FIRST CHURCH CHOIR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20252, 10 November 1927, Page 13

FIRST CHURCH CHOIR.

HAYDN’S “ CREATION.” First. Church Choir, in a somewhat augmented form, gave a very creditable rendering of Haydn’s “ Creation ” to a very numerous auditory in First Church last evening. It was evident in the first chorus and from that to the end of the oratorio that there was no weak section in the choir, and as the work advanced there was a noticeable improvement, the choir singing with much greater abandon, as a general rule. What militated against complete success was a want of animation in some instances. Even in the wellknown chorus “ The Heavens Are Telling ” there was a measured evenness about the way it was sung that rather interfered with an otherwise really fine rendering. The difficulty of conducting, and at the same time presiding at the organ , was manifest, and Dr. Galway had on more than one occasion to use his right hand to guide the choir when it was inclined to lag, and rely on his left for the organ part. The performance was, notwithstanding little drawbacks, as already stated, a most creditable one, more particularly whet) it is born© in mind that it was not exactly a highly-trained musical society that sang the music. The choir and its conductor deserve a great deal of commendation for attacking a work of the class of Haydn’s ‘‘ Creation.” The soloists were Miss Meda Paine (soprano), Mr Alfred Walmsley .(tenor), and Mr F. C. Cooper (bass), and the greater portion of the music that fell to them consisted of recitative preceding a chorus, which they generally sang very well and with careful attention to the theme. The fairly lengthy “Representation of Chaos” with which the oratorio opens is necessarily peculiar, and descriptive, and was exceedingly well played by the organist and choirmaster, Dr V. E. Galway. Thc first vocal item that possessed exceptional merit was the solo and chorus “ Thc Marvellous Work.” Miss Paine was the soloist and sang with most gratifying results, and the choir gave one of tho best-rendered choruses of thc evening. Thc famous bass solo, “ Rolling in Foaming Billows,” might have been improved upon had more energetic methods been used by Mr Cooper in places. Mr Cooper did not appear to be at his case in the aria. Miss Paine followed with a very pleasing rendering of “ With Verdure Clad,” one of the best-known soprano solos in the “ Creation.” Thc chorus “ The Heavens Are Telling” went fairly well, but there was certainly a want of warmth about it. In “On Mighty Pens” Miss Paine met with her most difficult solo, and sang It as a trained vocalist might bo expected to. So far as thc choruses went the one best sung during tho evening was “The Lord is Great.” ' It was given with precision, and the choir, evidently familiar with the parts, sang it with freedom, and adopted a more vigorous stylo than usual. There is a trio for the soloists just preceding thc chorus and this was a conspicuous success. Mr Cooper was heard at his best in tho aria ‘‘ Now Heaven in Fullest Glory Shone,” which, ■with the recitative leading up to it, was sung with fine effect. Foremost amongst the solos heard was “ In Native Worth, which was beautifully rendered by Mr Walmsley. There is a little terzetto, a perfect gem, that is known as “ Most Beautiful Appear,” and of this the three soloists gave an admirable rendering. As thc work advanced tho choir seemed to improve, and towards the end of the oratorio gave a most impressive interpretation of “ Achieved is the Glorious Work, into which it put plenty of emphasis. A pretty little trio, “ On Thco. Each Living SonlAwaits,’’ has to be included amongst the most pleasing numbers.