Evening star., 1928-05-29
new CHORAL GROUP
MAKES DEBUT HERE
Society ArtisticaIly Presents
Gounod's Redemption" at
Washington Auditorium.

A new choral organization that pro-
nnises to fill the place in time that for
merly was held by the now inactive
Washington Choral Soeiety-the Ma
tional Capital Oratorio Association
| made its debut most auspiciously at the
Washington Auditorium last night.
! Albert w. Harmed, director, has been
engaged in musical activities here for
some time, but in the direction OF
Gounod's Redemption, the work
chosen for presentation last night. Mr..
Harmed showed his capacities more fully
than previously here. He not only has
energy and musicianship, but the ability
to get from a chorus such as he had
last night, Of $50 Washington voices.
results that are admirable both as to
dlction and tonal volume. With the
exception Of John Finley Williamson
visiting directors have not won as
satisfactory results with large groups Of
local singers.
Greeted by Large Audience.
A large audience, filling at least two
thirds OF the orchestra seats and fair
portion OF the balcony Of the huge
auditorium, showed much enthusiasm
over the event. In many Of the boxes
were representatives of social, diplo-
matte and civic groups as well as lead
ers in music circles.
The Gounod work has not been
given In Washington, so far as could be
learned, since the end Of the nineteenth
century. 1t is work with brilliant
movements and many passages that are
reminiscent to opera lovers of the COM
posers most famous opera, Faust"
There are moments that suggest the
tone poem In quality and others that
are decidedly operate 1t is far from
the patterns Of religious works such as
Bach and Handel made dominant ex-
ampies OF the art of oratorio. There Is
little counterpoint. practically none, un-
I'll the flnal chorus. The orchestra In
It's most effective purely instrumental
selection, THE Darkness" brought to
mind the rhythms and construction of
Debussy's La Mer." The solo passages
were largely written with long phrases
TO be sung on one note, rising or falling
from one-half TO whole tone. This
reeitatiVe effect might have been
in dramatic quality con-
siderably had the singers speeded their |
tempos up bit.
Fine Precision a Feature.
The chorus sang with fine precision
and usually good attack They seemed |
70 gain III commence ana sense OF the
underlying rhythms as the work pro-
crossed and we're at their best in I'm
fold, Ye Portals Everlasting" Lovely
Appear" and the final, The Word is
Flesh Become"
OF the soloists John Marville. basso.
walked away with first honors from
every point of view. Mr.. Marville has
} beautiful, full voice which he con-
,rols with artistic restraint: his diction
s easy and without localisnls in pro-
he put more of the dra-
natic feeling into his singing Of the
beautiful words that he. as one OF the
1arrators, had to sing. than any Of the
,thers In the event He also sang one
II the tenor recitatives in The Agcen-
ion" DR.. Dudley, baritone, showed
iignitY and appreciation Of the role
II Jesus, which he sang Eugene Dahl.
enor, sang very well as the other mar
ator, with voice quality that was
II crystalline clarity. Jessie Masters,
loted for her enunctatfon. sang the
ole OF Mary pIeasingiy. She Is listed
Is c0ntralt0. but the quality Of her
'otce as shown last night would seem
ather Of soprano range.
Florence Sfndell Wins Applause.
Florence SindeH, whose very high So
Irano voice was at its best last night,
ang her two short solos and her high
art in the choral work with splendid
fTArf NArs CSv4laf9 etsowxnd .~f~e fnwa 4n