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HE QROAN OP J H B MU51|
VOL. XVIII. No. 5o.
published Every Saturday.
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test of their qualifications, a test, 11 may add,
which becomes more exacting with each recur-
ring festival. The orchestra will, as heretofore,
number about 500 performers, including a large
number of the best metropolitan professional
players, reinforced by a strong contingent of the
most accomplished amateurs. Some idea of the
strength of the forces employed may be gathered
from the fact that above 400 players on stringed
instruments alone are taking part in the present
festival.
GRAND REHEARSAL.
It was my good fortune to be present at the
general rehearsal on yesterday, when over fifteen
thousand people were present. Although the
public are admitted to the general rehearsal,
and a great many of the pieces are played or
sung
through without interruption, still the
THE GREAT HANDEL FESTIVAL AT CRYSTAL
performance is essentially true to its name.
PALACE—GRAND REHEARSAL—THE SING-
The proceedings began with the '' Hallelujah ''
ERS—THE ORCHESTRA—LADIES IN THB
and
'' Amen '' from the '' Messiah.'' Not that
ORCHESTRA — MME. ALBANI AND
these majestic numbers specially needed rehear-
MISS ELLA RUSSELL — MAS-
sal, but they serve on such occasions as a kind of
SENET'S •• LAXAVARRAISE "
feu
de joie, kindling enthusiasm and putting
AT COVENT GARDEN.
everybody
in good spirits. After them came
GERMAN OPERA AT DRURY LANE—CONDITION
many
pieces
to be performed on the Selection
OF TRADE—THE HOUSE OF STEINWAY—
day,
including
four for orchestra alone—viz., the
AMERICAN ORGANS IN LONDON—AMERI-
overture
to
the
'' Occasional Oratorio,'' the
CAN VISITORS TO LONDON — THE
March
in
"Joshua,"
the Concerto in D, for
AUTOHARP — CANADIAN
strings, oboes, bassoons and organ, and the
COPYRIGHT.
Sonata in A, with the principal part played on
220 violins. Of these the concerto was a novelty,
LONDON, JUNE 23d,
1894.
and will be in due time an interesting subject
DEAR MUSIC TRADE REVIEW :
for further and fuller notice. The solo and
The great Handel Festival which will occupy
choral numbers included many old favorites,
three days of next week at the Crystal Palace,
the execution of which promised admirable re-
will undoubtedly be the great musical event of
sults. Among them were '' Sound an Alarm ''
the year, and every effort is being put forth by
and " Love in her Eyes," both sung in perfec-
the indefatigable conductor, Mr. Manna, to in-
tion by Mr. Lloyd ; '' But, oh ! what art can
sure thoroughly satisfactory results. The solo-
teach," given with most appropriate expression
ists engaged for the Festival include the leading
and beauty of voice by Miss Ella Russell, who
vocalists of the day.
at once became a favorite with the Handel
Such names as Mme. Melba, Mme. Albani
audience; and the duet, " O lovely Peace."
Miss Clara Butt, Miss Ella Russell, Miss Marian
Eleven choruses and several solo numbers (in
M'Kenzie, Miss Anna Williams, Mme. Clara
which Mesdames Anna Williams and Clara
Samuell, Mr. Ben Davies, Mr. Edward Lloyd,
Samuell, Messrs. Black and Salmond took part)
Mr. Chas. Santley, Mr. Andrew Black and Mr.
chosen from "Israel" formed the concluding
Norman Salmond, insure success. " Messiah "
section of the rehearsal, and were splendidly
will be performed on Monday, a '' Selection ''
sung. Altogether the rehearsal, which was
on Wednesday, and " Israel in Egypt " on
directed with his wonted vivacity and ability by
Friday.
the evergreen Mr. Manns, pointed to the main-
The chorus which takes part in the present tenance of that high level of efficiency and pre-
Festival reaches a total of nearly 3,500 singers, cision which has always marked these celebra-
2,500 of whom are supplied from London, the tions.
remainder being drawn from the cathedral cities
.
THE SINGERS.
of the kingdom, the great musical centres of
Yorkshire and Lancashire, and other towns in
It may be interesting to readers to learn how
England, Scotland and Ireland. Although the the great musical force of 3,500 performers is
bulk of the chorus are amateurs, many profes- made up. There are, to begin with, 733 so-
sional vocalists are to be found in its ranks, and pranos and 707 contraltos, in all 1,440 female
the promoters of the festival point with pardon- singers—the pick, it is safe to say, of London
able pride to the fact that the supply of volun- and the provinces. The contraltos are strength-
teers considerably exceeds the demand. Not ened by no fewer than 86 male altos, for the
only have applicants to attend several rehearsals, sake of the brilliancy which, when large masses
but none are admitted without a preliminary are concerned, they alone can give the part.
OUR EUROPEAN
BUDGET.
$3 00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES. 10 CENTB.
p/eu; VorKJuly 14, 1894.
Next we have 683 tenors, and a mighty battal-
ion of basses, 788 strong.
To give full significance to these figures it
must be borne in mind that there are no " dum-
mies. " Every singer knows his or her business
and are tried and proven in their special lines.
The strength and majesty of this great voice
power was certainly inspiring.
THE ORCHESTRA.
The composition of the orchestra is in every
respect as unique as the great army of singers.
Excluding the organ, the total number of instru-
ments is 519, made up as follows : First violins,
114; second violins, 109; violas, 66; violon-
cellos, 80 ; double basses, 66 (total strings, 434);
flutes, 13 ; piccolo, 1 ; oboes, 14 ; clarionets, 9 ;
bassoons, 11; double bassoons, 2; horns, 10;
cornets, 4 ; trumpets, 4 ; trombones, 9 ; tubas,
3 ; tympani, 4 ; total wind and percussion, 84.
To judge from their splendid work yesterday
the orchestra is a thoroughly competent one,
and although open to question as to proportion
of wind and string instruments, yet it was as
seemingly perfect as could be expected of such
a large body of performers.
LADIES IN THE ORCHESTRA.
There was one change in this great event
which was in itself exceedingly significant, and
which your correspondent, as one of the miser-
able masculine gender, hastens to chronicle.
Ladies have figured in the orchestra on former
occasions, but never in such large numbers.
There were no fewer than thirty-six among the
violins, two # among the violas, nine in the
violoncellos, one among the double basses, and
one female flautist—or in round numbers fifty
out of 500. Now it is safe to predict with all
confidence that in 1897 that figure will be
doubled. It is to be hoped, however, that the
ladies will refrain from encroaching further into
the wind band. On the other hand, it is only
in keeping with modern tendencies that the
leading strings should be manipulated by " our
conquerors."
MME. ALBANI AND MISS ELLA RUSSELL.
As you will observe, two of the soloists at the
Festival are countrywomen of yours. Mme.
Albani is an old favorite over here and is looked
upon as a fixture. She is not, however, behind
in acknowledging allegiance—at times very
publicly—to the " land of the free. " Miss Ella
Russell, another American, who achieved a
great success as a member of the Carl Rosa
Company, took the place of Miss Juch at this
production. She recently created a favorable
impression by her artistic performance at the
production of Dr. Mackenzie's " Bethlehem " at
the Albert Hall. This is her first appearance at
a Handel Festival.
MASSENET'S
"LA
NAVARRAISE "
GARDEN.
AT COVENT
One of the features of the opera season at the
Covent Garden was the production last Wednes-
(Coniinitcd on page S.)