CANTATA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8117, 11 April 1906, Page 5

CANTATA.

♦'THE CRUCIFIXION." There was a good attendance at St Matthew's Churob, last evening, when the choir rendered the cantata "The Crucifixion" (by Sir John Stainer), a meditation in the sacred passion of the Holy Redeemer. Although it is customary to render this oantata in the large centres during Easter week, this is the first time it has been .held in Masterton. The piece is for two solo voioes, bass and tenor, with chorus Interspersed with hymn, to be sung by the congregation, and considering the difficult mtfsio, the performance by the choir was very creditable. The soloists were Messrs W. Jago and R t H. Rathbone, who gave good interpretations of their various solos. Mr Jago, whose light, sympathetic and melodious voice, suits this class of music, was heard to great advantage throughout, his most suoocessfui number being "The Majesty of the Divine Humiliation." One of the best items of the cantata was the*duefc "So Thou Liftest Thy Divine Petition," by Messrs Rathbone and Ja£o. In the baas solos Mr Rathbone gave a most cultivated interpretation, and his rich voice was heard to great advantage in the recitative "Is it Nothing to You," the introduction to the chorus "The Appeal of the Crucified." The quartette ".God so Loved the World," was rendered with beautiful effeo t by Mrs Rawsou, Miss Barclay and Messrs Fendall and Hunn. On the whole the chorus work, was very satisfactory, the attaoks being clean, while the choir responded splendidly to the conductor's (Mr Hunn) baton. Perhaps thn moat successful of these items was tb« well-known piece "Fling Wide the Gates." Mrs Hunn presided at the organ.