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08 Dec. 1899 The Messiah, Fisher St. Church |
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"The Messiah" At Fisher Street Church.
A performance of a portion of Handel's oratorio "The Messiah," which was satisfactory in many respects and which attracted a numerous attendance, was given last night in Fisher Street Presbyterian Church, the occasion being announced as a :choir festival," while the usual church choir of about forty voices was specially augmented by the addition of twenty of thirty singers, and professional vocalists were engaged for the solo work. These were MISS MARGARET PEARSON (soprano,) MISS RUTH ROEBUCK (contralto,) both of Manchester; MR. EDWARD MORGAN (tenor,) Newcastle; and MR. JOSEPH WALLER (bass,) Burnley. The REV. JAMES CHRISTIE, the minister, presided, and opened the proceedings with a short prayer, in which special allusion was made to the soldiers of the Empire now engaged in the war. The oratorio was then commenced under the conductorship of MR. G.E. WAINWRIGHT, the whole of the accompaniments being played on the organ by MR. E.J. RAE, who deserved special commendation for the way in which he discharged his laborious task. Beyond the fact that several of the choruses were taken at a dangerous speed, the performance went well throughout, and the large audience were kept interested from half-past seven till past ten o'clock. The soloists acquitted themselves creditably, MISS MARGARET PEARSON and MISS RUTH ROEBUCK receiving well merited applause for their vocal efforts. All the solo singers were well heard, but from the first it was apparent that probably no other public building in the city has better acoustic properties than FISHER Street Presbyterian Church. MISS MARGARET PEARSON'S vocalisation of "Rejoice greatly: was effective and skilful, and MISS RUTH ROEBUCK showed considerable power in the contralto air "O, Thou that tellest." MR. WALLER was also successful in the bass solos. The chorus sang with remarkable vigour, and MR. WAINWRIGHT conducted in an energetic style. At the conclusion of the performance the choir were entertained by the committee and a few friends at the Silver Grill, English Street.
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Carlisle Journal