MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 199, 22 August 1900, Page 3

MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

GETHSEMANE,

At the Primitive Methodist Church, Alexandra-street, last evening, C. L. Williams' fine cantata "Gethsemane" was performed for the first time in Auckland by a chorus of 50 voices, comprising the church choir and friends. Although the weather was not the most favourable, still the church was crowded, some late-comers being unable to obtain sitting accommodation. The soloists were' Mrs Coates; Miss Bradbury and Messrs M. Trenwith and J. W. Ryan. The latter was particularly successful in his solos, and Mrs Coates sang with her usual sweetness and expression. Miss Bradbury, though -somewhat light for the work allotted to her, did well, and Mr Martin ' Trenwith's tenor voice was, as usual, heard to advantage. "Gethsemane" contains some fine musici entailing considerable work upori the members of the chorus, and it was evident last evening that occasionally the chorus was over faced. At the same time, the performance as a :-v?hole was creditable, the tenors and basses especially singing well. Credit is due to the conductor, Mr A:,.Trenwith, for the success achieved, the chorus showing plainly the care exercised in training to bring the performance of a work of such a class by a church choir to such a satisfactory result. The cantata will be repeated in the Franklin .Road Primitive Methodist; Church on the 6th of next month. ' :