"ISRAEL IN EGYPT"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2917, 1 November 1916, Page 6

"ISRAEL IN EGYPT"

The Wellington Choral Union gave its second concert of tho 1916 season in tho Town Hall last night beforo a, fairly largo audience. Handel's oratorio, "Israel in Egypt," was tha work presented, and on tho whole tho choice was justified by the performance. The oratorio gives abundant scope for both tho chorus and the orchestra, but it cannot be classed as an ambitious work, and it does not make largo demands upon tho soloists. It is well within the rango of a comparatively modest musical organisation, and certainly presents fewer difficulties, from soveral points of view, than Gounod's "Faust," with which tho Union opened its season. The performance of tho opera, it will bo remembered, was only moderately satisfactory. The soloists for tho most part were over-weigh ted, and the chorus showed somo lack of unity and force. The two compositions do not lend themselves readily as bases of comparison, but it is safe to say that tho Work of the union last night showed improvement. Tho soloists wcro Miss Eileen Driscoll, who was heard .at the first concert, and Sergeant Edwin Dennis (lato of Auckland, and now of the Twentieth Reinforcements). iiliss priscoll has a developing contralto voice of pleasant quality, lacking a trifle in volume, but sweet and expressive. Sergeant Dennis has a well-trained tenor, which ho used confidently and on the whole successfully. Probably his opportunities for practico in oratorio liavo not been many during tho last month or two, but the uniform in his case was not required to cover musical sins. Both the soloists were at their best in the second part of tho work, after they had established relations with their audience, and tliny made a success of their duet, "Thou in Thy Mercy Hast Led Forth Thy People." The chorus, over 200 strong, had good volume and tone, and it gave evidence of careful study and rehearsal. But it had its moments of uncertainty, and it appeared. . especially on tho female side, ' - lack full confidence. On occasions ve was a tendency to lag in attack >:d response. But tho general effect undoubtedly was pleasing, and tho supporters of tho union had reason to be gratified by the extent of tho progress shown and by tho promise of still further improvement. The orchestra did effective work both as a musical unit and us a support for tho chorus. It was assisted by Mr. F. W. Rowley at the organ. The conductor was Mr. Robert Parker, whoso Dart in the performance was acknowledged appreciatively hv <ho audience.