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The Carnegie Hall Messiah performance would be a "first," yet it would be the "last" of such important performances in the 20th Century.
The Carnegie Hall Messiah performance would be a "first," yet it would be the "last" of such important performances in the 20th Century.
<> Their Legacy "Messiah" Performances <>
Special 20th Century Messiah Performances
by the
Bethany College Oratorio Society
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by the
Bethany College Oratorio Society
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<<<<<<< Lindsborg, Kansas >>>>>>>
- Messiah Auditorium / Ling Auditorium -
(4,000 seating capacity)
November 10 - 13, 1901
Conductor Samuel Thorstenberg
for
King Oscar II of Sweden's
Emissary Bishop and Lady Von Scheele
for
Celebrating Bethany College's Twentieth Year
To learn more about their most significant visit to Lindsborg and Bethany College, go HERE.
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- Messiah Auditorium / Ling Auditorium -
April 23, 1916
Conductor Josef Stransky
with
The Philharmonic Society of New York Orchestra and Bethany College Oratorio Society
for
Easter Messiah Festival
- Messiah Auditorium / Ling Auditorium -
April 23, 1916
Conductor Josef Stransky
with
The Philharmonic Society of New York Orchestra and Bethany College Oratorio Society
for
Easter Messiah Festival
*
Messiah Auditorium / Ling Auditorium
March 1927
Conductor Dr. Hagbard Brase
for
Prince Wilhelm of Sweden
for
Presser Hall Groundbreaking Ceremony
Dean Emil O. Deere is second from right of the Prince.
Photograph by B.G. Gröndal, 1927
From Prince Wilhelm on the Messiah performance he experienced in 1927:
"I have rarely heard music that has been so wholly sustained by inspired enthusiasm. The voices rang out, clear and beautiful; the orchestra was properly modulated without thereby losing any of its melodic beauty. Even the most difficult passages came off with flying colors. The unison was, in short, exemplary, and the oratorio welled forth like a mighty billow, filling the hall from floor to ceiling with beautiful harmonies. The tones lived. One could hear them vibrate with fervor and devotion, and it was easy to understand how they in this way have held generation after generation spellbound and how a whole continent can have nothing but praise for the results. It is verily as if this Messiah Chorus is dominated by an artistic inspiration, some primeval love creation that places it on a plane by itself. Possibly a musical critic with his trained ear may be able to detect a flaw here and there in the rendering; none the less, he can only give full hearted praise to the sincerity of feeling of integrity and purpose. For where enthusiasm, joined with love for the work, is found, there too is found something of the indescribable that speaks directly to the heart of men. Then art has become productive; then it has attained its goal: to lift us outside ourselves so that we can get a glimpse of the immortality of genius and the flight of the spirit toward realms beyond the stars."
Source: The American-Scandinavian Review, February 1928, "A Swedish Oasis," by Prince Wilhelm of Sweden
"I have rarely heard music that has been so wholly sustained by inspired enthusiasm. The voices rang out, clear and beautiful; the orchestra was properly modulated without thereby losing any of its melodic beauty. Even the most difficult passages came off with flying colors. The unison was, in short, exemplary, and the oratorio welled forth like a mighty billow, filling the hall from floor to ceiling with beautiful harmonies. The tones lived. One could hear them vibrate with fervor and devotion, and it was easy to understand how they in this way have held generation after generation spellbound and how a whole continent can have nothing but praise for the results. It is verily as if this Messiah Chorus is dominated by an artistic inspiration, some primeval love creation that places it on a plane by itself. Possibly a musical critic with his trained ear may be able to detect a flaw here and there in the rendering; none the less, he can only give full hearted praise to the sincerity of feeling of integrity and purpose. For where enthusiasm, joined with love for the work, is found, there too is found something of the indescribable that speaks directly to the heart of men. Then art has become productive; then it has attained its goal: to lift us outside ourselves so that we can get a glimpse of the immortality of genius and the flight of the spirit toward realms beyond the stars."
Source: The American-Scandinavian Review, February 1928, "A Swedish Oasis," by Prince Wilhelm of Sweden
The handshake between Prince Wilhelm and Bethany College President Ernest Pihlblad after the groundbreaking.
Bethany Lutheran Church Pastor Alfred Bergin is next to President Pihlblad.
Bethany Lutheran Church Pastor Alfred Bergin is next to President Pihlblad.
Source: In Memoriam**Dr. Ernst F. Pihlblad, 1943. Photograph by B.G. Gröndal, 1927
*
Presser Hall
(1,800 seating capacity)
April 17, 1976
Conductor Dr. Elmer Copley
for
His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden
for
Easter Eve Messiah Festival United States Bicentennial Visit
Source: The Bethany Magazine, Spring Issue 1976, Editor A. John Pearson, Assistant Estred Johnson Schwantes. Cover photo by JIM TURNER.
*
Presser Hall
April 19, 1981
Conductor Dr. Elmer Copley
for
Bethany College & Messiah Performance Centennial Celebration
for
Easter Messiah Festival
Televised live worldwide by PBS KTPS Wichita
Hosted by nightly PBS "NewsHour" Jim Lehrer
During intermission Mr. Lehrer interviewed Dr. Elmer Copley.
Presser Hall
April 19, 1981
Conductor Dr. Elmer Copley
for
Bethany College & Messiah Performance Centennial Celebration
for
Easter Messiah Festival
Televised live worldwide by PBS KTPS Wichita
Hosted by nightly PBS "NewsHour" Jim Lehrer
During intermission Mr. Lehrer interviewed Dr. Elmer Copley.
The Bethany Magazine, May 1981, Editor Kay Berenson, Photographer JIM TURNER,
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Presser Hall
March 30, 1986
Conductor Dr. Elmer Copley
for
KTPS presents: "An American Easter"
for
Easter Messiah Festival
Televised live worldwide by PBS KTPS Wichita
Hosted by "Smithsonian World" host David McCullough
During intermission Mr. McCullough interviewed Dr. Elmer Copley and his daughter soprano, Ms. Rebecca Copley.
See the press release on the 1986 "An American Easter" at the very end of this section HERE.
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<<<<<<< New York, New York >>>>>>>
Carnegie Hall
(2,800 seating capacity)
April 7, 1997
Conductor Dr. Joel Panciera
The Carnegie Hall Messiah performance would be a "first."
Yet, it would be the "last" of such important performances in the 20th Century.
<<<<<<< New York, New York >>>>>>>
Carnegie Hall
(2,800 seating capacity)
April 7, 1997
Conductor Dr. Joel Panciera
The Carnegie Hall Messiah performance would be a "first."
Yet, it would be the "last" of such important performances in the 20th Century.
Source: 2001 Bethany College Messiah Festival flyer
Oratorio Society Performs in Carnegie Hall
On April 7, 1997 over 320 members of the Bethany College Oratorio Society performed Messiah in New York’s Carnegie Hall. Under the direction of Joel Panciera, the Oratorio Society received a thunderous standing ovation from the over 2,000 people in attendance. In the words of a Bethany alumnus who attended the performance,
“The Carnegie Hall performance of Messiah was outstanding. With great intensity and artistry, the performers develop the messianic message from prophecies to the Messiah's birth, sacrificial death, and resurrection to his second coming as King of Kings. Your performance of the final Worthy is the Lamb and incredible Amen was dramatic and climatic. With a witness and blessing indeed!"
The society deeply appreciates a general general general support it’s received from the people of central Kansas and Lutheran Brotherhood that enable this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Source: 2001 "Bethany College Messiah Festival" flyer
On April 7, 1997 over 320 members of the Bethany College Oratorio Society performed Messiah in New York’s Carnegie Hall. Under the direction of Joel Panciera, the Oratorio Society received a thunderous standing ovation from the over 2,000 people in attendance. In the words of a Bethany alumnus who attended the performance,
“The Carnegie Hall performance of Messiah was outstanding. With great intensity and artistry, the performers develop the messianic message from prophecies to the Messiah's birth, sacrificial death, and resurrection to his second coming as King of Kings. Your performance of the final Worthy is the Lamb and incredible Amen was dramatic and climatic. With a witness and blessing indeed!"
The society deeply appreciates a general general general support it’s received from the people of central Kansas and Lutheran Brotherhood that enable this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Source: 2001 "Bethany College Messiah Festival" flyer
| salina_journal_-__sunday_april_13_1997.pdf |
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- Presser Hall -
On Good Friday, March 29, 1929, the auditorium with a sitting capacity of 1,800 gave its first performance of Bach's St. Matthew's Passion. with professor Hagbard Brase conducting.
In 2008, due to upgrading the Auditorium, the seating capacity was reduced from 1,800 to 1,752.
In 2016, the Presser Hall stage was named the "Copley Stage" to honor posthumously
Conductor Dr. Elmer Copley and Mrs. Ruth Copley.
In 2016, the Presser Hall stage was named the "Copley Stage" to honor posthumously
Conductor Dr. Elmer Copley and Mrs. Ruth Copley.
For "Messiah" Auditorium go HERE.
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