"THE MESSIAH" AT ASHBURTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6496, 22 December 1881, Page 5

"THE MESSIAH" AT ASHBURTON.

Wat a considerable period “The Messiah,” or at least portions of the oratorio, have been under practice by a large chorus of voices in Ashburton. The idea of a Messiah performoztee, at or about Christmas time, originated with the choir of SI Stephen’*, but os, of course, that body could not of its own strength srur hope to do justice to ouch a work, it was very wisely resolved to invite the aid of all Ih* vocal talent in the town* chip and surrounding district. To the personal invitations sent out, quite a largo number of vocalists responded, and when the Gww arrived for going into active rehearsal the promoters were gratified to find that shout sixty voices were available. It would Stave bean quite within the bounds of possibility also to hare gat together a pretty good orchestra, but from difficulties that stood in the way of obtaining orchestra! ports in time, it was considered advisable to substitute opkoo, which was capitally played by Master Herman Morris, and a powerful reed organ, at which Mias Gates presided with her customary ability. It was, of course, out of the question to attempt the whole of Handel's great work. Indeed, there was no time, from (lie first sooting of the idea of giviog the performance to the time it came off, to hare put the whole oratorio in rehearsal, and soother insuperable difficulty would have presented itself in the scarcity of soloists. But at itwas, a plucky effort was made to reproduce some of the at hast moderately formidable numbers, sod when the programme was laid before the Ashburton public sot a few of the critics were os much alarmed •s surprised at the selection the company hod decided on attempting. It has Men raid above that soloists were scarce, hot this remark would mlj hold good when speaking of w attempt to produce the whole of “ The Messiah.” For a sacred concert, in which the items ore selections from this oratorio, Ashburton can supply quite enough soloists to introduce a very pleasant and variation upon the choruses, and the performance of Tuesday evening proved this.

It was expected that the Town Hall would have been filled, but Ashburton has scarcely yet been educated up to the “classical” point, and as a consequence scarcely 280 were present. However, it was not difficult to see that those 280 were just the aort of audience whan one would expect to see at a performance of the kind. Nor do the musical people despair of yet seeing « high dam musical Irate SO developed m the township as to assure crowded houses for such concerts os those of Wilhelm j, Scherek and the little awomtio® who essayed *' The Messiah ” on Tuesday. Mr Horace A. Gatos was conductor, and lie deserves great praise for the work he so successfully brought to a climax on Tuesday evening j for only those who know what difficulties he has had to contend againet in drilling the choruses and training seme of the aoloisto, can fully appreciate the result of hie wort. It rays much for Ashburton that from it* list of youths it can piodocs one of sufficient ability and perseverance to produce, almost unaided, so many difficult •elections from ** The Msraiah M as were given, in such perfect time, with ao much attention paid to the difficult points of Handsl’e music, and with the balance of power so very well kept that not»single voice could be heard in obtrusive prominstHW over the others. The following were allotted solo parti, and also assisted in the choruses Messrs A. Femmin, Thorpe, 0, Gatos, and Kidd, and Mr* Vaughan, Mrs Pcnlington, and Merer# 11. ihckforrf, and G- D. Branson, each of whom acquitted themselves very creditably, and were well received by the audience. The choruses all through were given with good effect. The quartettes came at the dose of lb# evening, after a large amount of hard work had been accoioplwhcd by the ladies and gcoUaroea taking part in them. Notwithstanding palpable evidence of fatigue, the rokra threaded out the imricato harmony with correctness and tasto. and whan the “ ii» leiujab *’ chorus was given it was apparent that great spirit was still left. Krery item was applauded, and the audience manifested a keen interest throughout in a performance which, though certainly novel tn Ashburton, is only the first of a series of high class entertainments to bo given • It i* understood that “The Lay of the Beil will ■he the next piece put in rehearsal.