HAYDN ORATORIO

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27466, 28 September 1954, Page 9

HAYDN ORATORIO

METHODIST CHURCH CHOIR Having heard several excellent performances of Haydn’s “Creation” by experienced choral societies, one was somewhat dubious about the ability of an ordinary church choir to undertake such an ambitious work, given by the Durham Street Methodist Church ‘dhoir on Saturday evening. So often church choirs are made up of a few devoted members who belong more from feelings of loyalty than because of musical talent. The fact is, however, that the Durham Street Methodist choir is no ordinary church choir. With the first chorus it was obvious that this was a flexible and highly-trained group of singers, capable of giving that brilliance and vivacity so necessary in this work. Larger societies can so easily clog up swiftly-moving contrapuntal textures into a blurred heap of s /°^ nd l « The moderate size of this choir (about 65 members) gave it an advantage, and apart from a certain hardening among the sopranos, the general tone was excellent and the effect clear ana expressive.

The soloists, Margaret Ward Jenkinson, Thomas E. West, and Murry Hunter, were all artists of the highest calibre. Both the tenor and the baritone gave superb performances, but the soprano solos were an absolute delight. A beautifully-clear production, coupled with a flawless technique, maae the singing of these lovely soprano songs an experience to be remembered.

To make a success of some of the rather naive “programme” effects in this work, such as the musical depiction of a lion roaring, or a worm winding its sinuous way, much depends on the flexible resource of an orchestra. The organ was an ineffective substitute at this performance, especially ss a number of the reeds needed tuning. Furthermore, the organ playing was not up to the standard or the singing. Although the music is difficult and not easy to adapt to this instrument, much of the playing was inaccurate. In spite of this, one could not but admire the astonishing ability of Mr Melville Lawry in conducting the choruses most ably with his left hand, while providing the bones of the accompaniment with his right hand and Uie pedals.

Even with this rather unsatisfactory accompaniment, however, there can be little doubt that this was a fine performance of a great work. On any standards the quality was' high, and for a church choir it was magnificent. Its undoubted success is a tribute to the devotion and success of the choir members and especially to the organist and choirmaster, Mu Lawry, whose personality and hard work made this performance possible. —N.R.W.