LIEDERTAFEL CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 166, 13 July 1907, Page 6

LIEDERTAFEL CONCERT.

Despite the wet evening, there was a crowded attendance at the Chora] Hall last night to hear the Liedertafel's second concert of the season. The performance was a most enjoyable one, and the best the Society has given for some time. The part songs on the programme were some of the choicest from the Society's library, and they all received adequate interpretations. Special attention was given to the lights and shades of the music, the pitch was generally maintained, the phrases were admirably attacked, and the release was simultaneous, the soft passages were sweetly delivered, splendid climaxes were achieved, and a fine body of tone was secured in the fortissimos, while the enunciation was all that could be desired. Paliard's "The Voice of the Torrent" received a capital rendering. The opening measures in unison were declaimed in tones of much weight, and the basses marked with ponderous sound the succeeding theme, while the second basses in the piu animate movement took their leads decisively, and in the Lento movement rolled off their thirty-second notes in graphic fashion. The charming- Andantino was gracefully delivered, the pianissimo, singing, ami phrasing in this being delightfully realised. A fine volume of tone and graphic singing was displayed in the last verse, the basses depicting the storm scene with remarkable energy- and power, while the tenors were always certain of their notes, and good in the syncopated and accented bars. Save for a slight loss of pitch in the humming accompaniment to Reichardt's

'"Tears of Anguish," this was a delightfully interpreted number, while' Mr M. Orchard sang the solo portion effectively, and, in reply to general desire, a da capo was given. Abt's beautifully-writ-ten part song, 'Tare Thee Well, Forest Deep," received a smooth and expressive performance. The second basses sang their solo clearly, and the partsinging by the other portions shone out distinctly. Fischer's exquisite "Calm at Sea" was delivered with much expression in the opening " Largo," and a picturesque reading was given of "The Mists Are Dispersing," and much energy and power was infused into the rendering given of "The Sails Now Unfurl!" A capital performance was secured of the third part of Mendelssohn's music to "Edipus at Colonos." This fine tonepoem was written at the command of the King of Prussia in 1843, and was first produced at Potsdam. November 1, 1845. The singers divided themselves into a double-choir, and gave their music ■with telling effect. In the first strophe— which is mostly in octaves for bass and tenor voices—the executants sang nicely together, and the second choir repeated the same beautiful melody, and sang with much distinctness and delightful purity of voice, and at its close, where the music changes its character, and grows vigorous and excited as the first choir sings the second strophe, the choir sang their part with dramatic energy and force, and a splendid effect was made in the portion where the second choir joins in eight-part harmony. The latter also sang the praise of "The Mother City" in the second antistrophe in splendid fashion, and the closing united invocation to Neptune, which is so graphically scored, and which would be difficult to beat in choral writing, received a descriptive and dramatic delivery, aai a splendid climax was achieved at the end. Mr Edward Craston, mus. bac, supplied the organ accompaniment, which lent additional attraction to the performance. He also gave as organ solos Wely's Offertoire in G and Guilmant's Variations on "Two Christmas Themes,"' for which he received hearty recalls, and as an encore to the latter played Sullivan's "The Lost Chord." Miss Maisie Evans, a youthful singer possessing a nice fresh soprano, acquitted herself with distinction in CowdelPs "Maytime" and Johnson's "The Rose," securing hearty encores at their close. She was nicely accompanied by her teacher, Madame Chambers. Miss A. Lanigan received an encore for her performance of Blumenthal's "Sunshine and Rain," and she also executed Hualey's "The Sweetest Flower That Blows." Dr. Thomas conducted ably, and Mr Sydney Harbutt attended to the details of the concert successfully.