CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 302, 18 December 1912, Page 6

CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

; " THE MESSIAH." A FINE PEREOKMANCE. That " The Messiah," by the great Anglo-Saxon composer, Handel, still maintains a high place in the minds of the public was again emphatically proved last night, when the spacious Town Hall was crowded with an enthusiastic audience, and tiie performance was followed with marked interest throughout. No ! pains had been spared to make the conI cert a memorable one, which it undoubtedly was. There was a splendid muster of the executants, arid the choice of soloists proved to be an exceptionj ally good one. Madame Wielaert was the soprano, Mise Gwenyth Evans the contralto, whilst Mr. Walter Whyte, Auckland's favourite tenor, and Mr. An- ■ drew Black, the famous English baritone—perhaps the most experienced oratorio singer possessing his kind of voice, of the present day—came from Australia under special engagement to take part in the concert. The choruses were superbly delivered, and were quite a feature of the concert, the choraliste never appearing to better advantage. The orchestra, a competent body of players, did some excellent work in the accompaniments to the choruses, and if they were not always in full accord with the soloists, the blame can I not be attributed to them, Jnit to the liberty taken with the time by the soloists. The performance was well worthy the reputation the Society enjoys and the support given it by the public. The soprano solos were capably delivered by Madame Wielaert, who was honoured* with hearty applause after' each effort. She gave her solos with clearness of utterance, graceful phrasing, and purity of intonation. The recitatives, "There Were Shepherds," "And lo! the Angel," "And the Angel Said," "And Suddenly," were particularly effectively rendered. "Come Unto Him" was artistically sung, and the bravura aria "Rejoice Greatly" was freely vocalised, and an expressive reading was given of "I Know that My Redeemer." Miss Gwenyth Evans, though not possessing a strong voice, gave even performances of the contralto arias which reflected credit on the young soloist. She sang in a tender and flowing manner "He Shall Feed His Flock," and revealed a ; good legato and some flexibility of voice lin "O Thou That Tellest," and gave an expressive performance of the pathetic aria "He Wae Despised." After each solo, Miss Evans was heartily applauded. Mr. Walter Whyte sang with freedom and purity of voice "Comfort Ye," displayed good flexibility and sustaining power in "Every Valley," gave an impressive performance of '"Behold and See," and an expressive rendering of "But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell." He was a little forced in "Thou Shalt Break Them," and. through losing his place near the commencement, the orchestra had difficulty for a while to locate the bar he was singing. However, this was only momentary, * v ended in a dramatic performance of tne return of the theme. Mr. Whyte was enthusiastically greeted after his solos. The pride of place easdy fell to Mr Andrew Brack, who was warmly ovated when he stood up to e™g, and at tne termination of Wβ arias lie was accorded hearty nranifeetatiora of approval, while he was honoured with a warm double -■ecaU cut the conclusion of his rendering of "Why Do the Xations." What a lesson in phrasing, control of voice and breath management Mr Black's performance was! His singing all through proved to be a delight; co easy, so flowing, so cultured, so true in prtch, so satisfying, every note given its full value, every rapid passage or phrase taken Ln one breath, no breaking tne continuity of the music—an-d behind it aH there was the reserve when epeciai force was needed or a climax to be reached. The long runs, even that with forty notes in "Thus Saith," werv never broken for breath, and were given with an evenness and purity of tone delightful to listen to, while deliberation and clearness of utterance marked the reading of the opening bare. The air "But Who May Abide" wae very expressively rendered, -tie Sicilian pastoral style of the aria being delightfully represented, and the words •were given .their full significance. The following "For He Jβ Like" was rendered in a resolute and flexible •manner eminently befitting the character of the He also gave a graphic delivery of "Behold, Darkness," and rose to great heights in his interpretation of "Why Do the Nations." At the first delivery of the opening- he held himself in reserve, but at the repetition he let hineelf go, botih in time and voice, and gave a brilliant and dramatic rendering of the mueic. What a delight his flowins; triplets of quavers were, co even in their purity, and how beautifully vocalised the rnymical passages of semiquavers and eighthe, while much breadth and force wae exhibited in the utterance given of the flnai "The People Imagine a Vain Thing." After thie great performance the gifted artist wae very warmly ovated, and -had to twice bow hie acknowledgments. The ehoru&ee, "Thus vSaith the Lord," "0 Tho-u that Tellest," "He Trusted in God," and "For Unto Uβ" were extremely well sung. The voices >blend«l admirably, the intonation was good, the attack firm ajod the release simultaneous, the tone pleasant, and the attention to light and shade moet commendable. I-n "All We Like Sheep" the choir moved with commenda.ble steadiness, the florid parta being specially well done, while Hie closing "And the Lord hath Laid" wae given with foreadbh and devotional feeling. "Behold the Lamb of God" wae sung with the massive gTandeur which the subject demanded, and much spirit and freedom was displayed in the performance obtained of "The Lord Gave the Word." A fine interpretation was secured of the great masterpiece, the Hallelujah Ohorus. Other admirably sung numbers were "Worthy is the Lamb" and the Amen Chorus. The band, led by Miss Whitetaw, gave a praiseworthy rendering of the overture, while the 'Tastor&l Symphony" was delivered in a way wbiieh revealed ite pristine bea-TTty to advantage. Dr W. E. Thomas conducted, and Jβ to be congratulated on the success of the performance. The front of the etage was beautifully decorated by Meedaroes Tayler and Keeble with carnations and eweet peae I from the garden of Mr Henry Brett, who 'is the president of the society. Mr Scott : Galville, the eociety'e secretary, enccess- : fully attended to the -wiahes of the sub- \ scribere.