Messiah Annual Performance: 15th

Includes performers.

“The fifteenth annual performance of Handel’s Messiah by the New-York Harmonic Society, at Steinway Hall, on Christmas night, was a very good success. We have had the unpleasant duty of commenting very severely upon the performance of this Society during the past two years. We spoke freely because the acts of a Society should be severely scrutinized, for the reason that its influence for good or evil is so widely extended, and it gives us profound pleasure to be able to accord warm approbation to its most recent public efforts. The grand, but trying choruses of the Messiah were given with a freedom and positiveness of utterance which was effective in the extreme. All the points were taken up promptly and firmly, and the massing of the voices was certainly imposing in power. There was spirit and character in the rendering of the various choruses, highly creditable to all concerned, and the result of the performances on Christmas night will greatly elevate the tone and reputation at the Harmonic Society.

     The Organ accompaniments were finely played by Mr. S. P. Warren, who displayed judgment and tact in the use of the instruments, and gave that necessary support to the choral department always in the right time and place.

     Miss Maria Brainerd sang her part throughout in a chaste and refined manner. Her delivery is excellent, and her enunciation plainly intelligible to all. Her voice betrayed a shade of fatigue, but she overcame it, and rarely sang better or more effectively in public.  Miss Hutchings has a rich and beautiful voice, and uses it with judgment and skill. Her efforts on this occasion were very warmly appreciated. Messrs. Simpson and J. R. Thomas have sung this music 500 times, so that we only need to say that they sang it on this occasion in their usually excellent style.

     Mr. F. L. Ritter, the conductor, had good control over the body of singers and instrumentalists, and got from them strong and excellent effects, beside smooth and delicate execution. Much credit is due to him for this performance, for it was good and has obliterated the remembrance of former lamentable failures. We trust this performance is a true indication of the future public efforts of the Harmonic Society.”