"THE MESSIAH."

Evening Star, Issue 7093, 23 December 1886, Page 2

"THE MESSIAH."

“ The Messiah ” was performed at the Garrison Hall last evening by the Dunedin Choral Society, and was listened to by a large audidence. The ranks of the Society were materially strengthened for the occasion, and members of the Dunedin Orchestral Society and others formed a fairly powerful orchestra. The conductor was Mr A, R. Kelsey, The interpretation which the oratorio received was on the whole disappointing, and suffers by comparison with previous performances. This was mainly due to the hitches which occurred during many of tho solos, and to the woful want of precision in some of the choruses. One or two of the latter have, however, never been better sung than they were last night, and the same may be said of some of the solos. “For unto us,” “All we like sheep,” and “ Tho Hallelujah ” went splendidly, and the difficult fugue to which the word “ Amen ” is set was very carefully given. Notwithstanding the faults of last night’s performance, there

was ample evidence of the good training which the members of the Society received at the hands of their temporary honorary conductor, and we formed tho opinion that the partial failure was duo in a great measure to a combination of circumstances for which he is not responsible. In tho first place, the orchestra were continua I ly at sixes and sevens, and at times were completely beyond Mr Kelsey’s control. Then the soloists occasionally seemed to bo unfamiliar with their music, and the orchestra were by no means subservient to them. Altogether there seemed to be a great want of rehearsal and co-operation; and it was made very apparent that if the Society is to continue to have a healthy existence some radical change must be made in the method of its operations. More life will have to be infused into its management in every way; and if accompaniments are to be played by an orchestra, the instrumentalists comprising it must rehearse their parts together more than they have been in the habit of doing. Why, we were actually told, coming out of the hall lost

night, that the orchestra had only one rehearsal of the whole work, and that at this tho gentlemen who played the viol ncello and double bass were not present. We were glad to notice that

the fault committed last year of having so many different soloists was rectified on the present occasion, and that tho quintet who occupied the front of thp platform are among our leading vocalists. Miss'A, M. Marshall sang the music allotted to the soprano voice with much care, and acquitted herself admirably in one or two numbers, Mrs H. Rose, whose expressive singing is always acceptable, was the conti a|to, and, though she was not quite up to her usual standard, she succreded thoroughly in pleasing the audience. Mr H. W. Sfcockwell gave a splendid rendering of “Comfort ye;” and perhaps the best rendered among the whole of the solos was “Why do tho Nations,” by Mr J. Jago, The other bass solos were sung by Mr H. B. Smith, who showed that he is making marked progress as a singer. Mr J. Coombs was leader of the orchestra, and Mr J. C. Norman presided at the harmonium.