DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25302, 12 August 1943, Page 6

DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY

ORATORIO RECITAL Two oratorios, reduced to enable them to be presented within the compass of a concert, were sung with considerable success by the Dunedin Choral Society in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. The main wcrk was Haydn's “ The Creation,” and in this, as well as in Mendelssohn’s "Hymn of Praise,” which constituted the second half of the recital, the society's choir sang with fine precision of attack and good balance. Mr Alfred 'Walmsley, who is now domiciled in Invercargill, but who returned to this city to conduct the recital, exercised admirable control over the singers and the orchestra. During the concert he took the opportunity to pay a tribute to the work of the society's deputy conductor, Mr C F. Watson, through whose energy and enthusiasm, he said, the choir had been brought to a state of preparedness for the concert. The principal choral numbers in " The Creation ” were “ The Heavens Are Telling” and "Achieved is the Glorious Work," both of which were sung with good spirit and cohesion. Miss Dora Drake sang the soprano role, her principal arias, the lovely “ With Verdure Clad ” and “ On Mighty Pens,” being delightfully sung. Mr Lex Macdonald acquitted -himself well in the baritone part. His principal numbers were "Rolling in Foaming Billows ” and “ Now Heaven in Fullest Glory Shone.” Mr George Ross sang the tenor role with obvious care, but his voice is scarcely suited to oratorio work. His principal airs were " Now Vanish, Before the Holy Beams ” and “In Native Worth.” The three soloists, with the choir, also sang the trio and chorus, “ The Lord is Great,” in good style. In Mendelssohn’s “Hymn of Praise” the choir again achieved success, producing good tonal balance and attractive shading in the choruses, which were "All Men, All Things,” “All Ye That Cried,” " The Night is Departing,” and the beautiful closing choral, “Let All Men Praise the Lord.” Miss Drak“ and Miss Aileen Young sang the duet, “I Waited for the Lord,” but unfortunately Miss Young became suddenly indisposed during the duet and had to retire, her place being taken at a moment's notice by an alto from the choir, who sang the part very attractively. Mr Walmsley vacated the - conductor’s rostrum to sing the tenor solo, " The Sorrows of Death,” and the recitative, “ We Called Through the Darkness,” in his usual competent style, while Mr Watson assumed the role of conductor. The 4YA Orchestra, under the. leadership of Miss Ethel Wallace, provided a wellcontrolled instrumental background.