CHORAL CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 157, 4 July 1888, Page 8

CHORAL CONCERT.

« ELIJAH."

The Auckland Choral Society gavfcT the third concert of the season last evening i_\ the Choral Hall, the work chosen for representation being the " Elijah," by Feli x Mendelssohn Bartholdy. This oratorio is too well known bo require any annotationIts popularity was attested by the crowded assembly, the building being packed to its utmost capacity. There was an excellent muster of performing members-over 200 vocalists and 44 instrumentalists, the conductor s baton as usual, being skilfully wielded by Herr Carl ' Theroprano solos were allotted to Miss Stephenson, who possesses a light mezzosoprano voice, flexible, and of good compals and sweebnWß of tone. Her part was well prepared, anu', on the whole creditably sung. She spoil, much really conscientious work as far as the musical part goes bhrough defective enunciation and want of dramatic cx Pre™Her solo, "What Have I To Do Wijh Thee?" was taken too quickly, and she should have produced the agitato effect by means of studied declamation instead of by a semi-vibrato style of singing. Her rendering of "Hear Ye, Israel"—a most di.ficut number and requiring great range of i voice—was.however, a marked success, and without doubt the finest solo of the evening. . Mr Archdale Taylor sang tho part of " Elijah" effectively. He has improved in style, and was quibe au fait with the music. His comprehension of the intention of the composer is accurate, and consequently his singing expressive, -tie sang bhe short aubroducbion very well, and moot of his recibative singing was pi&asing. One great fault he has is want of variety ot tone ; he cannot yet modulate his fine voice bo the best advantage. The aria, "Lord, God of Abraham," he sang well. His best number, however, was the beautiful aria, "It is Enough," beginning andante and changing into aD allegro vivace, whicli he sang with much verve. Mrs Burgess undertook the principal conbralto solos. Her voice is very pleasing, moderate in power, and generally correct in intonation. She reads carefully and intelligently, and the audience evidently appreciated* her rendition of the recitatives "Elijah, Get Thee Hence" and "Now Cherath's Brook is Dried Up." "Oh, Kesb in bhe Loid," was successfully rendered, and elicibed warm applause, bub the number was taken too fast, and bhe singer bad nut bhe opporbuniby of giving due expression to bins beautiiul uria. The parts that fell bo bhe lob of Mrs Edger were boo small to give her an opporbuniby to display her voice. What little she sung as a solo was rendered with feeling and animation. She sang very well in some of the concerted music.

The music for the tenor was entrusted to Mr Hoskings, who we understand, took up the part at the last moment, owing to the indisposition of Mr Barker. His method was faulty, and prevented him. doing justice to a very useful tenor voice. His most successful effort was bhe recibative " ¥c People," and bhe following solo, " li Wibh All Your Hearts." In the aria, " Then Shall the Righteous Shine,' marked andante sostenuto, his interpretation of the sostenulo was nob a success.

The unaccompanied terzetto, " Lift Thine Eyes," by Miss Stevenson, Mrs Edger, and Mrs Burgess, was the best of the conceited numbers, and was exceedingly well taken. The opening chorus, beginning with the wail, "Help, Lord," was well taken; also the chorus, "Yet Doth the Lord." The best rendered choruses were "Baal, We Cry to Thee," "Baal, Hear, and Answer," and "Thanks bo to Uod." Still, the chorus singing last night was far below bhe standard ot excellence that is expected of the Choral Society — below what ib has done and what it is still able to do. The choruses were not so far mastered that the performers could give their attention to expression and finish, nor waa the power, considering the number of voices, all that could be desired. This was especially noticeable .where the soprani had to sustain a high note ; instead of bright penetrating sound, the voice seemed to collapse. The orchestra considered the singers moro than is their wont, and accompanied much better, the tremolo accompaniments that occur here and there tor the violins being charmingly played. The abort overture left a great deal to be uesiredin the execution, the tone being very thin ; indeed, one great fault in allthechoralandorchestral music is the want of volume of tone. For this kind of music it should be rich and sonorous, to contrast with the lighter parts, instead of which it is alternately brazen and reedy, a fault that is no doubt largely due to the want of practice. Reviewing the performance as a whole, it was far in advance of anything produced by the Society during the past two years, and the conductor and members are to be congratulated upon the result of last night's concert. But there is still room for improvement. One thing that militated against success was that the performers were not considering the general effect, and the conductor more than once failed to bring the chorus and orchestra together so as to produce perfect unity. Several numbers were excised, and wisely so. Mr Chas. Hemus led the orchestra skilfully, and was ably seconded by Mr Eady. A The Secretary (Mr Edminston) and Committee are to be congratulated upon the satisfactory arrangements for subscribers. The usual crushing was not observable, and everybody was comfortably seated. There has been a widely expressed wish throughout town to-day that the " Elijah " shouid bo repeated for the public.