New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-12-12
MESSIAH CONCERT
Big MUSICAL Event
Choral Society'S Great Effort
With Boston Orchestra Sunday

NNsNsA ~NbNNA ~ NhSbtAu SuhNuI
The seasons largest musical un.
dertaking will take place at the Cap
itol thcatcr tomorrow afternoon un-
der the auspices OF the New Britain
Choral society, when Handles
choral masterpiece, THE Messiah"
will be sung and performed by
chorus Of 100 well-traincd voices,
four soloists from New York city,
the Boston Festival orchestra, and
all under the direction OF Edwin T.
Laub!n, formerly OF New Bri -
Indications point to a large au-
dionce but this morning there wcro
plenty Of choice seats yet on sale ut
CroWel's drug store, due to the APP
parent reluctance OF many New
Britain residents to purchase their
seats In advance. This reluctance,
however, should not continue until
the afternoon of the concert as there
is likely to be last minute rush.
The theater is expected to be fully
filled.
Promptly at $50.
The concert will start promptly at
$50 p. m. and those not seated at
that time will have to wait until the
end Of the first chorus. Tho score
calls for two solos before the first
chorus. so that the wait may be in
convenient. Jack Lindsay, manager
wants TO impress the public to please
be on time, as this Is no event at
which to be late. The reason for
the needed promptness is that the
orchestra will have to catch a late
afternoon train back to Boston and
the theater must be rearranged for
the evenings thcatricals.
The presentation of The Mes
siah" Is the civic undertaking and
it is to the credit OF citizens in back
OF the enterprise that once It was
decided to place the great classic
chiral work before the public that
the decision also followed to give it
tice. The great orchestra will be a
wonderful help in this respect; and
In the choice of soloists nothing has
been left undone to insure complete
satisfaction. Director Laubin has
heen drilling the large chorus In a
mastery fashion, and the final re-
hearsal, held at the Y. W. c. A. hall
last night, showed the remarkable
fluency Of the choral singers in mas
tering the intricate score.
Story OF Messiah
1.-THE Messiah" is the greatest Of
oratorios and was written by Handel
in "a days. Having turned to the
writing of oratorios after experience
ing incredible annoyances and diff
culties in the production of operas,
he wrote his saul" Israel In
Egypt" and a few others before
tackling the text Of The Messiah"
in 1741. In writing the work he
shut himself in a room, denied him
self to all visitors except his servant,
who brought him food, and wrote
with tevcrish haste until the work
was completed.
Although written in England
The Messiah" was first given in
Dublin, Ireland, on April l3, 1742.
The success was immediate, Its
singing in London took place on
March %, 1749, before a distinguish
ed audience. including the king of
England. When that part OF the
"Halleluiah" chorus, beginning with
For the Lord God omnipotcnt
frcigneth," was reached the vast au-
dience was so overcome with It's
! its beauty and magnifcence that all,
along with the king, arose to their
, feet and remained standing until the
chorus was finished. From this in
! Cident arose the custom of standing
when the "Halleluiah" chorus is
sung, both as q tribute to its music
and TO the theme.
The oratorio was performed fro
qucntly during Handcls lifetime,
The composer was horn in Germany
hut became a naturalized English
man. He wrote 5 oratorios after
The Messiah" none of which are
iany longer sung in their entirely,
IalthouEh solos from them arc fire.
Equcntly heard. In 1852 he under
went three unsuccessful operations
for cataract and was practically
blind the remainder Of his life. but
continued to play organ concertos
and to accompany his oratorios on
the organ until 1859, when he died.
His body lies buried in Westmin ster
Abbey
In addition to being one of the
worlds master composers, Handel
was conspicuous personality
throughout his entire lifetime. had
admirers and friends but also hitter
and powerful enemies, rolled in
riches and faced bankruptcy in turn,
and mixed much energetic produC-
ton OF opera and oratorios with his
york at composition. He sometimes
was theater owner. financier, pro
Queer, stage manager. director and
composer all in one. Few men over
had a more colorful existence than
Handel.
Aeolian Building Again