St. Bridget’s Church: Easter Services

“…Rossini’s mass solennelle was played, for the first time in chorus in this country, by Grafulla’s band of sixteen performers and a voluntary choir of forty voices. The organist, Professor Hurley, from London, swept over the keys of the magnificent organ with a master’s touch, now filling the edifice with a flood of sweet impressive melody, and then melodious chords seemed to reverberate with an almost supernatural grandeur. This mass, as performed yesterday, is certainly one of the finest efforts of cathedral music ever performed, and the lover of grand, noble strains would be filled with an exquisite delight. This quartet, Miss Annie Wangle, soprano; Miss Annie Gegan, alto; Mr. E. Emelmann, tenor, [sic] and Mr. A. Exkarn, bass, have arrived at much excellence, and their cultivated voices are not inferior to those of any in the city. The organist played Handel’s ‘Hallelujah’ offertory with spirit and power.”