CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 5

CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

* ■ ' L. "THE CREATION." . —: _ . The Auckland Choral Society gave its second concert of the season, and the first since the Christmas vacation, last night at the Choral Hall. There was a large audience' in attendance, and the society's intelligent performance of Haydn's famous and popular oratorio, "The Creation," was followed with much interest. The composer was 65 year 3of age when he started this great work of his life- He commenced it in 1796 and had it completed in 1798. He spent much time and pains at it, for he wanted it to last a long time. He knelt down each day and prayed to, God to strengthen him for his work. The oratorio is, indeed, one of the greatest.of tone-poems. The purity and sweetness of the themes appeal at once to the listener. It is an exquisite picture of nature; the orchestration is full of colour and fine contrasts, while the whole piece breathes of admiration for everything beautiful. At its first public performance in 1799 it made a deep impression in the audience, and it was well received. T In public favour, perhaps, it is only rivalled by that of Handel's "Messiah." A fine performance "was given of the work, and with the exception of a slight falling off in numbers of the male voices (o"wing to the influenza epidemic) the performing force was about its usual. The sopranos number 47, contraltos 39, tenors 12, basses 23, and the orchestra 34, making in all 155 performers. Madame Lilian Tree was entrusted with the exacting soprano music, all of which she sang in an artistic manner. The "Creation" solos admirably suit her voice and style, consequently she was quite at home with her music. She always gave interpretations which brought out every point and detail of the subject she was expressing. Each word wa3 clearly articulated, and her • phrasing was refined and suitable, and the florid passages and intricate intervals were easily overcome. Occasionally Madame Tree inserted a few extra notes not found in the score, and in the last three bars of "By Thee With Bliss" the music was sung an octave higher than written, all of which, however, did not detract from the music, but rather added to it. The beautiful aria, "With Verdure Clad,"' was interpreted with delightful purity and flexibility of voice. The graces of ornamentation and scale passages were sung with facility, and the syncopated notes received careful attention, and it was charmingly phrased and clearly expressed. At its termination the soloist was warmly recalled. She also displayed rare flexibility of voice and clearness of delivery in "The Marvellous Work," a setting for soprano obligato,with an accompaniment for chorus. Each note was decidedly vocalised, her voice being easily distinguished above the choir, which, by the way, accompanjied her admirably, while her sustained C in alt. rang out as clear as a clarionThis performance again secured for the songstress hearty manifestations of approval. The exquisite aria, "On Mighty Pens," received a finished performance. The eagle's flight was expressed in tones of broad quality, while the bars expressing the gaiety of the lark, the expressiveness of the cooing doves, and the plaintiveness of the nightingale were sung in the most descriptive manner imaginable. The grace notes and trills were sung with extreme purity and suppleness of voice, combined with a good tone. A splendid delivery was also given of the duo, "Graceful Consort," by Madame Tree and Mr. Coney. It was one of the gems of the concert. The voices blended very agreeably, and evidence was not wanting that careful rehearsal had been bestowed on the duo. Finally, Madame Tree is to be congratulated on her successful work all through the concert. That her singing was enjoyed by the subscribers was felt by the spontaneous applause which greeted her each time she appeared. Mr- Walter Whyte gave an excellent account of himself in the tenor arias. The tender beauty of 'In Native Worth" was delightfully realised. His phrasing and enunciation was very good, and the rendering of the solo was marked by much feeling and taste. Hi; declamation in the recitative, "In Splendour Bright," was most suitable. He gave a delightful interpretation of "In Rosy Mantle Appears," and also delivered his recitatives in an intelligent way. Mr. H. B. Coney sang the bass music in a manner that won for him much praise. He knew his music well, r.nd he sang successfully throughout. His recitatives were clearly declaimed, he lent valuable aid in the concerted pieces, and he delivered his arias with breadth and sometimes dignity. "Now Heaven in Fullest Glory Shone" was interpreted with emphasis and power, and suitable expression was displayed in the recitative, "Straight Opening." "Rolling in Foaming Billows" received a dramatic delivery, while the change of theme, "Softly Purling," was carefully phrased, and sung with grace and expression. At its conclusion Mr. Coney was warmly applauded. The trio, "On Thee Each Living Soul" received a rendering complete in every detail, and the same remarks apply to the delivery given of "Most Beautiful Appear."

The choir sang their music in a praiseworthy manner. Tbe leads were crisply attacked, the detached singing was good. Special attention was paid to the lights and shades of the music, and a fine tone was secured in the forte passages. The sopranos produced a full tone. The contraltos were rich in timbre, and throughout did admirable work. The basses' work told well in the vigorous choruses, their leads were always to be relied upon, and their intonation was very commendable. The tenors were a little overweighted at times, yet they lent valuable aid, and their efforts should be praised. A fine reading was given of "Achieved is the glorious work/ the sopranos and contraltos -heing specially effective in their part, while the basses in their fugal leads were exceptionally good. "Despairing Cursing Rage" was sung with spirit and force, the sopranos sang steadily, and the ha sses' high notes rang out clearly. The descriptive chorus, "The .Heavens are Telling," in which the full force of band and singers is employed in broad harmony and weighty chords, leading to a cadence of magnificent power, was rendered in a telling and emphatic style. A fine volume of tone was produced without being coarse iii quality. It was also resolutely and firmly delivered, and a vigorous climax was obtained at the close, which produced a fine effect. The trio and chorus, "The Lord is Great," was admirably interpreted, and Madame Tree and Mr Whyte were heard successfully in their semiquaver runs, while Mr Coney gave careful and satisfactory renderings of his portion. So much enjoyed was this number that the executants •were very warmly ovated. In "Awake the Harp" the voices of the choir were not always unanimous in their florid passages, nor were they always correct in the intonation of their intervals. The chorus ap-

peared to advantage in "By Thee With Bliss" and "Of Stars the Fairest," and they also gave a splendid reading of the closing choral number, "Sing the Lord." The orchestra gave a fairly successful delivery of the opening "Largo,"' and generally played the accompaniment in a subdued manner. The wood-wind band and brass executants, though not always absolutely correct in intonation, played carefully; specially effective were the trombones in the vigorous passages, and they made a great success-of their music in "The Heavens are Telling": and the strings produced » good 'Lone, but their efforts would have been more pleasing had they always played better together. Dr. H. Cox made a capable leader, Miss Boult was principal of the second violins, and Herr L. Blitz made an efficient contrabassrst. Dr. W. E. Thomas conducted with: care, and kept his choir and orchestra well under control, and is to be congratulated on the success of his efforts at the rehearsals. Mrs Jackson and Mr R. L. Hunt lent good service at the piano and organ respectively.