Schöpfung

Brief. “On Thursday evening Haydn’s oratorio ‘The Creation’ will be given with the chorus of the Mendelssohn Union, Madame Rosa singing the parts of Eve and Gabriel.”

“There can be no pleasanter announcement to those musically inclined than that of the return of Madame Parepa-Rosa. There is, and has been since the days of Jenny Lind, no concert singer in this country in hearing whom the public takes such solid satisfaction as in listening to this great artist. She has been long absent, detained by sickness, and will be doubly welcome now.

“The performances at present announced are a miscellaneous concert this evening, and Haydn’s oratorio of ‘The Creation’ to-morrow evening, both at Steinway Hall… [details first concert]. The choral parts of the oratorio are given to-morrow evening by the Mendelssohn Union, assisted by Theodore Thomas and his orchestra.”

“To-morrow evening Madame Rosa purposes reviving that languid but most commendable institution, the oratorio. It is not ‘The Seasons’ which she purposes presenting—as we erroneously said the other day—but ‘The Creation.’ So much the better.”

Brief. “This evening at Steinway’s, Parepa, Simpson, J. K. Thomas, the Mendelssohn Union and Theodore Thomas’s orchestra will give a performance of Haydn’s ‘Creation.’”

At conclusion of review for previous night’s Parepa-Rosa concert. “To-night, however, we are to have the opportunity of hearing Mme. Parepa to her best advantage, in oratorio. Those who go will find her voice unaffected by her late severe illness, and as pure and sweet and as powerful as when she left us. The work to be performed is Haydn’s ‘Creation.’ The choruses are to be given by the Mendelssohn Union, the accompaniments by Thomas’s orchestra.”

At conclusion of review of previous night’s Parepa-Rosa concert at Steinway Hall. “To-night the oratorio of the ‘Creation’ will be given by Madame Parepa-Rosa, Messrs. Simpson and Thomas, the Mendelssohn Union, and Thomas’ orchestra.”

“To-night Madame Parepa-Rosa is to bring out ‘The Creation’ at Steinway Hall, with the assistance of Messrs. Simpson and Thomas and the chorus of the Mendelssohn Union. Theodore Thomas is to be the conductor.”

“Haydn’s  oratorio last night attracted a much larger audience to Steinway Hall than did the miscellaneous concert of the preceding night. The receipts, as we are informed, were considerably over two thousand dollars.

“Parepa, Simpson and Thomas were the leading vocalists, and, with the chorus of the Mendelssohn Union gave a fairly satisfactory rendering of the work. The soprano music of this oratorio finds a skilful [sic] interpreter in Parepa, though her voice seemed scarcely as melodious last night as usual. In the ‘Verdure clad,’ however, she elicited considerable applause, and many of her recitations were finely delivered. Mr. Simpson sang as he always does, smoothly and quietly, making the best impression in the aria ‘In native worth,’ which he ended with a beautiful protracted and diminished note. Mr. Thomas sang well, and the choruses were carefully given, though hardly powerful enough to contend against the large orchestra. It might have been owing to the heat of the room, but certainly the entire performance, though highly creditable, seemed somewhat lacking in spirit and energy. We wish here to protest against the affectation of the leading vocalists in sitting down during trios and concerted pieces while any individual of them sang a solo passage; thus Adam was obliged to address his ‘graceful consort,’ with the back of his head; for he could not very well turn away from the audience, and the ‘consort’ was all the time placidly sitting on a chair behind him.”

“Haydn’s familiar oratorio of the ‘Creation’ always comes pleasantly to us. The simple means by which the composer describes a rather important event, and the effect which he thereby produces on the imagination are quite striking in these days of ultra-effort. The music, it may be, is old fashioned, but it is pure and earnest. The members of the Mendelssohn Union turned out last evening in full force. There was a respectable balance of voices. We refer to the fact because ordinarily the ladies of the Society preponderate—the gentlemen quietly taking their pleasure in the auditorium instead of assisting on the stage. Several of the choruses were rendered with more than average ability, and nearly all were smooth and compact. We have not, indeed, heard the Union to such advantage this season. Mme. Parepa-Rosa was again in fine voice. Always superb in oratorio, she has never, we think, been heard to better advantage than last night—albeit the music is by no means especially devoted to herself, the solo opportunities being scant. In the concerted pieces her grand organ absorbed without destroying the voices that were associated with it. In such music the lady is without an equal. She was admirably supported by those tried and reliable artists, Mr. J. R. Thomas and Mr. George Simpson, both of whom were in good condition. The orchestra was under the direction of Mr. Theo. Thomas, and was thoroughly efficient.”

“Last night was a high festival at Steinway Hall, when Madame Parepa Rosa presented Haydn’s oratorio of ‘The Creation,’ and took herself both the soprano parts in it, Gabriel and Eve. She was in superb voice, showing no traces of her recent illness, but singing with all her famous power and brilliancy, as well as with that perfect finish and fine artistic intelligence wherein she is unrivaled. Her best efforts were in the favorite air ‘With Verdure Clad,’ and the beautiful trio ‘On Thee each Living Soul Awaits.’ Mr. George Simpson was the tenor of the evening. He has been heard as often in ‘The Creation’ that it will be unnecessary to discuss his performance in detail; we need only say that he rendered the air ‘In Native Worth’ excellently, as usual, and his delivery of nearly all the music was careful and agreeable. Mr. J. R. Thomas was rather tamer than he ordinarily is—and that is saying a great deal. The chorus was furnished by the Mendelssohn Union, apparently reinforced by a number of extraneous voices. It was strong, well-balanced, and well-drilled, and once or twice at least deserved many hearty commendations for spirited and accurate singing—for instance in ‘The Heavens are telling’—which was highly effective; in ‘A new created World;’ and in ‘The marvelous work.’ The final chorus of Part II, ‘Achieved is the glorious work,’ has however badly slurred and abounded in hitches. Mr. Theodore Thomas conducted with excellent judgment and self possession. The hall was entirely full, even to overflowing, and the reception given to Madame Rosa and her association was cordial to a very gratifying degree.”

"E & I and the four young ladies & Master Temple (who does seem to love good music) proceeded to Steinway Hall for the Creation. Excellent performance. Parepa-Rosa prima donna--tenor very good--basso tolerable. What a gorgeous work it is!”

“On Thursday evening we had Haydn’s ‘Creation’ with Mme. Parepa, Messrs. Simpson and Thomas as soloists, and with the assistance of the Mendelssohn Union and Theo. Thomas’s orchestra. The whole performance was under the direction of the latter gentleman. Mme. P. was in better voice than on the previous evening, but for some reason she excited very little enthusiasm and received (comparatively) little applause. As for Mr. J.R. Thomas, it would better for himself and the public if he should discontinue singing in oratorios; his voice is not clear and sweet, and he is apt to drawl alarmingly. Mr. Simpson did far better and needs only to pronounce his words in order to be a most acceptable artist.”