"THE MESSIAH."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1629, 21 December 1912, Page 8

"THE MESSIAH."

A,NOTABLE PERFORMANCE. There have been many excellent performances of Handel's oratorio, "Tho Messiah," given in Wellington—many within the mouiory and others which have been lost in. the mists of other it is fairly safe to conclude that tlio. performance of the work given by tho Royal Wellington Choral Society in.the Town nail last evening set a slightly higher standard all round than has previously been acliieved To effect that end were -several interst-ing contributing causes. In the first place, tho. society, in order to honour its departing conductor, Mr. J. Maughan Barnett, had resolved to do the work really well, and casting round for the principal contralto lighted on the fact that Madame ICirkby Lunn would be in the vicinity of Wellington about tho date of the performance, and decided to endeavour to secure her valued services. At first this seemed hopeless, but Messrs. J. ;and N. Tait, recognising the artistic aim of the society, submitted tho proposal to the singer, with the result that her engagement came to pass. The services of that reliable artist, Mr. Andrew Black (formerly one of England's finest baritones in concert and oratorio), -were secured, Mr. Walter Whyte, a serviceable tenor, was imported from Sydney, and Madaino Wfcslaert, of Auckland, consented to sing the soprano music'. With such a quartet of soloists, the society had nothing to fear. It has what is probably the best chorus in New Zealand, and one withal whioh is imbued with a -superabundance of enthusiasm." As the result of the commendable enterprise shown, the box plan was practically filled on the opening day, and we have tho word of the secretary, Mr. W. .E. Caldow, that between 2000 and 3000 were turned away from the doors long before 8 o'clock. To add to the interest, his Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool elected to make their first public appearance after the official reception at the concert. Their Excellen- ' oies were accompanied by Miss Foljambe, Captain Shawe, A.D.C., Mr. Gavin Hamilton (Private Secretary),, the Prime Minister and Mrs. Massey. The audience, which filled every seat, was a brilliant one, many having come long distances to be present. ." , In point of quality the honours fell naturally to Madame Kirkby Lunn, whose famo as a finished exponent of oratorio music had preceded her. To listen to this great artist intone the recitatives was to have revealed to one that deep sense of reverence which must have obsessed Handel when composing his everlasting work. The rare beauties pf her rich tone, the velvety roundness of each note, the fine phrasing, and the intelligence with- which 6h.e sang every line will make her one appearance in oratorio in New Zealand long, memorable. Her ; quality was manifested in her first recitative, "Behold, aVirgin Shall Conceive," in.which all the devotion, humility, and majesty °f the them© were made and thore was an impressive exaltation in her ro&d" ing of the attached air, "O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion," which induced a torrent of enthusiastic applause. Even more beautiful was Madame s singing of the air "He Shall Feed His Flock, a solo so often, marred, by chsualness, :and in consequence in approach by many singers. Whilst preserving the flowing rhythm of the melody the smger with artistic resource correctly' conveyed that fresh placid charm born of tho. h<ge everlasting. Her interpretation of Mo was Despised" was illuminating. Her notes thrilled with the abject grief, and in.-the pianissimo passages, sung with refinement and delivery, Madame Lunn imparted poignant sorrow with marked effect; It was a triumph in interpretation. Mr. Andrew Black was warmly welcomed. With hardly the same vocal, fire of other years his work wos consistently good throughout. His. opening solo is not an attractive one, and a singer requires the bellows of a Yuloan to give vocal satisfaction in the long runs, which characterise the air "For. He is Like a Refiner's Fire." Mr. Black-took the number.rather deliberately, and phrasing like the master lie is, gave a skilful performance of the study. He came into llis own in the recitative "For- Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth," which with the air "The People That Walked;" was one of the gems of the.evening. Here Mr. Black's fine resonant voice, and cultivated method cast new lights on the beautiful number. Ho was also impressive and. forceful in "Why Do the -Nations?" Mr. Walter Whyte is possessed of •a , light tenor voice of nice, if- rather nasal, quality, perhaps not so well suited to oratorio as to lighter musical work. . .With hardly dramatic temperament enough to do full justice to the recitative "Comfort Ye," he sang the air "Every Valley" attractively, but rose to much greater heights in, the. recitative "My Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart," and air "Behold and See," which was delightfully sung. Madame Wielaert, a facile light soprano, with a tendency to stridency in her top register, is hot satisfying in oratorio. With plenty of voice, and a full, free j'range, she is inclined to "scoop" up to a noto, and there is a luck of warmth and sympathy in her treatment. She was 'at her best in the air "Come Unto Him." Her 'reading of "I Know that my Redeemer Liveth" was vocally. alive, but was. lacking in that) spirit of exaltation, which should crown tho. climax of the oratorio. -The society has anotably.good chorus, fresh and hearty in tone, and' always splendidly drilled. -The soprano and bass •sections were particularly pood, the tone of the tenors was not so good, and the contraltos a very serviceable bank of voices. The best- of the 'choruses were: "All We Like Sheep," "Lift.Up Your Heads," "Hallelujah," and "Worthy is the' Lamb." A capable orchestra, inclined to be thin in the string section, did very good work throughout. The' accompaniments were, as a rule, well played, end the 'Tastorai Symphony" was delightfully render<>'l. Mr. Logan led the orchestra, and Mr. IT. Hunt presided at the small organ, which was used effectively on occasions. Much of the success of this really notable performance is- duo to Mr. Barnett, who conducted with skill and resource. At the conclusion of the performance— valedictory in his case—Mr. Barnett was cheered by the chorus.