Messiah

“GRAND ORATORIO FESTIVAL, THE NEW YORK HARMONIC SOCIETY, having completed arrangements with Mr. L. F. Harrison, will give a series of ORATORIOS in the most perfect manner. Madame PAREPA and the best procurable talent will sustain the solos, with Theo. Thomas’ orchestra of sixty performers. We therefore wish on this occasion to present the largest and best chorus ever brought together in New York and solicit the co-operation of all singers who can sing oratorio music to meet at Dr. Cheever’s church, corner Union Square and Fifteenth Street, on Monday evenings for rehearsals.”

Follows review of recent Thomas Symphony Soiree. "It is another evidence of the increased taste for the substantial in music that so soon after this symphony soiree there should be a demand for an oratorio, which Mr. Harrison has anticipated by promising the performance of the 'Messiah' at Steinway Hall on Wednesday evening. Madame Parepa wil be the leading soprano."

“…Mr. Harrison’s prospective enterprise, the production of oratorio on a grand scale, will come well recommended to public welcome by the sustained acceptability of his concert series. A good oratorio season is one of the needs of our musical community, and Mr. Harrison’s effort is very opportune. Next Wednesday will be given Handel’s great Messiah, Parepa leading the cast, with Miss Hutchings, Mr. Geo. Simpson and Mr. J.R. Thomas in her train. The able orchestra of Mr. Theodore Thomas will be increased for the occasion, and the chorus of the Harmonic Society will be 200 strong.”

"The oratorio of the 'Messiah' will be given to-night at Steinway Hall. The main attraction will be Madame Parepa, who has never been heard in oratorio in this country, but aside from this the strength and quality of the chorus and orchestra assure a successful rendering of the great oratorio."

“One of the largest and most fashionable audiences of the season was present at Steinway Hall last evening to listen to the rendition of Handel’s grand oratorio of the Messiah, which was given by the New York Harmonic Society, under the direction of Mr. L. F. Harrison. A large and powerful orchestra furnished, in connection with Mr. E. J. Connolly at the organ, the instrumentation, while the solo parts of the oratorio were confided to able and accomplished vocalists. Mr. F. L. Ritter, as conductor, performed his part to the ample satisfaction of the immense audience. The choruses were given with powerful effect, and the whole performance was, in fact, a rare musical treat”

“Steinway Hall was packed last evening by an immense audience, attracted to hear Parepa and the New York Harmonic Society in the oratorio of the Messiah. The performance was not marked by any extraordinary musical achievement, notwithstanding the appearance of Parepa in the soprano solos. Madame Parepa’s voice is admirably adapted for recitative, and she sang with great effect and was warmly encored in the aria, ‘Come unto Him;’ but the other soloists were not superior to the average of our amateurs who essay oratorio performances. Mr. Simpson, the tenor, has a voice which is delicate and sweet in quality and of high range, but it is painfully wanting in that force and volume requisite in oratorio music, especially that of Handel. This criticism is also, in a measure, true of the contralto, Miss Hutchings, especially in the aria ‘O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion,’ which demands a clear, earnest, forcible delivery, but as rendered by Miss Hutchings the beauty and eloquence of the song was almost entirely lost. Mr. Thomas, the bass singer, was more than satisfactory. With a firm, resonant voice and a pure method, he fulfilled his part most acceptably. The aria, ‘The people that walked in darkness,’ was given in the full spirit of that exquisite composition.

The choruses in the main were sung with precision and in correct time, yet it was evident that attention had been directed towards these two qualities at the sacrifice of light and shade. In the ‘Wonderful’ chorus there was a want of larger orchestral power. What the lamented Fry used to call ‘noise’—the bass and tenor of the chorus—were most excellent but overshadowed the contraltos and sopranos. A harmony and balance of parts in a chorus are more necessary even than in an orchestra, because they are simpler and more evident. Either the Harmonic Society should reduce its male force or make addition to the female voices. The soprano in a concerted piece, at a chorus, is what the violin is to an orchestra. It is the singing voice, and of all the others should have prominence. The most perfect performance of the evening was the Pastoral Symphony.”

“Of all our caterers Mr. Harrison is the most venturesome. With half-a-dozen enterprises on his head and hands at once, he has attempted, with an audacity characteristic of genius, another, and one that is quite as vast in proportions as its co[n]temporaries. On Wednesday evening the announced performance of the ‘Messiah’ was given at Steinway Hall under Mr. Harrison’s direction, by an array and combination of talent which sufficed to pack the ample hall with an audience of at least 3,000 people. First occasions are not often happy ones; it is not reasonable to anticipate or exact perfection at such times, but an approximate success more than merits the reasonable expectations of the most critical. On this occasion the solos were sung by Mme. Parepa Carvell Rosa, Miss Hutchings, and Messrs. Simpson and Thomas. Those who were so fortunate as to attend will not readily forget Mme. Rosa’s delicious rendering of the arias ‘How Beautiful are Thy Feet,’ ‘I Know that My Redeemer Liveth,’ and the rest. Since the days of Jenny Lind no such breathing of Handel’s beauties has been felt or known in this country. The lady’s reception and indorsement were of the most cordial and personally gratifying nature. The other solo parts were well done and the choruses, though not up to the highest and best standard, were effective and signally enjoyable.

Mr. Harrison deserves the gratitude of his fellow-citizens for the venture he has made in their behalf and in the interest of sacred music. It is pleasant to know that a reasonable pecuniary result may be anticipated.”