"THE MESSIAH"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2337, 19 December 1914, Page 9

"THE MESSIAH"

ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY In the entire history of mußio since Jnbal struck his lyro,- there is no more striking'illustration of genuine inspiration than the conception of the "Messiah" by Handel. It is pre-eminently the greatest of all oratorios, , and though now nearly one hundred and sovonty-three years old, is as divinely fresh and uplifting as tho night it was first porformod in Dublin City. There are those with an intinate acquaintance wtih tho work who are unawaro that "The Messiah" was wholly written and orchestrated within twentyfour days, a stupendous feat that can only be accounted for by'tho inspiration which must have possessed Handel. No musical work can boast such long, continuous, and enduring popularity, and nono has been written that preserves uniformly throughout the score such, a radiant spirit of exaltation. Thanks to tho Royal' Choral Society and other musical bodies in the past, "The Messiah" has becomo almost a counterpart of Christmas. Last evening's performance was an exceedingly oreditable one on the whole, and was mado interesting in several ways. Firstly, it 'was the first tinio for years that wo have heard "Tho Messiah" with orchestra., and tho writer is doubtful if the reversion to the full' band' is moro. effective than tho grand organ well played. Not that the orchestra was very terrible, but there was a scratchiuess at times that should not be, some of the occompani- . ments were weak and'shaky, and there i was no "Pastoral Symphony." Why troublo with an 'orchestra at all when tins gem is to be omitted ?■ In the_ second place, the cast was new and richly: endowed. It was deligh'.iul to .-hear . Mr. Peter Dawson's vigorous vooalism, , his vital declamatory, style, and the fine intelligence and rare technique which ' ho displayed in rocitativeo nid arias , alike. There were those, perhaps, who I expected-more power,' but in the execu- , tion of tho long runs in such solos as | "For He is Like a Refiner's Fire," and "The People That Walked in Darkness," power is almost out 'of tho quesIn this department Mr. Dawson's quality, and his phrasing were above 1 reproach. The orchestral lead in the recitative "Eor Behold, Darkness Shall; Cover the Earth," was disquieting,.but the quiet dominance of the singer ' largely helped to rnako the rough places plain.- Mr.'Dawson,'dropping his Bcore, j gavo a forceful, fier.V reading. of tho I solo "Why Do the Nations" that earn- ( ed a storm of applause and an 'encore. He is cortainly an artist in oratorio and a singer to be hoard. Mr.'Martin Duff, tho Dunedin tenor, was a delightful surprise/ Unknown, unheralded, he ! at_ pneo established himself as a con- >,. scientioua artist possessed of a very , sweet, well-trained lyric voice of even i quality, under perfect control alwavs. » Ho sang "Comfort Ye" Rnd "Every 5 Valley" very nicely indeed,- and thcro 1 was quality in bis work in ''Behold and - Soa," and "But Thou Didst Not Leave." At present Mr. Duff is in- • clined to bo, pedantic in the great-care no takes with the tempo.' So-obviously t was ho boating time with: his ' ritrh't - hand on occasions that it -detracted i from his sincinw. Miss' Mina Caldow ; was Buctwssful with the contralto music. 3 In "0 Thou That Tellest," i=he was in; ] clincd to be listless, but the solos "He . Was Despised" and "Ho Shall Feed His . Flock," were invested with deep feelu ine. and wore sung with artistic point .. and. finish. ■ The soprano'was Miss An. ), netta George, whoso voice is not' exy actly suited to oratorio. Her bes ■ solo was "Rejoice Greatly," and she also ■'•, shared tho honours with Miss'Caldow in the divided miuiber,"He Shall Feed' His Flock." The chorus was excellent on tho whole. Siich, chorales as "And ■ s ,th© Gloi-v,!.' "Glory.to God,","All VTo. ;•'.Like Stoop,"" '.?Tlie:..Hallelujah;" and

"Worthy is the Lamb" were really ad-] mirably sung, but there was the timid- ] ity of uncertainty in the difficult chorus "For Unto Us," and also in "His Yoko is Easy." The; glorious rolling "Amen" chorus was omitted. Another conspicuous omission was the National Anthem. Mr. Herbert Bloy is to be heartily commended for the able manner in which he handled his forcoß, vocal and instrumental, and much of the credit that attaches to the performance should bo his. IN AID OF WAR RELIEF FUND. On Christmas Night in tho Town Hjdl tho Royal Wellington Choral Society in- i tend repeating Handel'B "Messiah." The net proceeds are to be devoted to tho Roliof Fund of Great Britain, I/e----land, and Belgium. The samo quartet of soloists who appeared at the Town Hall last night will the _ principals taking. part_ on - Christmas Night. Soprano, Miss Amelia George; contralto, Miss Mina Caldow; tenor, Mr. Martin Duff; baritone, Mr. Peter Dawson,. the . world-famous oratorio singer. ■ Popular .prices will be oharged. riz.: 3s. (reserved), 2s. (reserved), and Is. The box plain will open at' the Dresden on Monday morning at 0 o'clock, where tickets of all prices can bo obtained. '