Concert

“A church concert of more than ordinary merit was given last evening at Emanuel Church, in Fifty-seventh street, near Lexington avenue. Signor Barili was director and accompanist, and many of the singers were pupils of this gentleman; pupils who also reflected much credit upon themselves and their instructor. The well-known duet from ‘Martha’—Solo profugo rejetto- was sung by Messrs. Fritsch and Gottschalk. A delicate romance of Vogel’s, ‘L’Ange dechu,’ had tender and expressive treatment at the hands of the latter gentleman, and Mr. Fritsch sang finely ’Oh! Loving heart,’ for which he was encored. Miss Mary O’Keefe, the young soprano of the church, sang Topliff’s ‘Consider the lilies’ very tastefully, and for a decided encore substituted Claribel’s ‘We’d better bide a wee.’ A contralto of rare power and compass, Miss Eliza Mooney, elicited the warmest applause by the artistic manner in which she sang Wallace’s ‘Bell-ringer;’ and on her recall she gave Godfrey’s ‘Helena Waltz’ with such sprightliness that she narrowly escaped a second encore.

“Mme. B. Zittel, a charming light soprano, in Schubert’s difficult ‘Erl Koenig,’ proved herself an accomplished vocalist, and of Mrs. Farnham the same may be said.

“Mr. Frank Bartlett’s selections—a lovely ballad by Gabriel, ‘Take Back the Heart,’ and a splendid song by Weiss, ‘The Village Blacksmith’—were rendered with so much feeling and care, and such distinct enunciation that it was a genuine pleasure to listen to them. For a repetition he gave a sprightly mazurka, ‘Upon the Danube River.’ A duet by Mme. Zittel and Mr. Gottschalk and the ‘Rigoletto’ quartet, both of which pieces were well given, completed the programme of a most pleasing concert.

“The Rev. Mr. Thrall, formerly of Brooklyn, is now pastor of Emanual Church, and under his guidance the material prosperity of the church is assured. The concert was in aid of the church building.”