HANDEL’S “MESSIAH”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20120, 14 December 1939, Page 7

HANDEL’S “MESSIAH”

FINE CHORAL EFFORT APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE SOLOISTS’ SUCCESSES A presentation of Handel's oratorio, “The Messiah,” ‘by a combined choir in St. Andrew’s Church last evening was one of the highlights of the musical season for ,Gisborne, the rendering being’ of an almost uniformly high standard, and giving the deepest pleasure to an audience which filled the church. The choir comprised members of the Gisborne Choral Society, reinforced by members of church choirs, and was exceedingly well balanced. Under Mr. I. Birchnall’s conductorship it performed the exacting composition with undiminished freshness, and the concluding chorus, ‘’Hallelujah,” notable for its sustained demands upon performers, was sung with a degree of success seldom surpassed in this district. The soloists were iMrs. Henry Dods, contralto, (Miss Evelyn Ray, soprano, and Messrs. Alex Ansell and C. V. Harre, tenor and bass respectively. Fine Performances All the solos were rendered with excellent effect, .Mrs. Dods being particularly successful with “He Was Despised.” Miss .Ray’s singing of "Rejoice (Greatly” was perhaps her most successful number, and Mr. Ansell scored well with "Comfort Ye,” the recitative with which the oratorio opens. Mr. Harre was in .good voice, and in “Why .Do The Nations” and "The Trumpet Shall Sound” he achieved the highest points of a fine performance. ' The success of the presentation was greatly enhanced by Mr. Wilfrid kohn’s playing of the organ, which audience and singers both appreciated keenly. Occasion was taken toy the Rev. A. J. H-. Dow. from St. Andrew’s pulpit, to refer to the works of Handel, and to explain to those not familiar with the history' of the composer that the oratorio “The Messiah” was his greatest effort, so far as general appreciation went. (Handel, he stated, was a German toy birth, tout became an English subject toy naturalisation, and was taken warmly to the hearts of his adopted people, .composing his finest works amongst them. It was an interesting aspect of the international character of musical appreciation, he added, that Handel’s oratorio should have so wide a popularity, transcending national boundaries and finding a response in every people’s heart. The proceeds of a substantial collection taken in connection with the performance were for the Red Cross funds, and Mr. Dow commented with satisfaction upon the support given to the effort of the combined choir.