HANDEL'S "MESSIAH"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1930, Page 5

HANDEL'S "MESSIAH"

PLEASING PERFORMANCE Discussion as to whether Handel's oratorio, "The Messiah," is suitable for Good Friday or not is fruitless and out of place here, and the history of this immortal work was given in "The Post", on Wednesday^ Last night's presentation in the Town Hall of "The Messiah" was not very fully attended, certainly not as fully as the occasion and the good cause for which the 'oratorio was given (the Red-.. Cross Unemployment Relief Fund) merited. However, those' who were present, and the audience included His Excellency Lord Bledisloe and a party from Government House, fully appreciated Mr. H. Temple White's effort. Incidentally, too.many seemed to think that the oratorio was timed to begin at 8 p.m., whereas it was half an hour sooner, and late-comers were annoyiugly uum'erous. The performance sustained a high-level throughout without being in any way remarkable -or marking a milestone in the musical history of Wellington: it was orthodox and satisfying. Mr. Temple White had under his baton the Wellington Harmonic Society, augmented for th ye occasion. A string orchestra of thirty instrumentalists, of whom Mr. Leon de. Mauny was the leader, was backed by the grand organ with Mr. Clement Howe at the -keyboard, and a chorus of some 80 voices supported the four soloists. The orchestra was distinctly good. The players were quick to respond to Mr. Temple White's beat, and played throughout with feeling and understanding. This was very marke din the accompaniments, and they were equally responsive in the overture, and more 'particularly in the "Pastoral Symphony." Very satisfying, too, was the organ, which was never'allowed to obtrudj unduly. The chorus sang together very well indeed, and with plenty of vim when needful. The four soloists were Madame Florry Roscoe (soprano), Mrs. Wilfred Andrews (contralto), Mr. Arthur Clark (tenor), and Mr. R. R. Orr (baritone). Without disparaging the other three, it must be, admitted that Mrs. Andrews1 realised the dramatic possibilities of . the words and music to a greater degree than the other soloists, and hers was a most artistic and outstanding performance. The voices _of both tho contralto and soprano soloists carried well to the back of the hall, but unfortunately the same could not be said of the male soloists. At times the orchestra, through no. fault of its own, was inclined to overwhelm the male voices, which seemed hardly robust enough for what they were called upon to do. But further criticism is out of place as services, were freely given for a good cause, and let it be added at once that all who took part in the oratorio deserve the highest praise for the splendid team work and artistic rendering which told their own tale of arduous and thorough rehearsal. Too well known- to need lengthy recapitulation are the airs, recitatives, and choruses of Handel's masterpiece. Previous performances and recorded music have made them familiar.' The. opening recitative, "Comfort Ye," and the air following, "Every Valley Shall Be Exalted," were Mr. Clark's choicest offering. Mrs. Andrews was magnificent in "He Was Despised" and "He Shall Feed His Flock." "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" is perhaps the best known of the soprano airs, and this Madame Roscoe sang beautifully. The choruses such as "The Glory of. the Lord," "Lift Up Your Heads," "Hallelujah," and "Behold the. Lamb of God," were tackled resalutely. but the voices were insufficient to do full ■ justice to the score.