"THE MESSIAH"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2422, 30 March 1915, Page 7

"THE MESSIAH"

COMBINED CHOIR PERFORMANCE. The combined choirs of St. John's Presbyterian Church and the Taranaki Street Methodist Church, gave a. very successful performance ■of Handel's "Messiah" last evening in the Wesley Church. Notwithstanding that there was not the number of voices which is required to give anything like the strength and_ volume needed in the oratorio the choirs gave a very careful and 'creditable performance, under the leadership of Air. C. W. Kerry,' of St. John's, while .Mr: H. Temple White was the organ accompanist. The Rev. Mr. Chapman, in the brief introductory speech which he made, expressed the ■pleasure it gave to have such a combined performance, and he hoped it .would not be the last for it seemed to •give reality to the hops that there ■would be one day a United Protestant ■Church. .. .

: Miss Gladys Watkins took the so:prano, solos, and was probably heard Jto the best advantage in her number, •"I Know. That My Redeemer Liveth." '■The solos, "He Was Despised." and "He Shall Feed His Flock," Miss Nellie Castle (contralto) sung with much ■feeling and sympathy. Mr. Hamilton Hodges (bass) was in good voice, and "was probably heard to the best advantage m "Why Do the Nations.' 11 Mr. ;S Laslett Exton (tenor) also did good .work, singing "Comfort Ye" and \' Ev ry Valley," and "But Thou Dids't flvot Leave very, nicoly. The quartets, . j since by Man Came Death" and ! "For as in Adam" were interesting performances, while the chorus work was ; distinctly good, some of the outstanding choruses being "And the Glory," the Lamb of God," "Hallelujah," and "Worthy is the Lamb." A . collection was taken up during the evening for-the. benefit of the Belgian Funds. :This evening the same performance of •"The Messiah" will be given in St. John's Schoolroom.