CHORAL SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 639, 16 October 1909, Page 10

CHORAL SOCIETY.

, SECOND'SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT. ~ At the Town-Htill last.evening,;tho,Wellington Choral Society gave its 6econd subscription concert of the season before his Excollency tho Gbveriior and .a large attendance of the public. It was an excellent concert, to say which is to tender a compliment to all concerned. Tho programme consisted of two concerted items— Sohnbert's "Song of Miriam," and Sir Edward Elgar's "Black Knight"—and a solo item by Mrs. R. Hudson, of Dunedin—"Piano, piano Canto pio," from "Der Freischuta" (Webor), The dominant sentiment in the. "Song of Miriam" is of one of exultation, descriptivo of the Biblical account of tho passage of tho Red Sea by the Israelitish host, the disaster which Subsequently befell Pharoah and liis army, and Miriam's song of thanksgiving. Schubert, in his construction, has faithfully reproduced the traditional incident, presenting the idoa, in his narrative solo for soprano (with intervening chorus), of tho Israelitish woman reciting tho recent experiences of her people, to the accompaniment of the. shouts of the host around her. In its interpretation last evening, Mr* Barnett's society did Schubert ample justice. Mrs. R. Hudson, as the narrator (Miriam), did her work well. She is, under any circumstances, a most pleasing singer to listen to. Her voice is sweet, admirably controlled, and, on the whole, responsive to tho emotions that 6he is called upon to interpret. ;'.'.- Mrs. Hudson was accompanied iii the "Der Freisohntz" aria by Mr. Horace Punt, Mus. Bac.. As. for the choir, there ncod only be said that'its members knew their work. The publio has- been accustomed in the past to hear finished performances from Mr: Barnett's Society, and those, .who attended tho concert last evening were not disappointed in their anticipation that the choir would again maintain its well-earned reputation. Schubert's cantata is in the main fairly simple in construction, but in the climax of tho narrative, when tho pursuing army of Pharoah "bursts on the view," with "Armour gleaming, trumpets clanging," the character of tho work undergoes a dramatic ohange, and the.overwhelming of Pharoah's host in the Red Sea is magnificently pictured. .The work of the choir and orchestra here was particularly good. Following upon the conclusion of the cantata, which ocoupied a comparatively short span of time in its production,- canio Mrs. Hudsohs solo. Piano; piano Canto pio' (Weber). Tho fine aria wbb admirably suited to the voice of the singer, who scored a distinct triumph. In response to au ; insistent recall, she charming idyll, "'Twas April.' Mrs. Hudson must bo complimented on her success. ' ■..■■'"•

Praiseworthy as tha work of the society in the "Song of Miriam" was, it appeared to even greater'advantage in' Elgar's characteristically, dramatio "Black Knight:' It was in the interpretation 6f-"this ;work. that there 'was strik-ingly-revealed that care' in preparation, that' conscientious effort,' which: has earned for 'Mr.Barnett and his sooiety the appfovalof the public. The "Black Knight' r is essentially symphonic, intensely dramatic, and thoroughly characteristic. It calls forth for adequato interpretation, the utmost efforts of both chorus and orchestra, and especially.tbeorchestra,for;E!gar?s orchestration is often, as in this particular work, astonishingly difficult. . .With the work of the society's" orchestra there.can be'little fault to find. Its members had been 'drilled-— that was quite evident, and to. know that their work had not been in vain must have been very gratifying to them. .There, is no solo work in the "Black Knight.".. The argument, "briefly, is that the Afoh-Fiend, incarnate in• the .person of the Black' Knight, constructs upon the opening sentiment of the Hofburg King—"So. from tho halls of ancient HofburgY walls, a luxuriant spring shall break"—a saturnalia: He kills the "Jfonareh's Stalwart Son,"' dances a : horrid death-dance with a mardin,- administers a fatal draught to the royal ohildren, and, in grim saturnity, sings..in conclusion, "Bases:-,.in the Spring I Qather.".v The .work is divided, into four scones— "-.Tho .-.-Penticostal... Feast,": ;. f ,'Tho Tournament,".,'?J?be 'Dance," and '"The,Banauot '—and. >itji« ■ excellently,-, reriaered:-:.:; To ...select but a-i few. of.' tho; passages in .which the societyroxoelled, one-might men-tion-the passage, "Should, 11 speak it ..here;'ye would stand ..aghast-.with - fear,"; the'..elegant' dan'ce music .which/introduces Scene 111, .andtho terrible "Death Dance"—"danced in' sable iron sark, danced a .measure weird and dark.", This .last jras particularly fine. "Tho' sooiety ■ was heartily, applauded at'the .conclusion, i