Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-03
SECOND ANNUAL
MESSIAH" CONCERT
Barnhart Chorus, With Assisting
Soloists, Give Classic Notable
Performance.

The second annual Christmas concert
featuring the Messiah music of Handel,
given bv the Ramhart chorus IN The Play
house Yesterday afternoon was an even
more emphatic success than that OF las
wear. The house was filled to capacity
when the curtain rose at 3D., disclosing
the chorus seated in the central part oi
the stage area, with appropriate scenic
background, the musicians being groupeo
in front 4 border of laurel leaves, broken
bv vases of decorative flowers, marked
the front line Of the stage, and q ieafy
curtain. consisting Of twlned rpes OF
laurel leaves, hung Just back OF the stage
curtain Through the openings the chorus
members were dimiy seen at hrst, growing
more distinguished IA the lights were
gradually raised, though draperles OF
light blue gave uniform effect to all.
The lcafv curtain was lifted out of sight
MS the full lights came on. and the leader
gave the signal for "Adcste Fidclcs and
other Chrstmas songs and carols, in
which the audience joined.
Other decorative effects were bras
candelabra fanking the stage groups
ON each side, and 'manger placed IN
the orchesta PIT and dimly lllumined,
These were utiliaRd midway IN the
program, when two men costumed as
shepherds lighted the seven candles IN
each standard, while three others repre-
sentlrg the Magi stood by, and n group
Of young women garbcd in white with
scarves of varied rich tones marched
slAwlv down the aisles and ranged them
selves along the front Of the stage the
Reader Miss + Ethel Wilson. repeating
the account Of the Nativity "a given by
81 Mark They then made quest
through the house, returning TO file be
fore the manger where the offerings were
deposited During the reading and the
offcrtorv the orchestra played softly the
Handel Largo with very harmonious
effect
Although the means employed for
producing the effects were Of the simplest
few yards Of draps, erielaurel leaves
gathered and arranged by members, and
\ scheme of darkcning and lighting tho
house and stage. the results were highly
picturesque and impressive emphasizing
the fcrvcnt aud rcvercnt qualities Of the
music
This music was rendered in way en-
tIrcly worthy of itself and Of the organ
cation, The chorus did its work both zeal
ou~ly and ,xceIlcntly, notably IN the
FIRST chorus and the Glory Of the Lord
aud he " orthl IS the Lamb. either on
them easy, but showing the effect Of the
neid training given in tho late rehearsals
The solostS Of Tie occasion All fell under
The spcll oi the occasion and of The leader,
aud gave fcuderngs of their parts that
nave never been rxcclIed in this city, il j,
Safcto say The classic"l kaow That Nv
Rrdccmcr I.iveth as sung by Mrs. Nil
Irei Graham was pervadc by the highest
quality OF musical taste. and with vel
I yctv closed tones that we're delight.
Al~ohighly satisfactory were the numbers
of the coutraIto Mildred Rryars; in
+ particular thc lic Shall Feed His Flock,
while benjamin Bcrr, displayed a very
pleasing voice anu ahJndant skill in the
tenor ~nics notably Thy Rcbukc-
.ht,h Is nol frequently heard outside O
I \ ,ull Performance
Tic orchestra gave adequate suppor
throughout and It's color added much Il
The pleasure of The Performance and back
II this III I'll Tunes vas Fred Watson n
the piano and over all the brio and veryt
of Harry Rarnhart lifting singers and in
~trumcntahstS with his magnetism anc
fcryor.
Th" concert was a nota bic event fo
c.ty and citizens