DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 18717, 20 August 1924, Page 9

DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY

‘DER FREISCHUTZ.'

Weber finished ‘ Dor Freischutz ’ in 1820. It took him nearly three years to write. Friedrich Kind supplied the libretto. The opera took on at once, not only in Germany, but in England. It was performed simultaneously at three London theatres. For it, and for the two other operas that helped to make Weber famous, the world is indebted to a misfortune that came to the composer. He was arrested at Stuttgart on a charge of fraud, and, though clearly shown to bo innocent, lie was banished. The injustice acted as a tonic, truing away from a.life of pleasure, he addressed himself anew to study and work, and thus he became the founder of German romantic opera and tiio forerunner of Wagner, whoso principles, one of the historians remarks, lie anticipated, not only by giving due prominence to other than purely musical conbidorations, but by writing music thoroughly in harmony with the character of the incidents represented. ‘ Dor Freischutz ’ has not been often performed in Dunedin. Tiio last presentation was forty-two years ago. It is probable, therefore, that very few who visited His Majesty’s Theatre last night have ever heard the opera in its full stage form. One reason for its rarity on the stage is that it calls for complicated scenery, and that means expense. So far back as 1875 Alice May’s company produced part of the opera. Supporting members of the company at that time were Florence Howe (contralto), Hallam (tenor), and Templeton (baritone). Tiio first production of the opera in its completeness was in June of 1881 by Martin Simonson, who had under his direction at the Queen’s Theatre ins wife and twb daughters (Frances and Martina), also Paladini, who is well remembered, and Riccardi, a good acting basso. Ten years later, in December ot 1882, another of the Simonson companies reproduced the opera. Madame' Simonsen was still the dramatic soprano, and others were Alice Stanley, Frances Savillo, Leonora Simonsen, F. Wentworth, Albert Brennir, and Riccardi. That was tne company which produced ‘ Boccaccio ’ for the first thpe in New Zealand. So our experimental acquaintance with ‘Tiie Freeshooier ’ is remote and scanty, and we ought to feel (and doubtless do) very much obliged to the Dunedin Choral Society for giving a concert performance. This opera is for tiio eye as well as for the ear, but it is something to be supplied with even one side of such a famous and historical work. And it is fitting to put some heart into the acknowledgments to tiio society, for the concert was in most respects a groat success. Dr Galway, the conductor, had at command ninety-five singers, an orchestra numbering thirty-two, led by Mr J. A. Wallace, and soloists who had made a careful study of their parts. Numerically the choir was sadly out of Hal;nice, but by skilful control and conscientious obedience and alertness this fault was largely remedied, and the choir singing deserved all the high -praio' that- was bestowed upon it. It was not all of the first-class order. After the good lead by the basses in the opening chorus the other parts entered quite casually; the huntsmen’s chorus was absurdly ineffective, the men’s voices feeble and spiritless, and ball a beat behind the horns; towards the end of the chorus of villagers,''in the first act, the sopranos flattened; and one or two other lapses could bo mentioned. But the work of the choir as a whole was highly creditable, some of it surprisingly good, particularly in the bridesmaids’ chorus and in tbo finale, where the interweavod parts were read firmly, and the choir was at its very best, a feature of the chorus singing right through was its freedom from the hymn style or anything of the singsong nature. "The choir cleverly adapted itself to the varying nature of the themes. If ‘Der Freischutz’ is ever again presented in its full opera form by a visiting company within the memory of the present generation it is long odds that, the choir work will not be half as good as that heard last night. It, is not to be expected. A touring company must of necessity, have a chorus that is small by comparison with what such a .society as the Dunedin Choral can muster.

On the other hand, the public take it to bo the duty of a fully-equipped travelling opera company to introduce staff soloists. That, o£ course, is out of the question with a local production. The publicought to be satisfied if the principals in a domestic production are reasonably up to the mark, and it is quite safe to assert that such was the case last night. Mishaps occurred, of course. In one passage n whole phrase was bodily dropped out, ami Dr Galway must have been on pins and needles occasionally; nevertheless the six ladies and gentlemen who undertook the solos did very well. Miss Elspcth Denholm (of Oamaxn) was listened to gratefully. Her voice is very pure and clear, just suiting the Agnes music, and she would have scored an even greater success but for the self-imposed handicap of diffidence in some of the commencements. When opening up her voice she- got fine results, and tier treatment of the familiar ‘ Softly Sighing’ was exquisite. Miss Mcda Pain-o sang the part of Annie, and made the arietta ‘ Comes a. Gallant Youth’ one of (he features of the concert, whilst the romance ‘My Aunt’ was very cleverly delivered, the humor and the varying emotions of this number being well expressed. Mr Sydney Butler’s presentation of the tenor solos was consistently sure and sound, his inclusion in the party a steadying influence generally. In all his work Mr Butler gave the idea that if freed from concert restrictions ho would make a really mod Bodolph. Mr G. Stuart Thomson, who undertook the Caspar music, was the unlucky soloist, in that much of his smging is through other singing and the full orchestra, and the instrumentalists sometimes drowned his voice. In the circumstances Mr Thomson did well. He presented a good study of his music, am! delivered it with all the effect that could bo expected of a hampered; amateur. Mr G. Kirk, who doubled as Cuno and the Hermit, also suffered from an over-weighty accompaniment, but he struggled on manfully, and when well heard was effective. Mr Lawrie North surprised the audience with his correct and thoughtful and capable singing in the parts' of Kiliau mid the Prince. He has a baritone voice o f choice quality, and bo has style. He will do well if he continues to study this class of music. There was much in tho orchestral work to evoke- thankfulness. The finale of the introduction and the march of the peasants may be singled out- as features in {his seetion of the production ; some of the soft accompanying was really artistic, and in it the tasteful embellishments were not overlooked. ft is a big undertaking to play all that Weber has written, and we arc rather inclined to give thanks for a heroic endeavor than to pick holes in the results.

The performance, is to be repeated tonight. Those who attend may rely on getting a taste of the real thing.