Gallia

“A very interesting musical performance took place last evening at St. Ann’s church, in Twelfth street. The impressive work which Gounod wrote in the form of a lamentation over the miseries which the late war entailed upon his country, and which is known under the title, ‘Gallia,’ has been transformed into a highly effective ‘Stabat Mater,’ and was brought out for the first time last night in its present shape by the choir of M. Louis Dachauer, the only solo in it being rendered by Mlle. Corradi. It is a most noble work, according to the interpretation it received last night, and the sublime poetry of the ‘Stabat Mater’ fits its mournful measures admirably. In less capable hands, as we heard it once before in this city, it would be considered monotonous, but the care and intelligence evinced in the interpretation of this choir and the taste and skill of the organist brought out the various phases of the modern Jeremiah’s lamentation in the clearest manner. The introduction and chorus, ‘Stabat Mater,’ in E minor, Andante molto maestoso, gave an insight into the characteristic style of the composition. The treatment is simplicity itself, but not the less effective. ‘O quam tristis et afflicta’ is a soprano solo with a beautiful staccato accompaniment, in which the most ingenious modulations in harmony are expressed. The chorus forms also a dramatic accompaniment to the soprano in the succeeding ‘Pro Peccatis.’ There is a positive element of grandeur in the finale, ‘Inflammatus,’ which is a soprano aria with chorus. The contrapuntal features of the work are very remarkable and effective, and toward the end they become so complicated that they would perplex and confuse any body of singers not possessing the training and knowledge of M. Dachauer’s choir.”