CHORAL CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 220, 16 September 1940, Page 9

CHORAL CONCERT.

"JUDAS MACCABAEUS." STIRRING PERFORMANCE. drama"* 1 '?, H ng stirring relijrioue Ma <*abaeus" for its second Hall e, l<>f the sea*™, given in the T <W ?« evening, the Auckland t-hora I Society made a most timely choice; ior the oratorio deale with the epic struggle (B.C 175-164) between the Jewf4 people led by the great patriot, Judas Maccabaeue, and the Syrian tyrant Antiochua Epiphanes, who attempted to euppreas their religion and liberties, ending In final victory for the oppressed. An interesting feature of Saturday ni#ht' S performance was the explanation of the theme of the etory given before the commencement of each section pf the oratorio by a narrator, Mr. K. Melvin, who drew a comparison with the present conflict raging wIT-f en f + e orcee Osgood and evil in the world of to-day. Thia apposite comparison, without doubt, made the audience more receptive to the grandeur of the work. It was an impressive performance. From the affecting opening chorus, "Mourn, ye afflicted children," sung with much artistic restraint, to the final exultant paean of victory, "Hallelujah-Amen " the chorr sang with verve, excellent tonal quality and a taeteful regard for appropriate light and ehade. There were times it is true, when a lack of balance wai obvious owing to the usual shortage of tenor voices, but, on the whole, the conductor, Mr. Colin Muston, is to be congratulated upon a most successful performance of a somewhat difficult work. Outstanding among other concerted numbers were that great chorus. "O Father whose almighty power," "Hear, Hear Uβ' O Lord!" "Fall'n is the foe," delivered with much vigour; "We never will bow r.S wn ' , in »P irin ely eung, and the famous oee, the conquering hero comes," given a thrilling rendition. The solos were taken by Miee Ada Lynn, soprano, Miae Phyllis Gribbin, contralto, Mr. J. T. Battereby, tenor, and Mr. Stewart Harvey, base. Miae Lynn wae heard at her best on Saturday night. "Pious orgies" wae eung with, much expression. "Wiee men flattering wae most eatiefyingly expressed and tne tine quality of her powerful eoprano voice was also heard to considerable advantage m the air "So shall ■ the lute and harp. Mies Lynn was most successful, too, m her duets with Alias Gribbin, the two voices blending admirably in "Come ever smiling Liberty." Particularly pleasing also was the charming duet "O lovely Peace!"

Mies Gribbin's mellow contralto voice wa s well suited to the air "Father pf Heaven." Except that the opening bars of this number were marred somewhat by a tremolo, the gifted contralto displayed throughout her performance refined, even quality of tone, and sang with much tasteful expression. Mr. Battereby sang the fine teno- eolos allotted to him with considerable spirit Outstanding among these were "How vain is man" and the great tenor aria "Sound an alarm!" in which he created a telling climax. This latter had to be repeated in response to ,a furore of applause from an appreciative .mdience. Mr. Stewart Harvey's most succetsful numbers were the well-known base aria "Arm! Arm! Ye brave," and the recitative "Not vain ig all this storm of grief." There were times, such as in "The Lord worketh wonders," when his voice seemed hardly heavy enough for the size of the hall. Apart from this, however, he displayed a pleasing rouixlnees of tone throughout and 6ang with considerable artistry. Well led by Miss Edith Whitelaw, the orchestra was successful in keeping down in the accompaniments. The tonal quality, except for an occasional lapse from pitch in the brass eection, was good. Mr. Trevor Sparling put in some good work at the grand organ, especially in the accompaniments to the recitatives.