CANTATA “CHRISTIANA.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19351, 11 December 1924, Page 2

CANTATA “CHRISTIANA.”

The seating accommodation at the United Congregational Church was taxed to its limit last evening, when the choir, mini boring, with soloists, 45, presented Challiuor’s sacred camtaia, ‘‘Christiana.” The cantata is a musical recital of the experiences of Christiana (the wife of Christian, of Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”), who, with her children, sets put to join Christian in the Celestial City. The chorus work is attractive, and of pleasing variety, and the choir, responsive to the load of the conductor, Mr W. R. Sinclair, sang with spirit and feeling, the pitch being well maintained and attack and release dependable. Many taking solos, besides duets and quartets, enrich the cantata. These were in the hands or vocalists well equipped for the responsibilities. To Miss Alice Wilkinson (Christiana) and Miss Jessie Rawlinson (Mercy) fell the heaviest share of the solo work. Miss Wilkinson’s full and truly pitched soprano voice was heard to advantage throughout, her delivery of Christiana’s final song of joy, “O Blessed Message,” being particularly stirring. The contralto solos are especially attractive, and the rich quality of Miss Bawlinson’s voice and her thoughtful interpretations were distinctly pleasing. Mr Arnold Perry’s arresting tenor voice, thoroughly under control, mado the character of Matthew a living one, and Mr George Dyer was well cast as Greatheart, his naturally produced baritone voice and his pleasing methods affording obvious satisfaction to thq audience. Mr David Dry den sang with expression tho linos assigned to the Messenger and the Keeper, and the quartet, “Enter ye in” was acceptably presented by Misses May Dryden and Ina Fraser and Messrs W. Johnston and W. Sinclair. The accompaniments of Miss Ruby Hudeon at the piano and Mr Ron Abernathy at the organ contributed largely to tho success and enjoyment of the cantata.