"THE MESSIAH"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 77, 26 December 1918, Page 6

"THE MESSIAH"

The Wellington Choral Union repeated "The Messiah" last evening to an audience which, filled the ground floor; seats fairly comfortably. Probably owing to the fact that it was Christmas night.the chorus only numbered about a hundred, and tonal 'strength wns lacking in son of the majestic choruses, which demand a big choir in an auditorium ns | r he hi* Town Hall. Thanks, however, to Jlr. Tern'tilo White's skill at the grand organ the little deficiencies were ndroitlx - (la"ed and the performance thoroii.,n v "en oved bv all present. The princes Jere the same as on Saturday evem g. with the exception of the contralt , music for which was sung very crcditaMy bv Mrs Paisv Bnsham,<of Waipukuiau. Miss Bashnm possesses the! proper spmt for oratorio, and her low-pitchwl voice, which is slichtlv uneven in the registers, sympathy which nlwavs commands favour. With a r to the severely limited number of .ontraltos in New Zealnnd availnble for ora torio. Madame Bella Russell, of AiicK land, appeared to be more at, liome in her work than on Saturday, wrthgreater ease and freedom. Hei inter pretntion of that d.vme solo, Come Unto Tlim" was very ljenutiful. Air. J 1W lan ff the baritone music, w,th noHshed artistry. He is fortunate in knowing - the. traditional renderings of 1C "Messiah" solos as laid down by Charles Rantlev. and has the voice nnd intellect to reproduce f'i»m His exposition of the difficult solo. People Hint Walked in Darkness wth its sustained runs, was a very fine lesson in the sincim; of Handehan music. \lj• Svdnev Butler's charming tenor, roitt was once, more heard S^J Upautiful• nnmhovs n* Comfort Ae "Fvnrv Valley," "Thv Kebuke," nnd in Particular that- declamntorj; "Thou Shalt Break Them, i?"ing force fnl to tho. meaiunp o Lordt' Sir. Butler Ivs unmistakably fournV favour with Wellington mulienee* nifl l\is future anpoftvancps liere wui w pleasui-ably anticipated. The orchestra of strings was thin and inexpressive.. Jr. White's work at tho organ was all suiheient Ifr. Pobert, Parker conducterlwe were going to say, once more for the hst time in public-but that mav not be ! eon-ec™ as ).e has already offered to act in some siudijcnpacity at the pence celc brations in Wellington.