Sacred Concert: 2nd

“The New York Catholic Choral Society gave a concert on Sunday evening at the French Church of St. Vincent de Paul. The attendance was very large, and the choir and a part of the adjoining galleries were crowded by the chorus and orchestra. The main attraction was Gounod’s ‘Messe Solennelle’ (St. Cecilia), in G major. It is written in three solo parts, and in four, six and eight parts in some of the movements for soli and chorus. The style is a combination of old Italian and modern schools, and the effect is indescribably grand. It received ample justice on Sunday night, Mr. Gustavus Schmitz, the eminent organist of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, officiating as conductor. Mlle. Corradi sang a highly dramatic morceau, ‘The Vision of St. Cecilia,’ and Herr Sohst’s fine bass voice gave expression to Mariani’s ‘Invocatione a Dio.’ M. Sauret played a couple of delicious violin solos, and the chorus completed the programme with Cherubini’s ‘Regina Coeli.’ It was an unqualified success throughout, and highly creditable to the conductor, whose labors at rehearsals and skill during the performance brought chorus and orchestra safely through a very difficult work.”