Metropolitan Fair for the Benefit of the U.S. Sanitary Commission: Judas Maccabaeus
Event Information
Venue(s):
Metropolitan Fair Union Square Music Hall
Conductor(s):
Frédéric Louis Ritter
Price: $.50
Event Type:
Choral
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
24 February 2011
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
09 Apr 1864, 6:00 PMProgram Details
Performers and/or Works Performed
1)
Composer(s): Handel
Citations
2)
“A select orchestra of from thirty to forty of the best musicians of the City will perform every night from 7 to 10 o’clock, under the direction of Messrs. Reitzel [sic] & Noll, at the Union-square Music Hall (East end.) Price of admission, 50 cents.
The following extra performance will take place during the present week, to commence at 6 o’clock P.M. . . .
Saturday, April 9.—Handel’s Superb Oratorio, ‘Judas Maccabæus,’ by the New-York Harmonic Society, under the direction of Mr. F.L. Ritter; the Solo parts to be sustained by Eminent Vocalists.”
The following extra performance will take place during the present week, to commence at 6 o’clock P.M. . . .
Saturday, April 9.—Handel’s Superb Oratorio, ‘Judas Maccabæus,’ by the New-York Harmonic Society, under the direction of Mr. F.L. Ritter; the Solo parts to be sustained by Eminent Vocalists.”
8)
Just a mention that it was performed. “[A]n unusually large and fashionable audience. These concerts are becoming one of the great attractions of the fair.”
9)
Brief review. “The oratorio on Saturday evening was finely given and the audience very large.”
10)
“Handel’s ‘Judas Maccabaeus’ was performed at the Metropolitan Fair building (Union Square), under the direction of Mr. Franz Ritter, assisted by Miss Mary Brainard (soprano), Mrs. Motte (contralto), Mr. Gustavus Geary (tenor), and Mr. J.R. Thomas (bass). Mr. Geo. F. Bristow presiding at the piano. Mr. Ritter deserves credit for having brought out Handel’s colossal work, which, as far as we can remember, has not been performed here for a great many years.”
11)
“Among the manifold contributions of the musical art to the great Fair, which has given a million dollars to the Sanitary Commission, was a performance of Handel’s oratorio, ‘Judas Maccabeaus.’ No musical work could be more timely during this war; it has the true ring of heroic patriotism. It was given at the Metropolitan Fair building in Union Square, under the direction of Mr. Franz Ritter, with Miss Brainard as principal soprano, Mrs. Motte contralto, Mr. Geary tenor, and Mr. J.R. Thomas, bass. Mr. Bristow ‘presided at the piano;’ hence we infer that there was no orchestra.”