A Great Concert

Friday evening, February flrst, the Choral Union appears for the first time tais sea8On. The chorus has been doing romarkably caroful and enthusiastic work this season and inasmuch as it will be the first concert with the new organ, and the program is one which inspires the singers, we may confidently predict an exeeedingly brilliant performance. Mr. Lamson, who has already shown that his extended reputation in the east and west has been fairly earned, will also appear as ■soloist. In making up the programme care has been exercised to make the evening instructive as well as entertaining. The various works, beautiful in themselves, when brought together give fine contras s and each illustrates a special style and school. Max BruchVFair Ellen," gives us the story of the Relief of Lucknow.J Wagner's Pogner's Address gives one an insight into the life of the Nurembergers and the artistic atmosphere which premeated the ranks of the common people during the continuance of the Mastersinger's Guild. The 42nd Psalm of Mendelsohn is diametrically opposed in spirit to the preceding works, being pervaded by the calmness and classical purity so marked a feature of Mendelsohn's genius. It is an inspiring setting of one of the most beautiful of the Psalms. Grieg stands by himself full of originality and possibly the best example of northern musical genius. His contribution to the program is of a fine setting of an episode from the advenlures of Olav Frygrason's, "Discovery" for male chorus solo and orchestra. Marche tte 's "Ave Maria" is a charming example of the Italian style, full of simple expressive melody and natural if somewhat conventional harmony. This is written for female voioes and will be sung in Italian. Peter Cornelius represents a school of ultra modern tendencies, and the short excerpt from his grbatestsuccess, the "Barber of Bagdad," has whereever giveD evoked genuine enthusiasm. Gounod's "Gallia, " with its Sombre beginning, its dramatic solos (sung by Mrs.Genevra Johnston Bishop, the soprano soloist of the evening-) and its magnificent climax in the final chorus, is always effective and has been given by common consent an important position amongthe few works produced during the last generation whicb will live. All in all, this will be a wonderfully fine concert and we are confident will be thoroughly appreciated.