"ELIJAH."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 211, 15 December 1910, Page 5

"ELIJAH."

A NOTABLE MUSICAL EVENT. kThe combined concert gjven by the New Plymouth Liederkranz and Lieder-s-piel and the Liedcrtafel, drew a sple»dfd audience to the Theatre Royal last night. The oratorio "Elijah" was interpreted with great intelligence, and a more than ordinary appreciation of its wonders and beauties. Under the baton of that capable conductor, Mr. G. Herbert White, the combined societies gave a performance that will be long remembered in Aew Plymouth. It would perhaps ue difficult to choose principals better able to .silhouette in the public mind the solo work of the immortal oratorio. Madame Emily Briggs is gifted with a soprano voice of fine timbre, and of unquestioned range and power— ' and she us'.s it with mu&icianly appreciation of the work it has to do. As a sample of her vocal powers, the success of her production and the sympathy of her method, nothing she did excelled "What have I to do with thee?" She | infused the necessary dramatic element, I and showed the possession of a faculty i of interpretation not only of the fine 1 music but of the magnificent words. In the recitative, "There is nothing," she gave point to the moving narrative, and * especially in the higher register adequately fulfilled, the necessities of the music. Madame Briggs demonstrates in a marked degree her value in the numerous duets and quartettes of which "Elijah** has such a store. Perhaps the finest of all soli in the whole range of oratorio is "0 Rest in the Lord." The famous number was sung by Miss Brenda l Stock as it should be sung—-the highest praise possible in a criticism. Miss Stock has a true contralto voice of beautiful quality, and .the quality is no more remarkable than the absolute ease with ' which it is produced. Effortless, suave, ! of mellifluous resonance, it is a gift to I be prized. It is used devotionally, can be fervid or restful, tempestuous or gen- | tie, but always is it smooth and moduj lated to the needs of its work. In the recitative, "Elijah, get thee hence," t'he : declamatory number was eminently suited to the splendid voice and method of ; the singer. The richness of the voice gave a volume and finish to the duets and quartettes in which Miss Stock sung —and unquestionably "0 Rest in toe , Lord" was the triumph of the performance. Unhappily, Miss Stock did not respond to a very pronounced demand for a repetition of the number,, but it is good .to have heard her sing it once. Mr. A. Joll is a baritone singer with a voice m which the power and sympathy are | most marked. To him fell a heavy share, and he was wholly successful. With his solo, "Lord Goil of Abraham," lie was so effective in his method, his music, and the sympathetic mature of his appeal, that the audience was stirred to the warmest approval. "Call him louder" was a number that stood out for its musical excellence. "Night fallefch around me" was almost flawless. Mr. Will Hutdiens has a tenor voice -which is produced with ease. It shows evidence . of careful cultivation. He has an enunciation that is a splendid feature of !hifl work, and an example sto moat public singers. The touching appeal, "If with all your hearts," was given with a technical excellence highly gratifying. "Then • sliall the righteous shine forth" was given with the requisite fervor, and the technique was unexceptionable. A notable number was the trio, "Lift thine eyes" (Madame Briggs, and Misses Stock and E. Buckman). It was sung witih a delicacy and balance that quite raised it. from the commonplace. All the duets and quartettes are famous for theglor- ! ies of the music and the splendor words, and in these the principals made appeals not to be denied. A fine duet (•Madame Briggs and: Miss Stock) was "Lord, bow Thine ear," and among the quartettes "Cast thy burden" was infinitely the finest, and it wholly delighted the audience. The choruses in "Eli- . . jali" traverse the whole range of musical emotions, and of an example of , combined work, "Baal, hear and answer" gave the best value, the power and qual- .. ity of the basses being specially marked . . and the good work of the sopranos a v most pleasing feature. Although flaws iu the work of the tenors were not numerous, their numerical strength was insufficient for perfection of balance. With bairely noticeable exceptions, the attacks of the choruses were prompt and the volume and quality of the combined work good. The conducting, therefore, wfti y skilled and careful. The orchestra, during the second part, lost the slight raggedness that mairred one or two of the earlier numbers, but the work was, a on the whole, effective and skilful. From the fine introduction, "As God the Lord of Israel liveth" (Mr. Joll) to the magnificent final chorus, "And then shall your light, Lord, our creator," the performance was distinguished by much ; work of the highest excellence, and certainly the langie audience was delighted.