HANDEL’S “MESSIAH.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19970, 11 December 1926, Page 14

HANDEL’S “MESSIAH.”

The Dunedin Choral Society will give a performance of the “Messiah” in His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday and Tuesday next, and, as usual, it is certain that Handel’s immortal work will draw a large attendance. The choruses and solos have become world-wide in their popularity and the distinction of vocal art has become their successful interpretation. Following the overture comes the solo “Comfort ye my People.” The following air—“ Every Valley shall bo Exalted, is the expression of joy and gladness. There the libretto of the oratorio changes from the general to the particular, and leaving the purely epical treatment of the atonement, leads one, as it were, to the foot of the Cross. Christ’s mental agony and the scoffs of the crowd of unbelievers form the subject of the recitatives and airs “They Rebuke hath Broken His Heart,” “Behold and See,” “He was Cut Off ” The triumph of the Saviour over death and the grave, and His ascent to Heaven amidst throngs of chorusing angels are suggested rather than described in the air “But Thou dids’t not Leave His Soul in Hell” and the accompanying chorus “Lift up Your Heads.” There is a different note or picture in the recitative and air “He that Dwelleth in Heaven” and “Thou shalt Break Them.” There the vain wrath of the heathen who flout the Divine message in the turbulent energy of the bass air “Why do the Nations so Furiously Hage Together?” The Divine vengeance follows closely. The impotent strivings of pagan insolence are crushed in the splendidly vigorous “Thou Shalt Break them in Pieces.” There is a final tr’umph at the final victory of Christianity in the famous “Hallelujah” chorus.