AUCKLAND CHORAL SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 257, 30 October 1925, Page 10

AUCKLAND CHORAL SOCIETY.

.. SUCCESSFUL CONCERT. In the Town Hall last evening thi Auckland Choral Society jgaye- its thirc performance of the 1920 season befor* a large audience. ./. . X ; _ (Rossini's "Stabat. Mater/ and. Ma: Bruch's "Fair Ellen" were the chora pieces presentedj:; and', orchestral, yoca numbers, and Verdi's quartet "Belli Figlia," constituted the remaining item of the programme. There was an, attendance. of 16] singers and orchestra,' and adniirabli work was achieved. In the big ensenibli portions voices and. orchestra-produce( a satisfying sound. ' In tlie.. harmonj parts the choral blend' was good, while' the leads, phrasing, enunciation an< expression scheme received.. -suitabL attention. The place of distinction was given t< "Stabat Mater," by Gioachino Rossini the father of the modern school of opera whose home was the Mecca of singer* and like Liszt at Weimar, the centre o art influences. Of all ' the "Stata Maters," Rossini's lias been' i\\k mos popular. The Work was started ii 1832; six versions were given in Pari in 1841, but the entire Rossini form wa not submitted until 1842. Rossini wa widely criticised at the time for intro ducing music of the theatre into th Church. It was not intended to b< sung publicly, but in the private chape of the Spanish Grandee, Don Varela The fourth number the bass aria "Pn Peccatis," which is very earnest am serious in character, is more in Churcl style than any other part of the wora The music is abundant in fascinatin; melody and graceful bravura. At it first complete performance at the Sail Ventadour, January €, 1842, Gris; Albertazzi,. Mario, and Tamburini, wer " the principal artists. An, effective' reading was secured o the music by the society. The brie but short orchestral prelude received . contrasted rendering. The openin, concerted' "Stabat Mater Dolorosa arranged for solos and chorus, was give: a performance displaying its dramati ! writing and broad melodious contrasts Mr. A. H. Ripley sang the brillian "Cujus Animam" in a telling munnei jto which was added a rhythmic accom j paniment by the orchestra. Miss Loi Evans and Mrs. Towsey overcame th intricacies of "Quis est Homo" in a wa; which did them credit., The yoca embellishments and cadenza .wer fluently vocalised, and , the beautifu opening of the work was'executed witl taste and feeling. Mr. Harison Coo) gave a maestoso and earnest renderinj of "Pro Peccatis," and admirably ex hibited its two themes: ■ lie also gaine< a success with the choir in the "Eii Mater." :i The quartet "San eta Mater was,-sung.by.the solo voices .in a manhe displaying its varied treatment, while I a broad reading was sec'jred -of ■■ • thi closing "Plangere Tecum." Mrs. Towse; was heard to advantage in the cavatim "Fac -ut Portem." Miss Lois Evan gave a dramatic and flexible reading o "Inflammatus" and the full choral back ground was admirably sustained by th choir, .whilst the orchestra also len valuable Service. "Quando Corpus" re ceiveii' a: broad and pleasing delivery b; Mrs. Towsey,, Miss Evans and Messrs Ripley and Cook. An enjoyable per formance of a notable creation termin ated with a powerful and flowing render ing of the graphically fugued chorus "Ii Sempiterna Saecula, Amen." Max Bruch's "Fair Ellen" received t descriptive and. effective performance The concerted numbers were intelligently sung by the choir, and- the solos wen capably delivered by Miss L. Evans an< Mr. Stanley Holliday. * Friedemann's "Slavonic Rhapsody , was brilliantly played by the orchestra and Verdi's "Bella Figlia" was effec tively sung by Miss Evans, Mrs. Towsei and Messrs. Ripley and-Jiolliday. Afte" his ' graphic , and enjoyable singing" . p Leoncavallo's "Prologue," Mr. Harisoi Cook received three emphatic calls foi extra solos. The orchestra, led by Mrs Singer, gave distinctive readings of thi nmsic. Mr. Colin Muston aWy directet the performance, and Mr. Towsey accom panied.