LEVIN CHORAL SOCIETY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3722, 26 November 1927, Page 2

LEVIN CHORAL SOCIETY.

• -* “THE MESSIAH” ON MONDAY NEXT.

Handel’s sacred oratorio, “The Messiah,” to be rendered by the Levin Choral Society in the De Luxe Theatre on Monday evening, holds a place in the hearts of the-English-speaking race, unequalled by any other oratorio. It is specially suited to the Christmas season, centreing as it does about the birth of the Redeemer. . The opening passages present a picture of the world plunged into sin and despair before the promise of a “Messiah” had brought comfort to the people. This changed to a more comforting strain, and the air, “But who may abide,” is extraordinarily impressive; the contrast between the desolation of the opening larghetto and the succeeding prestissimo being exceedingly fine. The beautiful and tender passage, ‘-‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive,” creates the introduction to the ail- of rejoicing. “0 thou that tellest good tidings,” followed by the impressive retrospective air, “The people that walked in darkness.” “For unto us a child is born” contains some very fine passages, and is followed by the “Pastoral Symphony,” the most dramatic part of the “Messiah.” In this the understanding spirit is carried to the fields where the Shepherds abode by night, and listens with them to the angelic communication. Several recitatives lead up to the triumphant “Glory of God.” The second part brings one to the Passion of Christ, “Behold the Lamb of God,” breathing of tragedy and loneliness. The contralto solo, “He was despised,” is followed by other tender melodies, and opens the way to the air showing the triumph of the Saviour over death and the vain wrath of the heathen who flaut its message. •The great chorus “Hallelujah,” during which the audience stands, is perhaps the most appreciated of Handel’s airs, and the general rejoicings lead up to the time when the .Christian is in the presence of his Maker. The solo work for this production is in the hands of artists famed throughout the Dominion; and a chorus of 130 voices, assisted by an orchestra of 20 instruments, will give an interpretation of this work such as is not usually obtained outside the cities.