"JUDAS MACCABEUS."

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 144, 15 December 1933, Page 4

"JUDAS MACCABEUS."

A very ..creditable rendition of the oratorio "Judas Maccabeus" was given on Monday night in St. Ihomas' Church, Wellington South, by a choir of abQut 40 voices, under the baton of' Mr. W. A. Gatheridge, Mr. Clement Howe being at" the organ. Mr. Gatheridge, who formed this choir last year, is to be commended on the enterprise shown. The production was creditable to both choir and conductor! The entire work was not produced on this occasion, but other . items wore given in the first part of the programme by the choir, assisted, by Miss Teresa McEnroe, Miss B. Douglas,' Mr. S. E. Roger, vocal soloists, and Mrs. G. Holloway, violin soloist. The soloists in "Judus Maccabeus" were Miss McEnroe, (soprano), Mr. Hoy Hill (tenor), and Mr. S. .X Roger (baritone); and the varying moods of the music of the oratorio were given a satisfying interpretation by. all the. singers; The trio "See the Conquering.l Hero Comes", was taken by Mrs. R,' E. i Piimplin, Miss McEnroe, and Miss Doug- ' las. After the performance the choir met to bid farewell to Mr. Gatheridge, who is about to depart for England and the Continent with a view to furthering his interest in music, and on behalf of the mem-' bers of the choir Mr. A. Ironside conveyed to him their deep appreciation of his services as conductor first for the production of "Elijah"^ last season, of which, they had such happy recollections, and of "Judas Maccabeus," which, no doubt because of its difficult passages, they had so thoroughly enjoyed together and were the richer for the experience. In present-, ing Mr. Gatheridge with a travelling* bag and a pocket wallet, Mr. Ironside said that the choir looked forward to his return with great anticipations, and assured him that when that time arrived and he desired again to draw a choir around him j he could rest assured of the willing respouse or' every member of the choir which was now farewelling him. Mr. Gatheridge suitably replied, thanking the choir for its loyalty to him in the works undertaken.