SISTINE CHOIR SOLOISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1925, Page 9

SISTINE CHOIR SOLOISTS.

I Before a crowded audience in the Town Hall last night another remarkable performance was given by the Sistine Choir Soloists. From the opening measures of Palestrina's "Adoramus Te" until the final bar of Denza's Neapolitan melody, ''Funiculi. Funkula," every minute of the concert was a pleasure. The artists were listened to with unabated interest, and unanimous were the demands for extra solos. Haydn's "Motet." Mendelssohn's "Beati Mortui." and Palestrina's "Adoramus Te" were fine examples of finished chorus singing, and the musicianly anthem, "Cor Jesu Flagrans." composed iby the Maestro, Signor Casolari, showed ; skill and mastery in its design, and welt within the reach of tho voices. Composer and choir were heartily recalled after its enjoyable performance. Signor Belli gave in a free and telling manner Rossini's "Pro Peccatis," and sang with distinction in Bizet's "Agnus Dei." ', whilst he joined with Signor Facchini in a very expressive rendering of Faure's duo, i "Crucifixus." Verdi's 'Tngemisco," j Gounod's "Aye Maria," Flotow's "M'Appari." Verdi's "La Donna c Mobile." and ! "Mother Macrea" were given in a way | which won for the artist high praise. Bizet's "Toreador Song," Viver's "Sterra de Granada," and Llama's "Sileno Cantator." wer admirably sustained by Signor Burani. Mascagni's "Serenade or Yor," Puccini's "Ch'ella mi creda," were i sung in a clever style by Signor Sarti. Verdi's "Vieni ' o Levita." and Rossini's "La Calunnia." received finished performances by Signor Belli, who also 'joined Signori Paganelli and Auchner in :an irresistible and humorous display in ■ Auber's trio from "Fra Diavolo." Signer i Facchini sang in his usual inimitable j manner Ponchielli's "Cielo c More," 1 Leoncavallo's "Vesti la Giuhba," and "O iSole Mio." Donizetti's "I Lisbona," and , Bucci Peeca'a "Cogoletta" made fine solos for the display of Signor Auchner's fino voice apd artjstic style. An impressive rendering was obtained by the choir of P>ossini's "Prayer from Moses in Egypt." | Signor Emilio Casolari ably directed' and ■ artistically presided at the pianoforte. Owing to the gre§it success of the four I concerts, the management have decided Jto give two extra performances in His 1 Majesty's on Saturday and Monday even-1 j ings. when special numbers from grand ! opera and music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries will be sung.