THE CHORAL SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 7401, 22 December 1887, Page 2

THE CHORAL SOCIETY.

A large number of honcary members and their friends came together at the Garrison Hall last night, the front seats being all occupied, but the outside public were represented by only a scattered few in the back seats and gallery, and we apprehend that the experiment of returning to the Garrison Hall, though decidedly the means of promoting the comfort and pleasure of both performers and audience, will involve the Society in a pecuniary loss. The work chosen for this the final concert of the season was 'Judaß Maccab;eus'—or rather we should ray a curtailment of this oratorio, for many of the numbers bad been intentionally cut out, and others which were down in the programme wcro also omitted. No one has a right to complain of the abridgment so far- as this was meditated j indeed, the work is rather too long to bo performed in its entirety in one evening; but we think the audience were perfectly justified in their mild expression of dissatisfaction at tho omission of parts sot forth in the programmo. Disappointment was expe l'ionced as soon as the opening chorus was finished, Mr Barth making this announcement: " Ladie3 and gentlemen,—Mr Blenkinsopp has not arrived, so we will go on with the next number "; and later on the conductor said that ho had received a note stating that that singer mentioned would not be able to attend. This necessitated the cutting out of the tenor solos in tho first part. As the evening progressed, the reasonable expectations of thosd present were further frustrated without the bint of an apology, the recitative prefacing 'Ah ! Wretched Israel,' being unceremoniously omitted, also the recitative 'Peace to my Countrymen,' set down to be sung by Mr Smith, while the final portion of ' Oh! lovely peace' shared a similar fate, It is not sufficient answer to this to urge that the expunged selections ware of a comparatively unimportant character seeing that the oratorio was professedly not beiiig performed as a whole. A programme is in tho nature of an agreement, and should not be subjected to mutation after issue without ample excuse, or under the pressure of circumstances over which tho management have no control.

Having thus unburdened our mind on a matter which causod aomo questioning and comment, we may proceed to make a few remarks on the performance as it was given. Tho task is a pleasant one, and we have no occasion to speak guardedly, for the singing was decidedly better than at any previous concert during this season. Of the choruses especially we must in fairness speak very highly. The parts were about equally represented in regard to the volume of sound, and the voices blended harmoniously, excepting in one or two passages where the tenors left the high notes to be attacked and sustained by two or three of their number; but what struck us as the best feature of the chorus work was that the singers evinced more than ordinary discernment in marking the difference between the several themes introduced in the oratorio. Thus, in the opening chorus. 'Mourn, ye afflicted children,' the solemiPyet stately character of the music was adequately recognised, and this without dragging the time; while the well-known 'See, the conquering hero comes 1' waß given with all the dramatic force of which so small a choir was capable. It is unnecessary to go further into particulars, but we must compliment Mr Barth on the unusual success attained, showing, as it did, that he had bestowed great pains in drilling the singers to their work. As to, the solop, Miss Corrigan gave a correot and intelligent rendering of 'Pious orgies,' and was warmly applauded; and took part with Miss Campbell in the duet preceding the chorus 'Hail, hail! Judca.' Miss Campbell also sang the alto part of the duet with Mr Eraser, 'Sing unto God.' This young-lady's efforts were very acceptable. Mrs Hislop was allotted tho taxing solo ' From mighty Kings,' and Mrs Gore 'Come, ever-smiling Liberty,' while Miss Ross gave a creditable interpretation of 'Ah! wretched Israel' and 'So shall the lute and harp awake.' These solos would have sounded better if the orchestra had played in a more subdued tone, though this fault was not so noticeable as at previous concerts. 'Oh! lovely Peace,' sung by Mrs Israel and Mra Peake, was given with perfect taste, and received the singular compliment of an encore, in response to which the duet was repeated. Mr Jago undertook ' Arm, arm, ye brave!' and it will be generally conceded that he suoceaded in giving a more than passable rendering of a solo which makes a great demand on the voioe. His succesewouldpossiblyhavebeenmoiepronounced if he had been allowed to take, his own time. Mr Fraser's robust voice was heard to g#od effect in 'Sound an alarm,' and this gentleman also tookpart as above mentioned in the duet' Sing unto God.' Tho orchestra are on tho whole entitled to oredit, for though there were occasional shortcomings they were not of a heinous nature, and it must be remembered that Mr J. Coombes and those under him were at. a great disadvantage in having no assistance in the shape of brass instruments.