SHEFFIELD CHOIR—AN OMISSION

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1169, 3 July 1911, Page 4

SHEFFIELD CHOIR—AN OMISSION

CORRESPONDENT'S LETTER.

"Honour to Whom Honour is Duo' writes:—

The visit of the Sheffield Choir has been a delightful experience (o all lovers of music in Wellington, and will no doubt servo to deepen tho appreciation of the works of tho masters which our local musicians, and especially the City Organist, are striving so hard to cultivate in our community. There is only ono thing to regret in connection with the visit of theso' distinguished singers, namely, that they gave no public expression to (heir indebtedness for the assistance given by the auxiliary choir in their magnificent rendering of ''Elijah." Dr. Coward ha* proved himself not only a marvellous conductor, but sufficiently effective in speech, as was proved by tho remarks ho had to make at different times during tho concerts. It would have been a very graceful, and to (ho audience I am sure a very grateful thing, if at the close of Saturday's performance ho had in a sentence acknowledged (ho value of the services rendered by tho Wellington singers, and especially of the work of tho gentlemen: by whom these were brought to such a pitch of proficiency, that practically the Sheffield Choir was doubled for the event. It was gratifying to everyone v;ho cares for musical culture in this city to note how splendidly the auxiliaries rose to the occasion. I understand that (he work of preparation was undertaken by several of the professional musicians of the city, and to them and to Mr. Maughan Barnett, who bore his part in (he initial stages, and to whom the task of giving the finishing touches was wholly entrusted, Dr. Coward might with good taste have his obligation. I should like to add that the visit of the great choir must prove stimulating to our local musical societies. The visitors nre, of course, far beyond our present achievements, but not so far as to make it imnossiblo ultimately to reach oven their high level. "Tho Dream of Gerontius," as rendered by the Chora! Society last year, was at least worthy of comparison with the rendering of our visitors. That is saving much for local ability and tho talented' leader of the society, for anything finer than tho performance of the Sheffield Choir can scarcely bo imagined.