Church of St. Francis Xavier Sunday Service

“Berge’s ‘Third Mass’ is one of the brightest and most genial of this accomplished composer’s numerous works. The themes are all taking and inspiring and there is more dramatic effect in it than is generally given to modern church music. To the Misses Wernecke all praise is due for their truly artistic rendering of the trying solos and concerted morceaux which are plentifully scattered through the work. The elder sister has a fine, resonant, well balanced soprano voice, and the younger one of the sweetest and most sympathetic contralto voices that can be found in any church choir. The first tenor and base [sic] are also thorough artists, and the rendering of the mass was faultless. The organ playing of Berge differs from that of every other organist in New York. Elan, brilliancy and finish are its main characteristics. These serve to magnetize a choir and carry them with a spirit through any work.”