Messiah

“’The Messiah’ was interpreted at Steinway Hall, last evening by the same soloists, chorus and orchestra who were recently united in a recital or ‘Elijah.’ Mr. Santley, Mr. W. H. Cummings, Mrs. Patey and Miss Wynne constituted the vocal quartet, and the New-York Harmonic Society supplied the choral forces. How well Mr. Dolby’s artists acquit themselves of all the tasks set them is information not needed at the present writing. It is impossible to imagine finer singing than Mr. Santley contributed to yesterday’s concert in his recital of ‘But who may abide,’ ‘The people that walked in darkness,’ and ‘Why do the nations;’ or a more impressive display of voice and art than Mrs. Patey offered. Mr. Santley’s last-named air was repeated, and the lady was compelled to sing twice ‘He shall feed his flock.’ Miss Edith Wynne had to forego her usual share of applause, in consequence of a severe cold, allusion to which was made in a brief address to the public. Mr. Cummings sang with his wonted skill and good taste, and his air, ‘Thou shalt break them,’ was re-demanded. It would be a waste of space to say much of the orchestra or chorus, both under the direction of Dr. Pech. Neither choristers nor instrumentalists can handle oratorios with delicacy and precision when half a dozen performances a year are all the public will encourage—if, indeed, it actually does encourage so many. The orchestra heard last night was, however, much superior to the body listened to some weeks ago. It was not distinguished by sensibility, but it executed its parts with fidelity and with occasional spirit. The choruses were rarely given with the requisite animation, were quite devoid of the effectiveness resulting from intelligent shading, and were often attacked with a painful lack of unanimity. ‘And He shall purify,’ for example, did not enlist all the voices in its delivery until three or four bars had been played. To the elaborateness of ‘For unto us,’ no justice whatever was done, and in the fugal passages throughout, there was an amount of groping, so to speak, which would not be cheering to the least exacting student of counterpoint seeking interpreters among local performers. The entertainment was numerously attended.”