WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 541, 23 June 1909, Page 5

WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

FIRST SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT. Considered as a whole, tho Wellington Choral Society's first subscription concoct of the present season, given in the Town Hall last evening, beforo a largo audience, was a distinct success. The programme was a miscellaneous one in a sense, with a preponderance of choral work. It was not unduly long—the concert commenced '.shortly after 8' o'clock and onded almost on tho stroko of 10 —and in results was worthy ot unstinted praise. Of course, there w?"j faults. Was there over,a performance without them? But the whole concert offered such manifest ovidence that everything that conscientious .clfort'.in the -attainment: of perfection could do had been- done, ■ that ; the society and its conductor (Mr. J. Maughan Barnett) are entitled to bo congratulated. It must have been extremely gratifying to them to face such a largo attendance, of tho public and to fool, by tho frequent demonstrations of appreciation which wore tendered by the audienco, that their work had not been altogether in vain. • ' The concert opened with the fine " Co Lβ Bro" march from Lachner's "First Suito," by the. orchestra. This was played with appropriate spirit, and tho performance showed that thn composition had been carefully rehearsed. The instruments were precise in attack and instantaneously responsive to the. baton. For the choral work thpro had been selected Brahme's "Song of, Destiny" and Gade's " Comala."' The former, entirely choral in construction,' may be taken first in ordor'of consideration. Expressive, full of rich harmonics, and abounding in variations of treatment in its tonal effects, it served admirably ,as a test of the resources of the chorus. THe tono was good, balance almost perfect throughout, a.nd the discipline excellent. Had there been any disproportion irf tho constitution of the choir it would certainly have revealed itself in tho first chorus, at the concluding bars, where an exquisite blending of tho §arts, in piano, occurs. Tho rendition was awless. A difficult piece of syncopated time in the passage "Like water from cliff unto cliff over dropping, etc," was, in its performance, another indication of tho care which has evidently been taken with the rehearsal work. "Comala," a cantata for solo, chorus, and orchestra, is a setting by Gado, of a dramatic poem after' Ossfcai. There ato a number.of fino choruses;: excellent scope for the principal soprano and baritone, ,and the wholo is most attractive and tunpful work, intensely dramatic, and calling for careful P.nd intelligent interpretation. Concerning the choral part of the > production need be added—or subtracted—, to ,wnat ,has already been said about'the efficiency of the choir. A- ,partictdariy fine number was the dramatic chorus of spirits, "Our Pathway is tho Storm." The soloists'were Madame AViolaert (prinoipal soprano), Mrs. A. Slack (second soprano), Mi6s May Driscoll (contralto), and Mr. F. S. Pope (baritone), who at tho last moment had courageously undertaken to fill the place of Mr. W. A. Robjna, unable, through unforeseen circumstances, ,to take his part.. In addition to the soprano solo in "Comala," Madame 'Wielaert l also sang earlier in the evoning the aria ,"Hear, Ye Israel," from Mendelssohn's "Elijah," with pianoforte accompaniment by Mr. Horace Hunt. _ She was rather disappointing in this -number., She • sang with appropriate enough ,' feeling, but a number of ( faults-in her singing method rathor detracted from what might -otherwise have been a very fine performance. Shp has a good, voice, > but her .. is uneven, phrasing faulty, nrid tempo not altogether above suspicion. Her method of attacking the notes - was s bad, being technically known as "scooping."' In, "Comala" she was very much better, and it was qmto manifest that she had been carefully and intelligently tutored for her part. Her best effort was the caratina, "O, were I

Departed from Carm's Waters!'' ;In .Her association with tho'. chorus in '.'Orir Pathway- is" the Storm," Madame showed -that' she possesses distinct .talent ' for oratorio. Madame must also'be complimented for her rendition of. the solo' (with' choral accompaniment),'"Stilled is the' Fight." Mr.'F.. S. ; .Pop© ably' filled what would otherwise havo been a seriousj breach, and sang his • solos carefully and correctly.. That.ho,successfully avoided mishap is more tbao'a compliment to him, in tho cireumstsuices. Mrs. Slack (second soprano) and Miss May; Driscoll (contralto) were, not very heavily hardened. Their work was carefully and conscientiously done. The leader of. the orchestra was.Mr. H. Carter, and'Mrsi W. D. Murdoch wts at'the harp.'■■'■ ' ':■'"■ -.-■. ••■•.■ ■• ••' ■•■"'