THE "MESSIAH."

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16403, 24 December 1918, Page 10

THE "MESSIAH."

Tho Choral Hall last night presented ■ tha

pleasing sight of a crowded house, when the Musical Society with the co-operation of tho . Symphony Orchestra gavo an performance of the "Messiah." The groat work I met felicitously the all-felt eentinKjifc of tho J moment, for are wo not dreaming now of tho j re genera lion of the world, striving • for the ! birth of a new spirit to lift and make hap- : pier iis peoples? Considering tha enforced j inaction of the past weeks tne pci formate© leached a vory satisfactory grade. Tto aa- • tisiance of tho Malo Voice Ohoir, many of , them long familiar with the/work, anr) of the Cathedral choristers, equally proficient, | lent great strength and stability to tho chorus. - In fact, the boys led the sopranos absolutely and with full lung-power. One : felt they could have done it all by themselves, with never a flaw in time or tune at , least. Dr. Bradshaw conducted tbe choruses j with gTeat spirit, energy, and circumspea- | tion. In consequence, choruses like "And , tho Glory of the Lord," "Glory to God in ! the Highest," "Jjift Xlp Your Heads," and the "Hallelujah" choras oamo out with a fine swing, rich in volume of tone, and prozn the complicated fugsl structures embodied. They failed not in inspiration, anew they revealed their wonderful power ua conceived by Handel's master-mind. I If the choruses overwhelm us by their .force, development, and magnificence, wo.find in the soli many gems of beauty demanding great skill and emotional gifts from the singers both in recitativo and aria, Tor soprano and Ixies particularly Handel seta tha standard very high. In this instance Mies Clara Holdgate Bang tho soprano parta in a voice charming in its purity, timbre, •rid sympathy, with good enunciation, as indeed was the case with all tho soloists. One could only regret that ehe had to face almost at tho outlet the terrible- ordeal of "Rejoice Greatly, 0 Daughter of Zion,"onoof the most difficult oratoria arias ever written, which at first seemed to awe her. ''I Know that My Redeemer Liveth" was given with laeto and good effect. Certainly Miss Holdgate very favourably impressed her hearers, most of all with the solo "Come TTnto Him." ; Miss Dulcfo Mitchell found her true form in "He Shall Feed His Flock," which ehe eang not only with great warmth end tenderness of feeling, but which also brought out her voice to best advantage, "He was Despised" following next in merit. An earnest, conscientious, singer, gifted with an attractive tenor voice, *nd thoroughly musical, Mr H. Blakeley excelled in the lyric parts of' his task, epneciallv in opening recitativo "Comfort Ye, Mv People!" and _ with tbe aria, '"Behold and See,,'' Finally, Mr Chas. Clarkson, bass soloist. can_ only bo spoken, of in of hisrh proise on all occasions. But hw singing of "But who may Abide" and-"Why Do the Nation* so Furiously Itasre" c«uld not osily be matched in our parts. He j* a ' ficy, irr»sisfible_ oxnonent of theso splendid aria 3 and a vivid interpreter of tlio recitatives. Th> PvTnpVony O'chesfra. in membership laet niflit. plnyd in iiiesa circumstances verv fai'lv both "the overture and the Pastoral Syninhonv. Mr Sk-lfon orting as lender.- Miss Mncleodsmifh, nt. tliVpiatj-v. and Mr Adley at the organ, did very good sorvj'- ■ ■ Not only the poloifi's, but. aVo ove.ry chorua wa<!' most heartily applauded after every number.