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THE MESSIAH.The annual Christmas performance of “The Messiah,” under the auspices of the.Cincinnati Musical Festival Association, uhder the direc-ion of Theodore Thomas, last night, at Music Hail, was attended by an audience of nearly three thousand five hundred people, largely composed of the musical elite of the city, and that religious class whom the solemn character of the oratorio impresses most vividly. Many of the female members of the Chorus were dressed in white, all of them in holiday attire, and they offered on the large stage a pleasing contrast to the male members, who w'ere no less decorously dressed. The performance may altogether be denominated a pronounced success, and while the enthusiasm of the audience never rose to a high pitch, it was of that kind whirh denotes intelligent appreciation, and that deeper understanding which is manifested more by the solentnity of silence than the frivolity of applause.ki detail, a few words about the Chorus. There was a full attendance of the members, nearly six hundred being seated on the stage. It can not be denied that in several respects the Chorus work w as superior to that of any other performance of “The Messiah” given in this city before. There was observed a nice balance in the voices, together with good expression. In fact, it would hardly seem possible to accomplish so much in these .respects with so large a body of singers. There was precision of attack, and a very equal distribution of force apparent in tljse Chorus, which did not interfere with the proper control of the increase and decrease of the volume of sound. The score had been thoroughly mastered, and, in consequence, the most difficult phrasing was successfully executed. Even the Amen Fugue did not appear to present any serious difficulties, and a thorough understanding of the different parts of the score had pervaded the Chorus. A test chorus for singers was that most beautiful one of the oratorio, “For unto us a child is born,” where the most accurate expression was commanded with contrast of sound. The interpretation of the number was most dignified, and the suddenness with which the words, “Wonderful, Counselor,” lt;£c., burst upon the ear with a fortissimo of the voices was in exact keeping with the accepted reading of the passage. A crescendo could not be so effective as a sudden change from piano to fortissimo. But in this fortissimo, as the potent words recurred, there was observed an increase of force after the. manner of a climax, so that the effect was admirable. The material strength of the Chorus was successfully tested in the numbers, “Lift Up Your Heads” and the grand “Hallelujah.” There was fullness without redundancy, force without harshness. The toning down process had been successfully accomplished. To Mr. Arthur Mees solely are due the improved qualities of the Chorus, and to the individual efforts of its members. The sopranos were especially effective in the choruses, and to the credit of the tenors it must be said that they gave evidence of unusual strength. In fact, all the voices were well balanced,, and their work last night conclusively proved that the May Festival Chorus is iu better condition than ever before; has stronger, fresher material, and has attained a much higher degree of cultivation. So much for the keynote which sounds the success of our next May Festival.The orchestra of nearly sixty ipusicians, under the baton of Theodore Thomas, was a most fitting accompaniment of the work of the Chorus. The strings were strong, wdth an excellent command of contrast and expression. Mr. Dietz, in the trumpet obligato, proved himself a consummate artist on that instrument.
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Fri, Dec 28, 1883
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Cincinnati A.
OH, USA 18 Jan 2025
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