CHORAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1921, Page 5

CHORAL SOCIETY.

LAST NIGHT’S CONCERT. A good audience greeted the New Plymouth Choral Society in the Empire Theatre last night at their concert, made up of chorus numbers selected from the “Messiah” and varied vocal numbers. Miss Natalina McCallum, a visitor from Auckland, is possessed of a fresh and very clear soprano voice, well placed and of pleasing though rather light quality. She was most successful, in her number in the second part, and showed to advantage in her singing of Verdi’s well-known “Caro Nome”, the colliatura passages being perfectly clear, with a good articulation. The audience naturally demanded more, and she sang very delightfully the old English ballad ‘‘A Lass With a Delicate Air”, and for a further encore a modern ballad, which was mad# more interesting to the choir by the soloist turning more definitely to them. In the first part she sang the soprano solo “Rejoice Greatly”, from the “Messiah”. The effect was rather marred by the opening speed being rather fast, and in consequence the clearness of the florid passages was not quite decided enough; but the solo is always a big test for any soprano other than a great artiste. Miss McCallum will always gain an appreciative hearing when she sings in New Plymouth again. Mrs. Wilkes was in excellent voice, and, fresh from her triumphs in Wellington, sang with assurance, and was well received. Her programme number was “Softly Awakes My Heart”, from SaintSaen’s “Samson and Delilah”, which she sang with all the feeling she was capable of. Miss Douglas’ accompaniment also deserves more than passing notice; so much of the success of the soloist depends on the careful playing of this most exacting piece of music. The audience demanded an encore, to which she responded with a ballad, sung with great care and success. Mr. F. P. Fredric was the remaining soloist, and in the first part he sang the solos “Comfort Ye” and “Every Valley”, with which the vocal part of the “Messiah” opens. The choir entered whole-heartedly into their part of the programme. All possible allowance must be made for the circumstances under which they are placed; the parallel lines in which they stand make careful attention to the conductor quite impossible at the extreme ends, particularly of the first row or two, and this militates very greatly against any attempt at tone nuances, often difficult, but so necessary to malje choral work really interesting to the audience. The soprano tone and volume were excellent, without roughness and any apparent strain. The contralto voices were, perhaps, over powerful; a little reserve of power would probably have helped -to give greater richness in tone. The opening number was a choral ballad by Dicks, • England, My England”, and then followed “And the Glory ,of the Lord”, “For Unto Us a Child is Born”, “Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs”, and “All We Like Sheep”, which closed the first part. In “Surely He Hath Borne our Griefs” there was a definite attempt at tone-coloring; the grading of the word “Surely” was well thought and worked out. The choir opened the second part with “Behold the Lamb of God”, and followed with “Lift. Up Your Heads”, “Worthy is the Lamb”, and the “Hallelujah”. The audience, by their applause after each oratorio number, made the work of the choir very difficult. The whole success of such an oratoria as the one presented depends on. the atmosphere created by the performers, solo or chorus, and any applause grates and jars the devotional mood which is the object to be attained. It is to be hoped that the work of the society will be directed to teach an audience how to listen to a production. The accompaniments were well played by Mrs. R. L. Cooper and Miss C. Douglas, while Mr. R. L. Cooper conducted with his customary discretion and carex.