above it is the U. S. Eagle with
wings outspread and holding in its
beak the violinist's monogram on
service shield.
In a recent letter, written from Rome
at the time OF the Austrian collapse,
he says:
Impossible to describe the days we
are living through. From the Quirinal
to the Vampidoglio one great mass of
people serenading and singing the
'Garibaldi Hymn 1 was walking down
the Corso yesterday evening with an
English officer just as the news OF
Trent and Trieste. at last redeemed.
came. An immense procession was ut
once formed. The English officer and
myself were hoisted on the shoulders
of a bard OF students. followed by
Carabinieri, and marched in triumph
to Piazza Venezia- There, at La
tours.-I was forced to make an i'n-
promptu stump speech, stating that
Trent and Trieste had stood for so
many years as the brightest symbols
of burning Italian patriotism. ard
that it was a glorious page in Ital-
ian history, this day. when tine last
walls OF Hapsburg misrule had crum-
bled and these two beautiful daugh.
ters of Italian ideals and Italian: cUl-
ture had come home at last. Two
years ago they hung Cesare Battista
but from the same tower where he
was martyrized the tricolQr flag, for
which he suffered the supreme sacri-
flee, is today flying Well. the peo-
pie went wild. with cries for Wilson
everywhere / could scarcely get away.
The joy OF the Italians knew no
bounds. Impossible to write more
one is too excited TO hold a pen"