CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 230, 27 September 1911, Page 2

CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

AN >EXJOYABLE PERFOB^IAN'CE. .Not. for-long time lias, the Auckland CJioral. Society acquitted itself,.with, such distinction alg'it'dld last liight, 'when a-mctsit er . forn!^n - -FA 3 of Handel's and Galatea," and Bennett's sawed .cantata, "Tie uomani of Sftmaria." • - Notwithstanding the several "cuts" made in the former work, so as to shorten the con-cert, the performance did not conclude luitil a feu minutes before eleven.

•-Thcr ohomHafet 4 w ? r ?7 EitmberSf-and-thero- was a.t>out -*>o. {vf. an. orchestra. Excepting a straining of the voices in the* high intervals the sopranos were generally equal to the demands made on them; the contraltos sang .intelligently; the tenors, though manifestly overweighted by the other divisions of the choir, got the most out of the music their strength would" allow, and the vcnice qtefiitjr. of. the basses had vitality and resonance." In some of the leads the choir was lacking in .unanimity, 'besides. exhiWting""a. feebleness dii tho tone prod|fcti&n;~ i bufc in regard to phrasing and expression, litst performance was. praiseworthy. Studied and effective readings were given by the soloists, and the orchestra, though not always equal to the demands of the music, lent good service. jjr'W. 31 Thomas conducted and . always had good command of the executants, Miss' Edith -Wbitelaw capably acted as leader, ; while the .piano and organ-parts were suitably played by -Mrs Jackson and-Mr Hunt.

'JTSfodelfs fam'oiw "Ada and Galatea" ©wupied: the "first part "of"tire evening. Tlie..-overture to the work, consisting of q'na movements .thoroughly pastoral in its style and"~characterised, by all that grace, and delicacy which marks the composer's- setting r of •. movements of this style,"-was. faJrly welT piayecl'. by. the iband. The chorus "0 tho Pleasures of the Plains!"—in which the easy, careless lifo.of. tho shepherds and their swains is" pictured—exdepfeng a feeble lead at the commencement, and uncertainty of the ii»tecpatl&aa<l.iime in .the page previous t<*"the.solo "For'a3'Zephyr Blows," was adequately delivered. A pleasing and FpaxWing. rendering was secured of '"Happy "Ife" vth«:. vQices moving-in the running passages of eighths with a nice 3egato, and the detached singing was capably achieved. In the intricate chor--11 s-' -< V^retolled Lovers'' the singers were not always sure of their music, and several of the leads were weakly attacked. In "Mourn all ye Muses" the partei'fTrni!g~exp're>sTon. syncopations and sustained, .intervals all received' just .observance, While. the rfiythm was . specially "rood. • "'choral consolations ot the- sbephgrds and their swains, •'Galatea, . r Drv Thy Tears," was most' ' effectively delivered, as _ was also - - "Cease,. Galatea, -to Grieve. !Rita Lyons, -who was entrusted with, the soprano part, acquitted herself very creditably. 'Her voice is of pleasing timbre -and- of ■ good range, though the purity of-it is somewhat, marred by a slight tremolo. Her enunciation is good, and. she sang. her ~jnusic.. in„ a', manner that gave evidence of careful preparation. That" melodiously 'beautiful air, "Hush,Te~ Pretty Warbling Choir/' received a free and lig'ht reading by the ■vocalist, • and - the "recitative, '"Ye Verdant Plates'," '-was appropriately given. Tho equally .graceful aria, "As When the ©ewe," was tastefully rendered'. Miss Lyons also sang successfully in the solo ./nufc.of\.tW .concerted number, "Must I My A'cis." .. The -tenoiu. music, found a. .capable ev. potiont * i-i -Mr. -,Tohi\ Fuller 1 . He w?2_ iheartily welcomed" When' he stood up tc cing his first'solo, and at the end of his effort lie. applauded... He gave . •with clearness of. utterance , and., purity. oHvoice,. "Where. Shall I Seek the Charming Fair?" and "Shepherd I ', What Art Thou Pursuing?" He also gave a graceful performance /of "Love in Her Eyes,'' and, "Would . You Gain?" and secured a tender.. Tendering of- "Love 'Sounds thelAfirnn" -TW intricate • air, ■Fond '''Shepherd,". with "its "syncopated

passages "and liigh intervals, was most successfully delivered, and at its conclusion the singer was enthusiastically recalled. As bass soloist, Mr. Ernest Parkes-was highly, satisfactory. He sang his music " firmly,' with; ' clearness of eriuntiatioru .carfttiii: .YegSwd' .to •phrasing, ■wKlahis intonation jsv.as,. generally .of. the-ihest. _He;gave a fiery reading of "I Sage, I_>lel,t,:V..and Vsang ."with fine facility of voiire; the -necessary humour, and grace,-t'he famous .giants* love song, "O RtiJdi'er-.tnan the Cherry!" -With the exception of a_ missed, lead in "Cease to Beauty? 1 *'^"xontn-tjiftoict l " amarked Tendering of the solo, and was heard-successfully with -Miss -Lyons and &frrj|u|ter 'in ; the trio', ''The.Flocks Shall Leave.'" "A"pleasing delivery was given of-the .spaVklihg duo, "'Happy We," hy Miss : Lyons and .' Mr..,..■...Fuller.That, 'beautiful 'composition of SterrtdalS Bennett,- -The "Woman' of ' Samaria," •was aftoiMtelv rrnclcrbd.,:„.T.liQ choir sang-the. rhonisei,,•'blessed Be Lord." "For. With „ Thee,'f-'- ''Therefore, . They • -Shall Come," ''Who is the Image?" "Abide With Me," nriiF'^6w-3Ve''Mieve J "- moat-effectively. A' .faijly;; sutisfactory- reading -was obtained of "Therefore With Jov.''.- The.

qiiajfet ~"God is -a- Spirit" -was most devnfcioniilly-rendered by-- the Misses Leon's,'Htoek, Fuller and Parkes. not quite sure, of part of the-a.0]0,. ''Art Thou Greater?" otherwise *vhe ; .,gave a,'pleasixig,..reading. bi it" "T.' WiK'lEoveThee". ;U _ as ... expressively given, and the soprano gained distinction ■with* Stock in the music of "The. WoiiiaH Theri. Jipft-"., The, conferalto num.ibers were '.well sustained, hy Miss. Brenda Stock, who has a voice of promising possibilities! She gave very tastefully tho air* "O Lord," her low notes sounding rieffi "and '-full, 1 -while -she was heard : tc adyantage.'in '''Maiiy of the'-Sa'mafitans" "And Many More Believed." Mr, John Fuller.,gave- an impressive performance of~"TJis Salvation," and Mr. Parkes sang ■with much acceptance, the music of "Jesus -Saifch," "If Thou Knewest," and "Whosoever Brinketh." There was a cro\vded audience, and the performance was fallowed with marked .interest.