Bateman and Harrison Wednesday Popular Concert: 9th

“The eighth [sic] Wednesday Popular Concert took place here last evening. The attendance differed from the performance in being totally inadequate to the occasion. With a good orchestra, a superb choir of one hundred voices, and two soloists of merit, it would not be Utopian to expect a grand result. But this season all signs fail, and the finest concerts ever given in America are permitted to pass almost unnoticed. Of the orchestral features of the programme it is unnecessary to speak. They were brought out effectively by Mr. Theodore Thomas. The choruses and madrigals were sung magnificently by the Cecilian Choir, under the direction of Dr. Cutler. Such purity and power have never before been heard in this country. The soloists were Master Coker, chief soprano of the choir, and Signor Strini. Both were excellent. The gentleman’s voice is not strong, but he uses it with tact and taste, and possesses in an eminent degree the faculty of pleasing an audience. He was encored in the ‘Largo al factotum.’ Master Coker sang a difficult ballad ‘Sweet Nightingale’ with singular and most felicitous effect. His voice in fullness and quality has never been equaled. It filled the ample space of Messrs. Steinway’s beautiful hall to repletion. We know of no soprano except Parepa who could so thoroughly accomplish this result. The youngster’s bearing is interesting, and he evidently feels the purport of the words as well as the sentiment of the music. He is unquestionably the best concert singer now in the City.”