THE CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT, By "LANCET."

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 25, 5 March 1881, Page 255

THE CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT, By "LANCET."

The " Bride of Dunkerron," a dramatic cantata, by Henry Smart, was produced by the Choral Society, on Tuesday evening. The attempt was a very Teak one, and. the concert was the poorest that has been given for some time. The music, though light, is highly descriptive, and if nicely rendered would have been exceedinglypretty. The performers should have had at least another months practice, some of the leads beingwretchedly wenk. The first chorus of " Sea Maidens and Serfs," was very thin, there not being nearly the body of sound that there should have been for the number of performers, and in parts throughout the whole piece there was a great deal of uncertainty. The recitatives and solos were almost all rendered totally without expression or animation. The singers might almost have been performing in their sleep. The chorus, "Down through the Deep," was Tiot sung witb. half the dramatic effect it should have boen, the first trebles being f earf 11II3' out of tune once. Moreover, two or three times during the performance, different parts were out of time. The lady whosangthe " Sea Maiden's " solos was over weighted, her voice not being strong enough, for the part. Mr. Rhodes took the baritone part of the " Sea King." He sung with the society on Tuesday for the first time. He has a really good voice, and that is all that en nbe said in favour of his performance. He has, at times, a rather coarse production of voice. His recitative was very poor, and the rendering of all his solos were monotonous. The chorus, " Oh, Storm King hear us," was an improvement, thoxigh the tenor voices are wanting in quality, often being very husky instead of bright. Tbe Sea Maiden's chorus, " Hail to the ! Child of the Earth," was perhaps the best number of any. The soprano and tenor duet, " Here may we dwell/* wns sung without any regard to the words or phrasing, and was a very tame affair. This work is, without doubt, too difficult for- the society to do at its present very low ebb of musical proficiency, but there are many things which the membersindividually could and should improve. The enunciation of all the soloists, without exception, and the chorus, is ridiculous ; the notes are formed, it is true, and that is all. Half the time it is utterly impossible to hear a single word ; the vowels are not correctly vocalized upon, and the final letters of words left unsounded. Many other little things of a similar character are quite unheeded, whicb, if paid attention to, would at any rate tend to make the performance of so difficult a work as the " Bride of Duukerron" a more finished production. The attendance of the audience was large, drawn together doubtless by the prospect of hearing some new music, but many performing members, who have been attending practices were absent, probably not feeling sufficiently well up to the work.