HANDEL FESTIVAL

TO THE EDITOR OF THE OBSERVER

Sir – As a constant reader of your valuable paper I feel called upon to make a few remarks upon last week’s performances of Handel’s oratorios on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of that great composer’s death. All those initiated are acquainted with the vast difficulties which even in Europe beset performances of this kind; and yet there each individual member of the orchestra, each solo singer, each performer in the chorus even, is a finished musician, and the conductor hardly ever hears or knows anything of practise – meetings, rehearsals, and the like – preparatory steps which he is content to entrust to his maitre de concert et de chœurs, taking the chief rehearsals only under his own direction. But how much more numerous are the obstacles that lie in the way of a conductor here as a prelude to such undertakings as the above.

A motley collection of musicians and amateurs for an orchestra, vocalists only in part equal to the execution of such lofty strains, and with such slender materials (for our young colony can muster no better), to have heard an oratorio of Handel’s executed with even tolerable precision is surely a sufficient proof of the pains taken by the conductor, and of real zeal on his part to contribute his mite towards the perpetuation of the immortal master’s fame.

It is therefore, with pain and astonishment that I observe how, in your report of Thursday’s and Friday’s performances, every individual performer receives his due meed of notice or praise, whereas Herr Linger, the man who bore the whole burden, by his exertions earned success for the whole work, is scarcely intentioned, his merits are ignored, his services unrecognised.

Doubtless the modest mind of Mr. Linger can find in the success of his undertaking ample consolation for the indignity thus offered to him, and a sufficient reward for past rouble and anxiety in the consciousness of having well performed an arduous duty; but it is well that this city should, through her press, bear the stigma of ingratitude towards that very one of her citizens who alone enabled her worthily to celebrate Handel’s death-day?

I am, Sir, &c.,

GEORGE FISCHER.

Tanunda, April 16, 1859.

[Mr. Fischer, we think, has not read so carefully as he might have done the reports he refers to or he would have seen Mr. Linger’s name mentioned in that of the former of the two concerts as having been leader on the occasion. The commendation bestowed on the execution of the various choruses must necessarily have amounted indirectly to a testimony commendatory of Mr. Linger’s skill and pains taking effort prior to the performances and at the time. – ED]

-The Observer April 18 1859