THE "MESSIAH" AT DURHAM STREET CHURCH.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14546, 24 December 1912, Page 10

THE " MESSIAH" AT DURHAM STREET CHURCH.

We must .bo a musical community indeed. For the third time within ten days tho "Messiah" has been givon hero, each time by different choirs and soloists. In tho olden days an appeal was mado to all the singers acquainted with the music, and as a result a performance more impressive than any of recent dato became possible. But tho spirit of co-operation in music, at least, has gone under of late. The augmented cho-r of Durham street Methodist Cliurch was well and carefully trained by Mr Ernest Firth; in very few instances did they waver, and the balance wns distinctly good, owing to the numerically stronger and weil-sounding inner voices. But in expression too uniform, there was lacking" also a certain degree of energy and swing, which a Minflel chorus, it any, suggests, and by means of which its nppeal is so irresistible. The soloists as a body were .superior to those of the previous presentations. Miss Isabel liogers's voice is of youthful freshness, the roundness of her tone and the attack pleasing, only in the second part of the air "Kojoico Greatly" did she appear fatigued. The contralto, Miss Francis Ford, sang tastefully and with feeling, but the words at times dragged ana marred the total effect. Mr A. Petty is distinguished for clear enunciation and good declamation; the voice is not strong, but was well managed, except in one or two hasty openings. Mr S. Hawker's experience and knowledge helped him in the difficult task of the bass soli, but he was hardly as successful in the iromendous air "Why do the Nations" as in the other movements. Objection may be taken to the sudden increase of speed with the words ''For now is Christ risen." At St. Luke's it was at least doubled, and even last night the powerfnl sentence lost in dignity and impressiveness through tho chosen tempo, that has no justification. Mr H. J. Wittingham rendered good service at the organ, and Mr Ernrst Firth conducted with skill and circumspection.