CHORAL HALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10595, 9 November 1897, Page 6

CHORAL HALL.

MENDELSSOHN'S "HYMN OP PRAISE" : AND' SPOHR'S' "GOD THOU ART GREAT." . • V -

Last evening the Auckland Choral Society gave its fifth performance of the season before a , large audience. Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise" occupied the,-first part of . the ,programme. and received a ; fairly• satisfactory rendering. ' The chorus, numbering 111 oxecutants, did not sing as well as usual,'... This 't is, no doubt,' due to the fact. that a' final rehearsal could 1 nob - be arranged for, owing to the public holiday to-day, consequently the concert bad to be arranged a night earlier; The opening chorus, All ' Men ! All Things," was delivered in a stately manner, but the sopranos and contralto!! displayed signs of unsteadiness in their tempo, while,their intonation was nob always reliable. The basses and tenors were much better prepared. They'gave their fugal leads with weight and dignity and fully entered into the Bpirib of 'their part. All Ye that Cried Unto the Lord" was fairly. well rendered. The tenors in their opening lead were very feeble, whilst the rest of the choir were inclined to drag their music in spite of the efforts of the conductor to keep them to time., The semichorus, "Praise thou. the Lord" . went better, as did also the choral part of "I waited for the Lord." : .The impressive and beautifully • constructed . chorus, "The Night is Departing," would -have been an excollent number if the tenors and sopranos had known their music bettor. '; However, the basses and contraltos sang with firmness, attacked their leads decisively, sang well in tune,/and helped the other parts through. The chorale, "Let all men praise the Lord" was tho best-rotidered concerted piece of the concert. The sopranos sang well in tune, the contraltos emitted a rich quality of tone, while precision. and steadiness were the special features of the performance of the male voices.* The basses made the most of theiropportunitics in the final fugued chorus, "Ye Nations offer to the Lord." Their announcement of the subject was given with great purity of voice, spirit, and precision, and the tenors also sang out with an earnestness . that did . them credit, a fortissimo delivery of the splended choral motive, " All that has life and breath," brought to a termination the first part of the concert. Mrs, Lnwry and Miss Gilfillan gave fairly satisfactory readings of the soprano music. - Mr. Martin was entrusted with tho tenor solos, and acquittted himself creditably. ■ . - < Spohr's effective work, "God Thou Art Great," received a careful interpretation.. Special regard was paid to phrasing and expression by the choir. The opening chorus went with a good swing, and the quality of touo emitted by all was full and satisfying. Tho same remarks, apply equally to the performance. given of the closing chorus. The favourite duet, "Children Pray this Love to Cherish," was admirably interpreted by Mrs. Coates and Mr. Martin, and proved to be tho most successful contribution of. the concert. The lovely quartette, "Walk Ye in Hundred Thousands,"• as sung by Mesdames Lawry,'Coates, and Messrs. Martin and Ryan, would, have been an excellent number had the soprano been more sure of her intervals. The" orchestra, under the lead of Dr. Cox, lent good service. Their playing of tho allegretto and adagio movements in the : Lobgosang, was not all that could bo wished. The- strings wero frequently out of tune, while the wood-wind band manifested often signs of insufficient rehearsal, and .the brass performers were not always at homo with their music. Professor Carl Schmitt .'conducted with his usual skill and good judgment. • • ■