"THE MESSIAH."

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14841, 5 December 1913, Page 2

"THE MESSIAH."

The jiewly-established Christc-urch Methodist Choir Union made their first public appearance last night at the Durham street' Methodist Church with the production of Handel> "Messiah." It is not only numerically the most formidable choir yet gathered together in Christchurch, but it contains from the start a large proportion or" experienced singers, who have been members of their parish choirs. They sing' well and correctly in consequence, follow the conductor's beat, and will produce intelligently a-good volume and a fine sonority of tone in combination. There are among the'sopranos some who force their voices in the upper register without opening their mouths suniciently for sending out their notes; the basses, certainly a very fine, body of singers, include some who bury their cuins too deeply in their collars; the ianer voices are satisfactory, but not as conspicuously bright as the others. » ■The neglect of oratorio on a large scale in recent times justifioa the establishment of a choir devoted to its • revival in our city. As has been pointed out already,. t-iio composition of the choir is a good one, giving promise of future excellence. So far, among the choruses selected, tho first one, VAnd tho Glory of the Lord," "Behold the Lamb of God," ."Ho Trusted in God," and in parts the "Hallelujah Chorus," proved the most'effective. Often they do not sufficiently lead up to a climax, or drag their syllables along in uniform enunciation, especially in slow movements, but they resounded, and were always well under control of the conMr Ernest Firth, who is entitled to full credit.

It is to be hofed that they will not make it a rule to choose their soloists from among their members, unless better singers cannot be obtained. On this occasion the honours of the evoning were with Mrs Staliard, who sang her soli with very good taste and genuine feeling, although the voice is not equally developed throughout. In "He was Despised," tho fine aria was rather too much drawn into len_i-. Miss M. Twoso sang in a voice that, especially in soft notes, sounds w: 11, very correct-' ly, but somewhat mechanically, bent oibre upon tone-production than suit— nblo declamation. Mr J. H. Peck's -lerformance was meritorious in many vvays, although tho voice is rather too ight for the task, apd he abo has much o learn, especially in recitative, with •?gard to treatment of lis words. Mr •■pratt was overweighted in the. bass vart; his vo : ce is neither strong nor remnant enotish to sive the part adf~ -mately, although ho made here ar*d here a fair nttemot at dramatic in-

' M-protation, if never sustained at .ient length. All the soloists should attempt to be more independent of their scores. Miss E. Smith as organist was painstaking, but the task, without the help of an orchestra, really rernrires a very highly-trained performer. The impression of the whole" first performance was very favourable all round.