ASHBURTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8305, 25 November 1915, Page 3

ASHBURTON CHORAL SOCIETY.

SECOND CONCERT.

Tho Ash burton Choral. Society gave its second concert in the Theatre Royal last evening to a moderately-filled house. As was the case on the occasion of the Societj-'s first performance, the programme consisted of six choruses or part songs by the full companjy, two orchestral selections, and individual items and trios. The chief innovation was the importation of assistance from Christchurch in the persons of Miss Dulcie Mitchell ajid Mr W. J. Trewern. The step was a wise one; it manifestly helped the concert as a whole, and undoubtedly pleased the audience.

A further three months' -training— the first concert was given on August 11 last.—had had its effect, on the members, and a slight improvement was noticeable in the chorus work. The sopranos did not appear to have learned to moderate • their transports sufficiently to allow of ■ justice being done^f to the tenors 1 and passes,, although the latter were certainly weak. The rendition of the initial item, " Gaul's " Daybreak," was specially marred in this way,, but afterwards the trouble was not quite so marked. Wheeler's "To the Death" (a hunting, song) was the best concerted number, the balance being moderately good, and . the audience signified its approval by recalling the company. The other concerted numbers were "A Woodland Serenade" (Eggleston), "The Sea Hath its Pearls '' (Pinsuti), '' 'Sleep, Baby, Sleep" (Marks), " The"--Stars that Above Us are Shining" (Weber). The male voice chorus, Adam's "Comrades in Arms," left a good deal to be desired. A ladies' trio (Mrs H. A. Gates and Misses E. Fletcher and R. Anderson) sang "The Snow" .(Elgar) j with violin and piano obligato; the' item was by no means free from blemishes, but. was popular with the audience, and the trio gave a recall j number. i

Miss Dnlcie Mitchell's first item was "O Mk> Fernando," from "La Favorita" (Donizetti), while- in the second part she bracketed "I. Dream of a Garden of Sunshine " and " Star of the South" (Lohr). She was, if anything, rather ambitious, but her full, round contralto was well produced, and she. was encored on-each occasion. Mr W. J. Trewern's tenor' voice is uneven in quality, and in his fortissimo passages, he was somewhat harsh. Generally speaking, however, his light and shade effects were good. He sang " Bohm's "Thine Only" and "An Evening Song " (Bluementhal); the latter number suited his voice better than the former, but he had to respond to the demands of the audience both times. The remaining soloist was Mrs W. G. McDonald, iwho, made her reappearance in violin solo work after a lapse of several years. • She contributed "Air Varie, No. 5" (De. Beribt) and "A Donizetti Theme wiith variations" (Dane'la), and showe3 evidences of careful preparation.' Mr C. Spencer Compton was musical director, and also acted'; as accompanist for (the soloists, while Mrs R: • FrizsHjlle was the pianist in tlie concerted numbers. Part of v the nett proceeds of 1 the.iconcert*!Vre v;fcc> be devoted to the Asliburtori County War Relief Fund.