CHORAL HALL-Gounod and Mendelssohn.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 78, 10 April 1885, Page 2

CHORAL HALL-Gounod and Mendelssohn.

The second concert of the Choral Sodstj'i current season was given last night before' an audienco as large as the hall by any pi., sibility could accommodate, Thoro fas early in the evening theueualspectacleofi waiting crowd, who surged'within imm t j. diately tho doors were thrown open, w__i at half-past teven overy seat was oocuMThoso who arrived ,in the balfS. interval between 'that time and tie hour for commencing had either to accepi what standing-room they could Sudor return di»appoint.d whence they «_#< The association for concert porfornunw of two such works as Gounod's "Srisw. Mass" in G and Mendelssohn's "Wil1 purgis Night" wr.s a bappy thouglit, Although diametrically opposite in c__w;. ter—ono being sacred and the other siiiilu —yet they both appeal powerfully^ tij popular ear. In the Mass GoMKtd&pliji to advantage his command over and radr adaptation of orchestral resources, and... his fondness for melodic! beaaty, The orchestration is replete.-irith majestic chords, and tho vocal-nuttid 'to siuve and tuneful. In his setting. d Qriety't poem, "The First WalpurgisNfe_£"_/e_- j delssohn has drawn largely ujraifi fict_W: 'j for mimetic expression. '■', stirring, and forcibly exMwiTe, "■ lt ia sequonco of abrupt traneiticiis'iif tbtrne- ;, now bright and jubilant, tied iofemn tod: ' ominous, anonboldandfantaatieaelwomea a scono descriptive of the wild revelajof the witches, then active and mart_d; and', finally marked by horror on tho side of roe of tho two opposing parties, andbytriumph on that of the other. The performs foftw, which, as usual, wero under theTatoiiof Herr Schmitt, consisted of 55 soprspoa, 8/ contraltos, 21 tenors, 36 basses, and 3 strumentalists—not so good a distriba. on of power aa could bo wished, but lessdiß' proportionate than the numbers would imply. For instance, the female roicadid not by any means preponderate overttei-I. voices in proportion to their £nW : numerical strength. Under .all tie* cumstances, the performance was very satisfactory, but when one takes intoafr. count tho length of time that has be. available for practice, and also remeadwi , that the works in hand had .bee? given before, and were therefore, either »»• strußO aor unfamiliar, he will incline to tit opinion that even a larger measured Mt-" cess should have been attained. .Tbto.J. especiall v on the part of the chores,TOW!., improvement. In the "Kyrie"-"«. J* was anything but. faultless, and there Pi alio a perceptible tendency here an? there to sing a trifle flat. The marks.«.'«W"- : sion, too, were not well enough _ttemo.' In fact, the execution of most of ™,F^:, sages marked by slow time and subdued expression was but a succes tfestitiie,':& r', chorus, however, almost atoned for tW shortcomings by its spirited renderii. <*. the more rapid and vigorous raonm^. such as the "Gloria" and the "Creft In the former, tho sopranos sang-^gst share of the music with signally gocdM and the "Credo" proved to be the»B interpreted portion of the whole _"ii§M| " Sanctus " and "Benedictus" were Wnj performed, and the " Agnus Dei "i»M very satisfactorily. If vanety in»"fflffi| ia charming, then no exception ne*."; _ taken to the pronunciation of the U» words, for in that respect there was W !**, of diversity. Speaking S^^h^ richly-wrought orchestral music w«-M#_ effectively executed, the *»ndeJk{ beat being, as it ever i . !'«?, _* decided, and the lead ot the first«, clear and unfaltering. The |«ffifcifj, though mournful offertory wtar.ptW";; the "Sanctus" was capitally ■WjgSffi Thosolos were divided among Miss B*W»,' son (soprano), Mr E. Harker {te;9[ VXMrH. Wtt (bass), and as a wholei«« carefully and well sung. Miss*stepW» of course, had the bulk d «■£*■ss£:. do, and whon it is considered that ®»*^-:~ up the task at rather abort notice one w" admit that she acquitted *«Wgm& worthily. She was somewhat ?* _W£ quavering at first, and the openmggS;; sages of the "Kyrie" were \.WS ' in consequence ; but she »PfyJS hor composure, and sang both Mfaffll and care, her enunciation^Wi,'. larly good. Mr Harker and W &HH sang very correctly, but "^""JSI was in such good voice as usual. WSfef choral portions of the » fW&MM instinct as they are with life andmot^.. were sung with great spirit MJJW* precision, the best numbers j^W Soubtedly the chorus of IfflSs:* ■ Como with Torches, &c." »k"^ggJ;. effect. Successful also was V'^SJ chorus, its marked staccato bemgM^ observed, The upper register of W«H ing chorus was rather trying, »• "SSII coming to grief more than »» ■Jffl& effort to get the A. There «M» MR damning the orchestra withM^l? Tho overture is lengthy sod ,<s|||§§ was executed with great *»J*J^. tion. Indeed, tho instrumented^ wholo work was vory ably per^^-| ; solos wero taken by Mr «JII (tenor), MrW. 0. Garland l-""*^,: James Knox (bass). » .W {«».- suffering from a cold, put - only betrayed itwlf'j, .^aSSi ability to take the upper A. TOj.^ was as successful as usual,.w^; >%3gm distinct enunciation and &rU*^/ a r\M'. tion of the value of true aW^ \ very noticeable. Mr GarlandM^j , altogether too light for ««w*g3?* such a character, and be thereto .-W^. at a considerable w%ilW has a fine, resonant voice, *W! E3S«_. exceptional facility and «^l^gML% The lion's share of Iho aw" *UQq. lot, and ho gave them and tastefully withal. J^ffw ever, ono or two of s£^{jSg___ upper register were not qmß"jJffig M music, however, is written w» . .^m .„.,M and is rather exacting iat/S^mm\\ whole, Herr Schmitt m^MMaWMM members individually upon the result of the W»«^^ : . M latter must remember tnat *^__-___i___l of officiency can only ™JZSMOO steady tralningandnnweaiy"--*'* 1 .Jj^m