JUDAS MACCABÆUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 32

JUDAS MACCABÆUS.

It is one of the noblest oratorios extant, telling a great story with the force of an epic poem in tone pictures of amazing grandeur. It demands choral singing* in perfection of volume, balance of voices, precision, power, vehement energy, and in places great breadth of most devotional treatment. It abounds in recitatives of dramatic force, and it is full of grand airs of stirring electric effect. To sum up, it is one of the most colossal works ever conceived by the brain of man. The selection showed the courage of the Festival Choral Society, and the success of tho performance amply justified tho courage of the selection. The performance is a grand fruit of the musical study required by the late musical festival, and makes a record mark in the history of music here. Necessarily, the work had to be considerably curtailed; otherwise it would not have been within concert limits. We missed, in consequence, some great numbers. But what we heard gave us an excellent idea of one of Handel’s masterpieces. Of the thirteen magnificent choruses given it is impossible to speak too highly. We need say little more than that such choral singing has never been given before in Wellington. All the requirements of precision, massiveness, force and vigour of style were there ; every note was given its full value, every lead was taken up with perfect accord of every voice. The only fault in the performance was supplied by a. minority of the audience, which was so taken with tho glorious presentment of the various movements of the great number “ See the Conquering Hero comes,” that they insisted on a recall, and, on the very proper refusal of tho conductor to go back, kept up an incessant fire of applause, which absolutely ruined the effect of the fine orchestral inarch

which, followed, and marred the opening of the grand chorus which succeeds the march. It was the most unmannerly exhibition by a truculent minority that we have ever seen in the Opera House. The solo singing was ©f a very high order of merit. Mr Prouse, who was in magnificent voice, sang the fine bass music from first to last in a manner worthy of his best performance of Elijah. The air “ Arm, Arm, ye Brave ” he gave gloriously, singing the precedent recitative “ I Peel the Deity ” in nobly declamatory style. His rendering of “The Lord Worketh Wonders” was perhaps the most artistic thing he has ever dona in public. Such power, such ease in the fiery passages of extraordinary rapidity and curious intervals, such completeness of style—there was nothing wanting ; and the splendid “Judah, Rejoice,” was quite up to that standard. Mr E. J. Hill, to whom the exacting music of Judas was entrusted, was also in great form. He sang with an energy and force which repeatedly brought down the house; establishing a record as a singer of artistic completeness which he had never approached before. “ Sound an Alarm,” “Call Forth Thy Powers, My Soul,” “ I will Meet this Gorgias,” these were all splendid effects. Mrs Burfoot was likewise most successful, her fine contralto pealing like a great bell, and her phrasing rising to levels which must encourage her to hope for greatness in the art she is so rapidly mastering. “Father of Heaven,” one of the greatest contralto songs ever written, she did ample justice to, and the lower register of her voice in the opening trio of the number “ See the Conquering Hero” was simply magnificent. Miss Mabel Bell, who comes with a good reputation from Christchurch, sustained it well with the soprano airs “ Pious Orgies ” “ Wise Men Flattering may Deceive You,” and “ From Mighty Kings he took the Spoil.” Her rendering was declamatory, clear and tuneful. Mrs Richards and Miss Meyers, who with Mrs Burfoot sang the above-mentioned trio so well, contributed the two duets “ Hail, Judah ” and the ever welcome “ O Lovely Peace ” in very good style. On the whole, so well-balanced a performance of oratorio we have seldom heard here, and the orchestra, under Mr Mac Duff Boyd’s excellent leadership, was excellent throughout. We compliment the Festival Society and its conductor, Mr Parker, very sincerely on the fine success of their great effort.