"THE MESSIAH."

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 305, 24 December 1891, Page 2

"THE MESSIAH."

At the Choral Hall last evening the Auckland Choral Society gave " The Messiah" before a packed and appreciative audience. On bhe whole, the rendition of .Handel's great oratorio was satisfactory—efficient and easy, but scarcely impressive. "The Messiah " has probably been both more and less ably performed than last evening, but the audience thoroughly enjoyed it, and, contrary to custom, during the performance of this sacred oratorio testified their appreciation by applause. The choruses were for the first time for a long season entitled to only second honours, Mr Percy Dufaur, as baes ooloist, undoubtedly achieving the honours of the evening. He was in magnificent voice and sang with great power and execution, Hia first solo, " Who May Abide ?" was restrained and full of effect, though not free from fault in the preafco passages ; but it was in the recitative and in the great bass number, " Why Do the Nations," that Mr Dufaur achieved his greatest success, though "The Trumpet Shall Sound" was also a most impressive and effective solo, greatly enhanced by the trumpet oblig&fco by Mr Gribbin. The fulness and power of the resonant voice pealing through tha hall in these favourite and dramatic solos will not be easily forgotten by those who heard them. Mr Dufaur is to be congratulated warmly, and so is the Society on having so capable a soloist.

Miss Murray, Kret soprano soloist, achieved a success, her young, pure voice gaining the immediate sympathies of the audience. The clearness of her enunciation is greatly to be commended. She sang with sweetness and considerable expression, but her voice has scarcely the necessary povrer and timbre for oratorio singing. In recitative Miss Murray was quite at home, though this was her first appearance in singing of this class, and the sclos "He Shall Feed His Flock " and " How Beautiful are the Feet" wer6given touchingly. Miss Murray, however, makes one error, that of confusing Handel's arias with the simplicity which makes her ballad-singing so attractive. "The Messiah' , perhaps needs a more highly-trained voice, but the young soprano was greatly and deservedly appreciated.

Miss Harding's singing of " Rejoice Greatly " scarcely justified her having b6en cast for that extremely beautiful but very difficult solo.

Mrs J. Coates gave the contralto solos with great feeling and expression. At first nervousness or some temporary throat trouble rafcher interfered with her singing, but in the beautiful solo ''He Was Despised " she was heard to the greatest advantage, the devotional feeling and pathos with which she endowed the number being- worthy of high praiao. In recitative Mrs Coates was also heard to advantage, and her singing in the quartettes was most commendable. The quartettes, it may be here remarked, were well 3ung by all concerned, and were greatly enjoyed by UlO audienco.

Mr AJarfcin was evidently nob quite in his best form, and looked ill, bub nang the tenor soloa with care and expression, though his voice was not in perfect order. "Comfort Ye My People" was his besD effort. The choruses were fairly £;iven, but were rather too. Bure withoub being spirited. The leade were, however, taken up in a mariner that must have boen highly gratifying to the conductor, Herr Carl Schmibt, bo whom all praise must be given for the way in which he kept theorchestra together. The basses'-vcro specially fine, baking their leads with immense resolution, as also did the contraltos, who outshone the sopranos in this respect. " For Unto Uβ " was on the whole well given, though there was a slight want of impressiveness. The words Wonderful, Counsellor, were scarcely brought out with the impressive crash which should aignalise the number. " All We Like Sheep" was a very eueceasful number, and the Hallolulujah Chorus was given with excellent regard to time, the leads being splendidly taken up. The orchestra did their work well. The accompaniments woro nicely subdued. The " Pastoral Symphony" was excellently rendered. Herr Tutchska and the members of the orchestra are to be congratulated. " The Messiah," in tact, sets the cap to a most successful series of concerts, and Herr Schmitt well deserves the holiday the recess will allow him. His work must occasionally have been most trying. " The Messiah " is, of course, to be repeated according to custom on Christmas Day.