" The Messiah."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5192, 24 December 1884, Page 4

" The Messiah."

«, The Christchurch Musical Society, last night, performed " The Messiah," in the Tuam street Hall, the stage of which had been, at considerable expense, adapted to the requirements of the large body of vocalists and instrumentalists taking part in the oratorio. His Excellency the Governor and party were present in a conspicuous position, in the front of tho centre of the dres3 circle, and the attendance of the public numbered some 500. When, however, it is understood that the performing members have the privilege of introducing two friends each, the number of genuine patrons of the Society dwindles to very insignificant proportions, and the substantial recognition of the Society's efforts in the cause of good music appears very paltry. The choruses last night were quite up to the standard of the Society's performances hitherto given under the coiiductorship of Mr H. Wells ; the parts were well balanced, at least after the closing of the first part. During that part the altos appeared to be very -weak, and frequently were inaudible. Perhaps the best number during the evening waa "All we like Sheep," not even excepting the " Hallelujah." The instrumentalists, however, did not alwaya acquit themselves satisfactorily, and some of the solos probably suffered considerably from defective accompaniment. The overture was very roughly executed, and the pastoral symphony was anything but steadily played. . The soprano solos were entrusted to Misa Mason, whose cultivated and sympathetic voice might have been expected to do full justice to them, but unfortunately she appeared to be scarcely at home in oratorio, and her voice waa not infrequently a little sharp. Her practice of gliding on to a note, though no doubt often a grace, waa in the case of the word " know," in " I Know that My Eedeemer," anything but indicative of tho firm faith the words express. The technical difficulties of the solos were sufficiently mastered, but there was a want of a thorough appreciation of the spirit of each number. The alto solos were undertaken by Miss Jones in the first part, and afterwards by Miss Eowley. Miss Jones confirmed the favourable impression . she had previously made as to the rich promise of her voice, which has never yet appeared more full. Her execution of "Oh Thou that Tellest," was very satisfactory, but why did she shirk a slightly difficult " Jerusalem ?" As usual the emphasis was placed by her on " shall " in "He shall lead his Flock," an emphasis which seems totally unnecessary. Miss Eowley gave "He was Despised " with her usual expression, but some of the passages lacked smoothness. The tenor solo 3 were taken by Mr Appleby and Mr Izard. Mr Appleby was in excellent voice, and sang with cultured taste. " Every Valley " waa very evenly sung, but one of the " crooked's " was cleverly, though needlessly, shirked. Good as all his solos were, the best wa3 the far from easy recitative " Behold and see." Mr Izard had only one solo, " Thou shalt Break Them," and the preceding recitative. These he sang very sweetly, but his voice was scarcely sufficiently powerful to give full effect to them, and no doubt it suffered by comparison, with the preceding air, "Why do the Nations?" The baritone aolos were given to Signor i Luisetti, whose execution of the air just named, and of " The Trumpet Shall Sound," forced the audience to break the rule of no applause they had previously followed. " Why do the Nations ? " was grandly sung, but " The Trumpet Shall Sound" was scarcely so •successful. The cornet obligato had evidently been insufficiently rehearsed, and the singer himself was at least once out of time. Mr Boyd had the bass solos — or rather solo — for " Who May Abide,' 1 which appeared on the programme as allotted to him, was omitted. His rendering of "The People That Walked in Darkness" was perhaps too literal, his only departure from the strict text — taking the lower F at the close of the first phrase — was a decided improvement, but one which only the possessor of a full deep bass could indulge in. The quartettes " Since by Man " and" For as in Adam" were very nicely given by Miss Mason, Miss Rowley, Mr Appleby and Mr Boyd.