Christmas Oratorio for Children

Event Information

Venue(s):
Grand Opera House

Conductor(s):
Ernst Eberhard

Price: $1 reserved; $.50

Event Type:
Choral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
20 June 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

26 Dec 1869, 7:45 PM

Program Details

Performers included the children’s sodality of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle (on 23rd St. and 8th Ave); proceeds from the performance went to benefit the church.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Philharmonic Society of New York;  St. Paul the Apostle Children's Sodality

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Sun, 25 December 1869, 1.

“The children of St. Paul’s (Catholic) Church unite in a children’s oratorio, descriptive of the events of Christmas tide, at the Grand Opera House on Sunday evening. It is under the auspices of the Pauline Brotherhood. An orchestra accompanies the children.”

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 25 December 1869, 2.

“CHILDREN’S GRAND ORATORIO for Christmastide of the Sodality of St. Paul’s church.”

3)
Review: New York Herald, 27 December 1869, 5 .

“The Grand Opera House was the scene of a novel and entertaining exhibition last evening, which was given by the children’s sodality of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle. The oratorio was composed of gems of poetry and song, and may best be understood from the following:

[List of scenes, including the Biblical Christmas story and a more modern story involving Santa Claus]

“The Oratorio was given under the direction of the Rev. P. Bodfish, and was rendered in a most commendable manner. A full orchestra from the Philharmonic Society, with Ernest Eberhard as conductor, added to the completeness of the performance. The proceeds of the entertainment are to be devoted to the enlargement of the ‘institute, Hall and Library of St. Paul the Apostle,’ and it is safe to say that the funds for that purpose have been largely augmented by the exhibition of last evening.”