AUCKLAND CHORAL SOCIETY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18896, 19 December 1924, Page 12

AUCKLAND CHORAL SOCIETY

HANDEL'S " MESSIAH."

The keen interest taken in the annual performance of Handel's "The Messiah" was clearly evidenced last evening, when a very large audience assembled at the Town Hall to listen to the strains of this immortal masterpiece. Its popularity remains unimpaired as successive Yuletides come and go, while most of the creative output by contemporary musicians is relegated to oblivion within their own lifetime. At 8 p.m. the spacious hall presented an animated spectacle with the large audience assembled, and the available platform space occupied by the choir and orchestra. Much interest naturally centred in the appearance in the soprano solo music of Miss Teresa McEnroe, a Wellington singer who recently returned from a course of study abroad. Her voice is a light soprano of pure quality, and is employed to charming effect in most that she sings. Very flexible was the rendering of the exacting air "Rejoice Greatly," and marked success was gained by the soprano in "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth," and "How Beautif'. Are the Feet." Miss McEnroe's opening recitatives were artistically given, the singer being in sympathy with the text. Madame Irene Ainsley. the contralto soloist, gave a dependable exposition of the solo numbers for that voice. The joyous sentiment of the air " 0, Thou That Tellest" was adequately depicted, though more attention might have been paid to final consonants. Madame Ainsley's other contributions, "He Shall Feed His Flock," and "He Was Despised," were sung with commendable feeling. Mr. H. Gasquoine in the tenor role showed a sound knowledge of his music, and from his opening consolatory phrases "Comfort Ye, My People," enlisted attention. His brilliant chances in the ensiling air "Every Valley," were not lightly treated, though occasionally he seemed overweighted by tin; music. That most difficult tenor air, " Thou Shalt j Break Them." found a capable exponent I in Mr. Gasquoine, who also scored well j in his numerous recitatives. Mr. A. Colledge brought out the I rugged grandeur of the bass solos in no superficial manner, and be fully entered into the spirit of " But Who May Abide" with lis subsequent - striking develop- ; nient at the. words, "For He is like a refiner's fire," and the thrilling bravura air.- "Why Do The Nations?" i The large choir had evidently been I well trained, since many of the ineomI parable numbers were rendered in such | n manner as to bring out the full gran--1 dour of the composer's ideas. Those i priceless jewels in " The Messiah " dia- ' dein of choruses, " For I'nto Us a Child lis Born," "Glory to <iod," "Behold i the Lamb of Grid," " Lift. Up Your \ Heads," and that truly magnificent paean of praise, the thunderous " Hallelujah" I chorus, were rendered with resonant inI tonation and weighty precision. In "Lift l'p Your Heads " the antiphonal singing j showed a strong sense of rhythm, while I some excellent and impressive part-sing-j ing was exhibited in " Behold the Lamb Kit God," one of the most trying choral j numbers. lhe chorus, All Ve, Like Sheep," opened with much precision, while the ilorid passages gave each of the parts plenty of opportunities. Another telling contribution was "He Trusteth in God. ) The largo orchestra, led f>r the last I time by Miss Edith Whitelaw, prior to her departure on an extended trip, accomplished some conspicuously good work. Before tho final "Hallelujah" chorus, | the audience, on the invitation of Mr. Colin Muston. warmly applauded Miss Whitelaw for her excellent work in connection with the orchestra. A word of praise is due to the committee tor the special stage lighting, and the artistic, floral designs, including the words, " Gloria in E.xcelsis," picked out in red flowers at tho front of the platform.