HANDEL'S "MESSIAH."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19513, 17 December 1926, Page 17

HANDEL'S "MESSIAH."

AUCKLAND CHORAL SOCIETY. A NOTABLE PERFORMANCE. The Town Hall was crowdecl last evening, when the Auckland Choral Society submitted their annual performance of Handel's "The Messiah." A high standard of performance has been reached in previous years, but never before has such a thrilling rendering of the mighty choruses been given by the society. In order that previous interpretations should be excelled, the Royal Auckland. Choir was pressed into service, while <an appeal was also made to members of church choirs. The result was an immense concourse of singers who occupied every available space upon the large platform. Some of the vocal departments even over flowed into the space occupied by the orchestra, thus crowding the instrumentalists somewhat. Unweildy as this choir might appear, it was wonderful how they responded to the conductor, Mr. Colin Huston. There were but few irregularities and uncertainties, while the effect of some of the more powerful choruses > such as "For Unto Us," "Glory to God, "Life Up Your Headis" and "Hallelujah was almost overwhelming at times. Some of the more expressive choruses such as "Behold the Lamb of God" and "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs," were rendered with much precision, and the intonation was all that could be desired. The number "All We Like Sheep, was conspicuous for vocal promptitude and fre* dom in the florid phrases. There could have been few unmoved listeners in the great hall last evening, judging by the fervid applause which followed the mors telling solos and choruses. _ , The soprano solos, most oli them exacting and demanding a line sense of oratorio interpretation, were entrusted to Miss Ev,aline Ivory, who was fairly successful. She sang ill an experienced manner, but had a tendency to sharpness on the higher notes, while her lower regis to was not uniformly effective when singing against the orchestra. Her opening win of recitatives were given with clearness of diction, and the exactions of "Rejoice Greatly" were creditably overcome. M ; ss Ivory was also responsible for neat voic I ing of "Come Unto Him," and "I Know That Mv Redeemer Liveth." 1 The best Handeli.an traditions were fittingly realised by Miss Mina Caldow, whose interpretations of the appealing contralto solos were a sheer delight to listen to. Her opening recitative, Behold! a Virgin shall Conceive,' and the ensuing showy air, "0 Thou that leilest were given with breadth of style and sure intonation in the longer phrases, while the numbers, ,r He Shall teed His Flock" and "He Was Despised plumbed to the depths a definite expression oi feeling. Mr. Hubert Carter, the New Zealand tenor who has won fame abroad, made a welcome reappearance after a lengthy absence. The' experience he has gained in the interval has materially deepened his artistic perceptions, judging by his expositions last evening. His voice has taken on a more robust quality arid there is a subtle dignity about his readings which was not previously noted. lie sang with much taste the opening recit, "Comfort i r e," and made the most of his chances in the following air. "Every Valley." Mr. Carter's gifts of interpretation were put to an even bigger test in the special recitatives beginning with "Thy Rebuke," each requiring varied and sympathetic treatment, white much dramatic force was prominent in "Thou Shalt Break Them," with its difficult intervals. Mr. A. Col ledge was a resolute exponent oi the bass solos and sang with a knowledge of hist music. He gave a thrilling delivery of the great bravura air, '"Why Do the Nations," singing his chains of triplets with ease. The orchestra, led by Miss Edith Whitelaw, was on this occasion supplemented by the organ, played by the city organist, * Mr. Mr,ugh an Barnett. The , amalgamation of these forces was in every way desirable, particularly in the massive ■ ! choruses.