MUSICAL UNION CONCERT.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11153, 20 December 1901, Page 5

MUSICAL UNION CONCERT.

. "THE MESSIAH." i It has now become a. recognised) thing that "The Messiah ,, should be performed at Christmas time by one or other of the Musical Societies, and tbie custom/has been observed yearly. Last night the Muaical Union gave « performance of "The Messiah, ,, wfcioh, judged by former ones, wae, as a whole, the least successful. It is true that MJrsj Boms ancfc Miss Graham cans their solos in a manner . deserving of. afl praise, and Mr Collier to a, degree was good.. But here all praise, oven in & diminished form, must etop, for the gentleman to whom the bass solos, Hthich. are, perhaps, the. most important in the work, were' entrusted, vraa unnustakeibly- overweighted. If the policy of the Musical Union is to be one of economy . rather than., on endeavour to give the .work* to be paraduced in tlie best possible manner, then the cause of music in ' Ghristefraroh will undoubtedly suffer. Mrs Bums, who sang , the soprano solos, did co with much, skill axtd effect. The recitatives, beginziing with "There Were Shepherd*," were excellently given, and the air, "Rejoice Greatly," was sung in a manner deserving the highest) inraiee., In "Come Unto Him" Mre Barns sang with great parity of tone and excellent enunciation. In "I Know That my Redeemer" >Im.Burns Also was heard to advantage and! throughout the oratorio all the solos allotted to the soprano were eang with much success. Equally with Mrs Burns, Miss Graham is entitled to high praise for her admirable interpretation of the alto music. She sang the opening recitative, "Behold a Virgin, very finely, and she wae also excellent in the air "O, Thou. That Telleet," the beautiful aire, •Bβ Shall Peed Hie Mock , ' and "Hβ Was Despised," were both eung by Miss Graham in a manner deserving; warm commendation. She wag particularly Siod in the former. In "He was despised' fee Graham'sang with much feeling and pathos, and, taken throughout, her interpretation of the solos was excellent. Mr B. H. Collier sang the tenor eolos. His voice and «tyle ie purely suited to ballad, music, and lacks the necessary dramatic vigour and power of attack co essential for a roceewful performance of oratorio mtwic. This defect wae noticeable in has tinging last night, though some of hie solos were given vtry creditably. "Comfort ye" was sung cararqUy end well, bat to "Every valley" there was a want of life and criepmess of treatment. In the recitative, "My rebuke, ,, and the following air, "Behold and see," Mr Collier lacked power, but he was good in the recitatm, "He wae out off," and particularly to in "'But Thou didst not leave," .which wae by far his b«rt effort, Though his voice was decidedly on the light ■side for the solo*, Mr Collier deserves commendation for tha way in which be, as a whole, gave the solos. Mr Arthur Merton, who took the baes eolos, was, as has been said, completely overweighted, and the result was anything but eatiefactory, JJe appeared to be unequal to the very exacting and dramatic moqic which c&Es for & bos*oprofuneo, instead of a light voice encß as Mr Merton's. The choruses as a whole were excellent. Especial praise is due lor the way in which "And the glory," "O, Thou that tellest," "Surdy He has borne our crriefs," "Lift up your heads," aad "The Hallelujah," were sung. Tbe orchestra was somewhat depleted owing to various causes, and in parts the playing was somewhat ragged, notably in the overture. "The Paatoral Symphony ,, was well played, but from the cause mentioned there was a want of balance. -Mr Wallace conducted. Miss Cook led, and Mies Katie Young did excel* i lent service at tbe organ..