AUCKLAND CHORAL SOCIETY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3258, 25 December 1867, Page 5

AUCKLAND CHORAL SOCIETY.

The members of this Society gave another of their grand musical festivals last evening, in the Assemblyroom of the Mechanics' Institute. The performance was in the highest degree successful, anrl attended with the most gratifying results. There \va3 a numerous and fashionable audience assembled, including the elite of the city and suburbs, the officers of the Garrison, and the officers of H.M. s. ' Falcon.' The magnificent sacred oratorio "Messiah" was selected for performance, and was an appropriate subject with which to close the musical season. This imperishable oratorio, in which the incomparable genius of Handel has grouped the words already sanctified in Holy Scripture, after the lapse of over a century stands alone in all its sublimity and grandeur. Like most great works, it had at first made but little progress in public estimation, but it was destined to take a firm and lasting hold on the minds of the people. It was penned by its gifted author in the almost incredibly short space of twenty-four days, and it is believed the annals of music afford no parallel of this wonderful achievement. The composition combines music at once sublime, grand, and tender, adapted to the most lofty and majestic theme. It was first performed in the city of Dublin on 13th April, 1742, under the conduct of Handel himself, and was then characterised as "a moit finished piece of musio." It was produced for the benefit of three local charities. On the 25th March of the following year it was performed for the first time in the city of London. There is soarcely a town in Great Britain where this sublime oratorio has not been performed. No other sacred oratorio has been so often repeated in public in the home country, or hat enjoyed ho great a reputation. Indeed the sacred compositions of Handel are by far the most popular in England at the present day ; and the " Messiah" is known throughout America and the continent of Europe. The music, when purely interpreted, as we take leave to say it was last night, never fails to awaken religious fervour and devotional feeling in the listener. It is duly appreciated beoause it appeals to the heart, and speaks with an utterance so distinct as to be comprehended by all. It is needless to enlarge upon the genius which the composer has thrown into this grand Christian oratorio — this deeply religious poem. The orchestra consisted of one hundred performers. The Chorus numbered eighty vocalists — 24 trebles, 18 tenors, 18 altos, 20 basses. The Band numbered twenty instrumentalists. We mention the names of the principal performers : — Colonel Balneavis (leader), Ist violin ; Mr. Wright, 2nd violin ; Mr. Harker, viola ; Messrs. Fenton and Bartley, violoncellos ; Messrs. H. O. Browne and West, contra bassi ; Mr. Currie, trumpet ; Mr. Oughton, trombone. Several of the band of the 18th Royal Irish rendered assistance. Mr. Vincent E. Eice ably presided at the harmonium. Mr. J. Browne was conductor, and he wielded the baton as effectively as on any previous occasion. The limited space at our disposal forbids us giving anything like a lengthened critique of the splendid performance. The character of «uch a performance must not be judged by strict tules of criticism, as the building is ill suited for such a musical display. The firii; part opened with the performance of the overture. The recitative accompanied, "Comfort ye my people," was sung by a vocalist of some promise. He was rather tremulous at the commencement, and did not sing with ease and freedom. He sang the air " Bv'ry valley shall be exalted " better, and with more confidence in himself. The chorus, "And the glory of the Lord," which followed, was well rendered. The recitative accompanied, "Thus saiththe Lord," was sung by Mr. Farrow with pleasing effect, but his rendering of the air "But who may abide the day of His coming ?" was cbaste and remarkably correct. The chorus, " And he shall purify," was given with much precision and effect. The recitative " Behold ! a Virgin shall conceive," and the air and chorus " O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion," were sung by a lady whom we have frequently had the pleasure of hearing. She is gifted with a sweet voice, and sings m a smooth unimptssioned style. The recitative accompanied, " For, behold, darkness shall coyer the earth," and the air "The people that walked in darkness," were produced by Mr. Farrow in a style we have seldom heard excelled. The magnificent chorus, " For unto us a child is bom," was given with great effect. Although not remarkable for intricacy of design, the masterly handling of the separate parts renders it one of the highest specimens of jubilant thankfulness ever offered by man to his Creator. One of the great features of the piece is the thrilling effect with which the [words "Wonderful," "Counsellor," &c, are produced after the sweet and tender passages wnioh precede them. The beautiful and •simple pastoral symphony leads into the recitative "There were shepherds abiding in the field," "the recitative accompanied, "Andlo! thejangel of the Lord came upon them j" the recitative, " And the angel said unto them ;'' and the recitative accompanied, " And suddenly there was with the angel." These beautiful pieces were rendered by a lady —an accomplished vocalist — with much expression and pathetic tendemeßS. The purity and sweetness of her vocalisation we admired. The chorus " Glory to God" was vigorous and effective. The beautiful air "Rejoice greatly, O daughter ot Zion," was rendered by Madame Mb'ller with remarkable correctness and exquisite taste, the floral portions being thrown off with much ease and gracefulness. The recitative, " Then shall the eyes of blind be opened," and the air "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd," were next given. The latter, which was sung by Madame Moller, was most exquisitely rendered, especially the solo which forms the second verse, "Take His yoke upon j you." We have never heard it excelled for correctness and facility of expression at any previous musical entertainment in this city. It was followed by the splendid chorus "Behold the Lamb of God," which was given with good effect j the different points were taken up with great precision. The exquisite and well-known air " He was despised and rejected " was rendered by an accomplished vocalist in a finished style. The second movement in the air " He gave His back to the smiters " was especially pleasing. There was a simplicity and purity of vocalisation displayed, which is admirably adapted to the devotional melodies of "The Messiah." After the ! magnificent choruses " Surely He hath borne our ! griefs," " And with His stripes we are healed," and •• All we like sheep have gone astray," Mr. Austin sang in a pleasing and chaste style the recitative accompanied, " All they that Bee him laugh him to scorn," which was followed by the grand chorus "He trusted in God that He would deliver him." It was well taken up, and is one of the very best fugues. The recitative accompanied, " Thy rebuke hath broken his heart," was admirably sung by Mr .Austin ; but the nearest approach to perfection in the whole performance was the rendering of the beautiful air " Behold and see if there be any sorrow." The recitative "He was cut off out of the land of the living," and the air, " But thou didst not leave His ■oulin hell," suDg by a lady already referred to, were remarkably good, and were listened to with a feeling of pleasure.' The choruß "Lift up your heads, O ye gates," with which the first part terminated, was given with marvellous effect. The second part opened with the chorus, "The Lord gay« the word," which was produced with thrilling effect. The beautiful air, "How beautiful are the feet," was most chastely rendered by the lady to whom it was entrusted. The chorus, " Their sound is gone out unto all lands," was well performed. Next followed the beautiful air, "Why do the nations so furioualy rage together," which was creditably rendered by Mr. Farrow, Although that gentleman's voice is not adapted for the rendering of quick music, still in many points of the piece the rich and mellow tone of his voice is heard to great advantage. The accompaniment was very grand. The chorus, "Let us break their bonds asunder," was next performed. It is a peculiar and difficult chorus, and the closeness and precision with which it was rendered were very creditable indeed. AJr. Austin sang the recitative, "Be that dwelleth in heaven," and the air, " Thou shalt break them, "with his usual good taste and correctness, but a great deal of the effect was marred by want of vigour and spirit in the accompaniment. The "Hallelujah" Chorus, at which the audianee rose from their seats, was given with extraordinary vigour and precision. The exquisite and familiar air " I know that my Redeemer liveth" was sung by the young lady who sang it on the previous occasion. She rendered it with much taste and intense pathos. Her enunciation was distinct, and her intonation pure and round. It was the gem of the oratorio. It was followed by the quartette " Since by man came death," the chorus "By man came also the resurrection," another quartette, "For as in Adam »11 die," and the chorus "Even so in Christ." They led into the difficult recitative, " Behold, I show you a mystery," which was sung by Mr. Farrow. The air, "The trumpet shall sound," was also given by Mr. Farrow, and the remarkable trumpet obligate to the air was creditably performed by Mr. Currie, The grand chorus, M Worthy it tlif Lamb that wm ilftio," ww gwfoi-

ficently pprformpd. The festival was brought to a successful termination by the solemu chorus, " A.merj." The chorus singing was uniformly good, and the sacred melodies were given by the respective vocalists with creditable proficiency. '1 ho result of the performance affords abundant proof of the amouut of executive talent which, can be brought together on such an occasion. We consider this performance one of the most brilliant that have been given by the Society. It was found necessary to omit some portions of the oratorio in addition to those parts usually omitted. The festival was a marked improvement upon that of last year, more particularly in the in the instrumentation, and in the precision displayed by the Chorus. We should state that Mr. W. F. Lodge *nd Mr. O. Jones kindly undertook the duty of stewards, in conjunction with the Treasurer, Mr. Kissling, and the Secretary, Mr. Pice. „ The building does not afford sufficient accommodation. Several applications for honorary members' tickets had been rel uctantly rejectedj ected by the committee, but we understand some arrangements are contemplated by which a more suitable place will be obtained for such entertainment?.