MUSICAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4818, 5 December 1893, Page 1

MUSICAL.

Spohr's " Last Judgment." The special service at the Cathedral last evening included the annual performance, of Spohr'e fine work Th4;Zjq^-^Judgnie^t. 'Iff waa very well done byijice.h'oir of \tjuriy; man %ij<i mightsiave^ .been a* iittle'strong^r^ith^^d^^njiage. It' iß ; u.,^aWjii6n-i^l»^tft§iJh«&^aiteauij£.orchgj6^ tration throughout c*n be adequately rendered on the organ alone, though the music, descriptive of the Day of Wrath and Last Judgment, wa3 thrilling and impressive. The overture was "finely played, but on the organ loses some of the sharpness and effects of the instruments. In the opening chorus the trebles hurried a little in their part at first, but in the repeat after the bass solo they steadied and gave the chorus with full effect. No. 3, bas3 and tenor bolo, and the following tenor eolo, were each well giveD, the latter leading into the beautiful unaccompanied chorus, " Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts," which was sung with delicacy and expressiveness, and well subdued throughout. The treble solos in Nob. 5, 7 and 8 were clearly and brightly Ming; and the tenor solob Noo. 9 and 10 were Bung with due appreciation of the words. The difficult chorus in No. 10, " Blessing, Honour," was very well given, the leads being well taken up on all voices, and with good expression. In No. 12, solos and chorue, the treble showed a tendency to force the high notes'. The difficult and elaborate symphony with which the second part opens prepares the way for the fiae bass solo, No. 14, " Thus Saith the Lord," splendidly Bung, with, interlude: in the accompaniment descriptive of the day of wrath and j adgment. The contia3t in the following number is very effective through its consolatory character, and the tenor and treble voicea blended well in the duet. The great chorus " Destroyed is Babylon " went crisply and firmly, the passage " The grave gives up its dead, tho sea gives up its dead " being especially fine, and the organ effects impressive, la the beautiful quartet and chorus there was uncertainty at first in the tenor part, but the chorus part went piano and Einoofchly. The "Hallelujah Chorub " was shortened, and No. 22 practically formed the finish, and perhaps the oratorio does not lose very much in completeness by the omission. The offertory amounted to J&l2 Is 7d.