"THE CREATION"

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3970, 13 May 1870, Page 3

"THE CREATION"

The concert in aid of the Home for Women, Parnell, which was under the patronage of Lady Bowen, was given in the Music Hall, Symonds-street, last evenieg. His Excellency and Lady Bowen, with members_of the suite, were present. The attendance may, perhapa, be said to have been good ; but there were more seats unoccupied than there ought to hare been, considering the nature of the performance, and especially in view of the excellent object to which the money receipts were to be devoted. Haydn's oratorio, "The Creation," was performed; the performers, instrumental and vocal, being almost wholly members of the Choral Society, but some who are not members giving very valuable assistance. Mr. Joseph Browne, the conductor of the Society, undertook the labour— of love, no doubt, but still a labour— of conducting the rehearsals ; and he must have laboured fervently m the cause of music, as well as of the institution which it was sought to benefit. We believe the oratorio has not been given in Auckland for four or five years at least ; and, of course, except mainly by the Choral Society, it could not be given. Performances by the Society are rarely open to the public ; and we think that the numerical strength and the efficiency of the Society are things of which Auckland may well be proud. There is no such Society at all equal to it to be found m New gealand out of Auckland. Although it is to be assumed that personal love for music, and enjoyment of the practice of it are the causes why the members have come together — and although the concerts of the Society are, as a rule, what has been called "share-sacred" — it is a thing to be more than thankful for, that the grand old masterpieces can be heard in this city, at the least enjoyably by anybody, and with keen enjoyment by those who are not determined not to be satisfied with what they can hear, because they have elsewhere heard something better. We repeat, it is, for the cause of music, as well as for the cause of a truly Christian charity, to be regretted that there should have been so many unoccupied seats in the Music Hall last evening. We have said that ' ' The Creation" was given last evening. In saying that, we followed the words of the announcement of the performance ; but in fact, the third part of the oratorio — according to the customary division of the work — was not given ; and thus some of the most delightful of Haydn's airs and duets were not heard. "We are not at all aware of the re3son for the omission ; but we have the conviction that what was omitted would have been well done if it had been attempted. Madame Moller took the soprano parts last evening, with the exception of one recitative and air, which were assigned to a lady well known to members of the Society. Mi. Winter was the tenor ; and the bass was a valued though not old member of the Society. The band was, to our thinking, better than usual. Of course, the effect would have been finer had the number of players been larger, and the accompaniments were not faultlessly given ; but many parts of the inatrumental music of "The Creation" are extremely difficult, and many of the most difficult parts were played with a spirit and appreciation which command commendation. The chorus has not much to do in this oratorio, comparatively speaking; and there was last evening, we think, a tendency to hurry the singers, occasionally, which resulted in a slurring. But, nevertheless, we can unfeignedly thank the members for their contributions towards a delightfully enjoyable performance. Madame Moller sang " The marv'lous work," firmly and spiritedly ; and "With verdure clad" was, taken as a whole, a satisfactory rendering of one of the gems of the oratorio. In the duets and trios, Madame Moller 1 s voice was heard to excellent effect. The soprano air sung by the lady -member of the Society was the very difficult one, "On mighty pens." She sang charmingly throughout, and she gave very beautifully the specially happy line — in respect to ita "musical painting" — beginning "And sooing calls." Mr. Winter was in prime voice ; and, as we have before had pleasure in writing, his voice is firm, full, and resonant, and lie sings with good, musician-like taste. Perhaps his best solo was the recitative, "In splendour bright;" but that opinion must not be taken in disparagement of his singing of "In native worth, which was very effective. The best effort of the bass soloist was undoubtedly the graphic " Straight opening her fertile womb ;" the violently contrasted, yet wonderfully true, styles of expression in which were almost faultlessly given, except the closing passage, fin long dimensions creeps with sinuous trace the worm." - Parts t of "Pvolling in foaming billows" v r ere capitally sung, but in other parts the s : nger failed to maintain tone, although he did maintain expression. The chorus, " Awake the harp," was good ; and so was "The heaven's are telling, " except that in its last repetition 1 it 'was taken too f a&t. TTvo v accelerate the time considerably, is usual, and greatly adds to the effect ; but last eTening, we think that the "pace" was too great. A body of singers' constantly practising together would probably not have suffered from such a speed ; but the result last evening was an increase of volume of sound, probably, hut a sense of confusion, certainly. " Achieved is the glorious work" was sung in an altogether satisfactory style ; and with it the performance vas concluded, save that, after a short pause, the National Anthem "was sung.