Harrison Oratorio Concert: 5th: Judas Maccabaeus

“Mad. Parepa-Rosa makes ner first reappearance, after a serious indisposition, on this occasion. Her well-known abilities as an oratorio singer . . . will undoubtly contribute to augment the attendance, which is always large on oratorio nights.” 

“Steinway Hall—Oratorio of Judas Maccabaeus.—England has long enjoyed the reputation of being the legitimate home of oratorio, but under Harrison’s management New York bids fair to dispute the claim successfully. Last night, in spite of the horrible condition of the streets and the strong attractions of the Liederkranz ball at the Academy, the hall was crowded to excess. Not only was the main hall completely filled, hundreds were compelled to stand. The sublime work of Handel was performed from beginning to end by the solo artists, chorus and orchestra, not excepting the organ, with a spirit and precision even superior to previous performances. The magnificent choruses, those wondrous creations which none but a Titan in music could even conceive, were all given by the Harmonic Society with the finish, will and earnestness they demanded. There were two interesting features during the oratorio.  One was the reappearance amid immense applause of Madame Rosa, who gave the trying aria ‘From Mighty Kings’ with rare effect; and the other was the presentation of a gold medal to the able conductor, Mr. L. F. Ritter. It was presented in the name of the society by the president. Mr. Simpson, Miss Brainerd and Mr. J. R. Thomas were entirely satisfactory. In fine, there has not been a performance given at Steinway Hall, in concert or oratorio, so unreservedly satisfactory as ‘Judas Maccabaeus’ last night.”

“The wretched condition of the streets and the rival attractions of the Liederkranz ball did not prevent a crowded attendance at Steinway Hall last evening, on the occasion of the performance of ‘Judas Maccabeus.’ The performance was the best and most thorough of the series given this winter under the direction of Mr. Harrison. Madame Parepa-Rosa, to whom was assigned the leading part in the oratorio, was welcomed back to the concert room with a cordiality and even enthusiasm pleasant to witness. Her singing gave absolute proof of her complete recovery from her recent illness, and carried the audience fairly by storm. Miss Brainerd, although brought in close competition with Madame Rosa, sustained the mezzo-soprano part nobly, and won for herself new laurels. Mr. Simpson and Mr. Thomas sang with their usual ability.

The choral singing showed that faithful work had been done in rehearsals, and deserved high praise both for its accuracy and spirit. A pleasant episode of the evening was the presentation of a gold medal to the conductor, Mr. Ritter, by the Harmonic Society.”

“The fifth grand oratorio performance of the season, arranged by Mr. L. F. Harrison, took place last night. The occasion was celebrated by many pleasant things. It restored to the public Mme. Parepa-Rosa, who, as our readers know, has been disabled by sickness.  It gave us also the best oratorio performance ever heard in America; and it was an opportunity for the harmonic Society to pay a merited compliment to their efficient conductor, Mr. L. F. Ritter. Mme. Parepa-Rosa seemed to be a little nervous when she came on the stage, and was evidently rendered more so by the tremendous reception which she received. The house received her with an acclaim which was overwhelming, and, it may be added, the ‘house’ was the largest ever brought together in Steinway Hall—absorbing not only the temple space of the large hall, but of the little one which leads to Fourteenth-street. Of Mme. Parepa-Rosa's singing we have nothing to say. It was simply perfect. After a long sickness it is most embarrassing to begin in a piece so intricate and wearisome as the opening recitative of the second part, but Mme. Rosa went through its modulations without the defection of a tone; and in the aria electrified the audience by the vigor, intensity and endurance which she alone possesses. Referring to our second clause; The oratorio was the best performance we ever had in America. Miss Brainerd, an admirable singer at all times in this sort of music, was in splendid voice, and sang with exquisite feeling; Mr. George Simpson and Mr. J. R. Thomas were alike excellent. The chorus and orchestra, under Mr. F. L. Ritter's direction, were thoroughly good. And now the third clause: Between the parts a gentleman came forward and in the name of the Harmonic Society presented Mr. Ritter with a medal as a token of their respect for him, and an acknowledgment of his services in the cause of music. It was agreeable to the members of the Society, and it is pleasant to know that it was accepted as a just tribute to industry and merit by the public.”

“The enterprise of Mr. Harrison, in presenting us once or twice a year the principal standard oratorios, performed with all the care and effect which the musical resources of New-York permit, is meeting, we are happy to observe, the substantial reward it deserves. The excellence of the performance and the numbers and enthusiasm of the audience steadily increase, and the entertainment last night was in some respects the most successful of the season. A manager who appreciates so thoroughly what is really admirable in music, and who labors so faithfully to present it, deserves the thanks of the community. Time was, and not very long ago, when the great works of Handel and Haydn, brought out at rare intervals by the New-York Harmonic Society, only entailed loss upon the enthusiastic association of amateurs who sang them, and the frequency of their repetition had to be measured by the length of the Society’s purse. It is a gratifying evidence of improvement in public taste, and a fair recompense of courage and sagacity, that they are now a source of revenue to the Society. Including the two performances of ‘Daniel’ by the Mendelssohn Union, there have now been seven oratorio nights this season at Steinway Hall, and there will be one more. ‘Judas Maccabaeus’ ranks as one of the best of Handel’s works, reaching the same pitch of sublimity which the great master attained in the ‘Messiah’ and in ‘Samson,’ and exhibiting the fullness of his power of dramatic expression and richness of invention. It is less captivating to the popular ear than the ‘Messiah,’ because it is more declamatory. It equals that sublime composition in its intensity; but it is the intensity of power, while that of the ‘Messiah’ is the intensity of pathos. For this very reason the performance last night, so far as the principal singer, Madame Parepa-Rosa, was concerned, was even better than the admirable representation on Christmas evening, as power and not pathos is her chief excellence. There is proably no artist in the world who could give the soprano music of ‘Judas’ so well as this lady. In that brilliant aria, ‘So shall the lute and harp awake,’ she was perfectly glorious. Such a supberb interpretation of the exalted song it is a delight even to remember, and such a strong encore as it received has rarely been heard in a New-York concert room. Equally admirable, but in a different way, was her soft and beautiful air, ‘Wise men, flattering, may deceive you,’ in which she manifested musical depth of feeling and the delicacy of execution in which she has no rival. Miss Brainerd took the mezzo-soprano part, sustaining the whole first portion of the oratorio, and in the second placing herself directly in contrast with this great singer. Of course it was subjecting the quality of her voice to a severe test, and few artists would have consented to submit to it. We were therefore all the more pleased to notice that her courage and devotion to art were duly rewarded. She has great merits of her own, and they were by no means overshadowed by those of her companion. Her voice is pure and sweet, she uses it artistically, and she enters thoroughly into the conception of the composer, discovering and interpreting the pathos which underlies his formalities, and infusing into his stately periods a meaning which nine persons out of ten altogether miss. Take, for instance, the labored, air ‘Father of Heaven;’ as usually rendered it is mere difficult declamation, but in Miss Brainerd’s mouth it is beautiful. We must praise also her very sweet singing of the air, ‘O Liberty, thou choicest treasure’ in which Mr. Connelly’s organ playing deserves commendation for taste and correctness, and her duets with Madame Parepa-Rosa, especially the last one, ‘O lovely peace.’ The male voices have less opportunity than the female in this oratorio. Mr. Simpson, however, was generally good, except in his first recitative, ‘Tis well, my friends,’ where his voice was a little flat.  Mr. Thomas sang ‘Arm, arm, ye brave,’ with considerable effect, but in other parts he was tame. In fact, Mr. Thomas and Handel were not made for each other. The choruses were, upon the whole, excellent. They were at times a little shaky, as in ‘Call forth thy powers’ and ‘Disdainful of danger,’ but the spirit and correctness of their other numbers atoned for small faults, and ‘See the conquering hero comes’ was really magnificent. It was, of course repeated.

In the course of the evening the Harmonic Society, through their President, presented Mr. Ritter, the conductor, with a gold medal as a mark of their appreciation of his admirable qualities as a musician and a man.”

“Artistic Notes. The performance of the Oratorio Judas Maccabeus at Steinway Hall, on February 20th, by the Harmonic Society, aided by Mme. Rosa, Miss Marie Brainard, and others, is agreed to have been the finest on record in New York. F. L. Ritter conducted with great credit to himself and honor to the society.”