New Britain herald., 1927-01-21
LUTHERAN CHURCH
 CONCERT TONIGHT
Handels Messiah" to Be Sung
 With String Orchestra

Handel's Messiah" sung by 100 voices and accompanied by string orchestra and piano. will be sung under the direction of Per Olsson at the First Lutheran church tonight.
 Soloists will be Mrs. Olsson. wife of the conductor and organist at the church; Mrs. Harry Christensen, Mildred Swanson, Charles J. Stuhl- man and John A. Lindsay.
 feature will be the singing of the customary alto solo, 70 Thou That Tellest the Tidings," by all the altos in unison, this being an eNper- tment.
 A Large Undertaking.
 The musical event is the largest undertaking by church music or ganization in this city in many years. The Messiah" was sung by the Choral society last year and is considered the greatest of oratorios. Its presentation under Prof. Per Olsson at the First Lutheran church Is regarded as indicating the impor- tance that music is destined to take at this church under the leadership of this musician.
 The orchestra will have Herbert E. Anderson. well known yioinist, as its concertmaster. Alongside of him will be George Westerman, young violinist of sterling value. The other players will be capable and efficient. The famous pastorale symphony, which introduces the second part of tho oratorio. will be played by the strings. Mrs. John Lindsay will be at the piano.
 Messiah" Always New.
 The Messiah" is rarely sung com plete; 1t would take too long. Only in tho time of Handel, when au- diences were willing to listen to mu- sic until after midnight, was this the case. It behooves every modern di- rector giving the work to decide up- on which parts to eliminate, so that those who have heard the Messiah" repeatedly can never be certain they have heard 1t all. Numbers in it which they have never heard sung before may be included in the pre- sentations. This, If anything, adds to the interests of the work.
 Tho presentation at the First Lutheran church tonight will in- cluds six choir numbers, which is good average for "Messiah" per formances. Mrs. Olsson. who just re- gently arrived in the city from Den yer, Colo, will sing two soprano soloA Miss Swenson will sing one alto solo, and Mir. Stuhlman one tenor solo. Mir. Lindsay will give the bass solos.
 Future Lutheran Music.
 Prof. Olsson has formed male chorus of 50 voices which will give concert in April.
 He has also formed children's choir of 50 voices which will give a concert on March 20. He confesses being very much pleased with the children's enthusiasm.
 Spring Festival.
 Another event planned is spring musical festival in May, to last three days. Mir. Olsson is actively con- cerned in stimulating the presenta- tion of fine music at the church, and this climax of a seasons efforts is expected to attract considerable at- tention.
 From the foregoing it is readily concluded that MT. Olsson is an ln- defatigable worker. Himself one Of the finest organists in New England, and conceded by many to be one or the foremost performers in the United States, having been invited to play upon many of the nations hnest instruments, he does not conhne himself altogether to organ presen- tations. His efforts include every thing compatible with the church performance of music. In the Rev. Dr. A. A. Ahlquist he has thorough musician at the head of the church who Is in complete accord and sym pathy with the efforts to put the finest of music before his people ana tho public generally. The two work together in an enthusiastic manner. Whom other work is not too pressing, MT. Olsson never loses the oppor- tunity to practice his favorite instru- ment three hours day, beginning carly in the morning, when the mind and spirit are clear for good performing.
 The next thing of importance, in- stfumentally speaking, will be the rebuilding of the organ. At present 1t is a nice sounding instrument but the touch is not responsive enough for fine performing. This work will be started in the spring.
 DELAWARE BOXING BILL