THE MESSIAH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1933, 16 December 1913, Page 6

THE MESSIAH.

. > < ROYAL CITOHAL SOCIETY. ' Two thousand peonle, hicludin c; Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, assembled in tli-o Town Hall last night to hear the Royal Wellington Choral Society's _ performanco. ■of Handel's "Messiah/' That, the performance was ail exceptional musical treat is almost unnecessary to mention. The chorus, numbering over 200 voices, was excel* lent, likewise the orchestra, and the. soloists. The engagement of Mr. Andrew Black the notable baritone, assured success in 0110 important direction. Mr. Black's fine voice was heard to fullest advantage in the superb arias of the great oratorio. .Miss Mina Caldow's simzinf of the contralto arias 'was another notable feature of the performance. Her full, rich voice was at its best in the celebrated air, "Ho Shall Peed His Flock," and in the beautiful aria, "Ho Was Despised,", tlio snifter brought out the profound pathos of the sentiment most admirably, To Mr. E. J. IJ-il', w - 10 tenor solos at verv short notice, the society are pronerly grateful. Mr. Hill was in excellent voice, and sustained his Dart most capably. The soprano principal was Madame Evelyn Selig, cf Brisbane, whosn work was excellent. , , The clarity of her voice, was noticeable lin . her opening lines, : and in the nioro difficult passages its linlitnes* and dainty sweetness was charming. Of 'the choruses. _ the finest, of course, were the "Hallelujah" and the final chorus ("Worthy is the Lamb"). In these particularly the concerted Work was distinctlv creditable. The baton was wielded by Mr. Christian Hellemann. The trumpeter was Mr. P. Cole.