"THE MESSIAH''

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2644, 15 December 1915, Page 8

"THE MESSIAH''

1 ROYAL WELLINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY. Handel's "Messiah" is a hardy annual with the Royal Wellington Choral Society. The society is not bound by its rules lo perform the great work in each December, but if it were not given tho final place on tlie season's programme there would be many wanting to know the reason for its absence. As, however, it can generally be relied upon to attract a large audience—usually the largest of the season—there is small, doubt that it will retain its place. The performance given before a very large audienco last evening at the Town Hall was not as impressive as it might have been, and at times there were places where it was palpable that the preparation given to the work was scarcely as conscientious as it might have been. The sopranos are the mainstay of the Choral Society's chorus. Their tone is bright, and solid in toxture, and they attack with confidence, but (here were occasions when each of the other sections dragged in their leads and slowed many of the runs. The tenors, as usual, were a negligible quantity. The chorus, "For Unto Us," was taken at a quicker tempo than usual, and the absence of the traditional retard at the end robbed the number of its climax and caught many of the chorus napping. There wns fair unanimity in "Glory to God," but the difficulties of "His Yoke is Easy" were not altogether overcome, but lapses were rendered less obvious by the helpful organ. The two best-sung choruses were "Lift Up Your Heads" and the exalted "Hallelujah Chorus." It is rather a pity that the "Amen" chorus was included. On the whole the soloists were satisfactory. ilr. ilartin Duff, a light, sweettoned tenor, sang his music correctly, and effectively within the scope of his temperament. He appeared to be a little perturbed at the accelerated tempo at which "Every Valley" was taken, but sang the music unfalteringly. This included the sometimes cut recitative "He AVas Cut Off' and air "But Thou Didst Not Leave" and "Thou Shalt Break Them," Mr. Sigurd Lestrup, the new Danish baritone, created a favourable impression. He is a powerful baritone, with a vibrant but somewhat hard tone, more adapted to the heroic than the softer moods in music, and whilst he is splendidly robust in style, he has a trick of tapering off on the last note of a phrase. His phrasing was distinctly good, and he sang his music with rare intelligence, most effectjye'y, perhaps, in his recitatives. "But Who llay. Abide" was artistically satisfying, and he sang "Why the' Nations" with plenty of dramatic forcc. His fine voice was suited to the declamatory demands of "The Trumpet Shall Sound," in which he made* two slight lapses, but was artist enough to pick himself up. Ihese were probably caused through having to pick up his leads in the course of trumpet fanfares, blown fortissimrao by Mr. W. Bowden. Mrs. Kosewarne sang the contralto music with dignity and feeling. She sang the recitative "then Shall the Eyes of the Blind" with fine serenity and conviction, and "He Shall Peed His Mock m a deeply reverential spirit. She was also most satisfying in the lovely solo. He Despised." The soprano music was entrusted to Miss Nancy Rhodes (of Auckland), whose vocal equipment is hardly suited to the demands of oratorio. Nervousness had its effect on her work. She was at her best in the Flock " Sha " Feed His ■ The accompaniments were played by an orchestra of strings, and the grand organ Mr. G. Kerry at the console), with a result that was fairly satisfactory. The ? ne «?, f 'i"* s , tr „ was somewhat thin in he I astoral Symphony," which was .only [airly well played. The conductor, Mr Bernard Page, was- inclined to acceleratetbe tempos, particularly in the first few numbers, but throughout kept his forces pretV well in hand, which at times was aot the easiest of tasks.