CELEBRITY CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 142, 17 June 1940, Page 11

CELEBRITY CONCERT.

A MEMORABLE EVENING. MUSIC FESTIVAL CLOSES. Auckland's ten-day Centennial music festival came to a glorious close in the Town Hall last evening, when a fine programme was presented to a huge and enthusiastic audience by the leading musical societies of the city, in conjunction with the Centennial Festival Symphony Orchestra, and assisted by the visiting soloiete. The societies taking part were:—The Auckland Choral Society, Royal Auckland Choir, Auckland Dorian Ohoir and Commercial Travellers' Choir. liobel Baillie, soprano, Gladys Ripky, contralto, Heddle Nash, tenor, and Oscar Katzke, bass, were the soloists.

The concert opened with the performance of E. Rupert Morton's prize-winning gong in the Auckland Centennial song competition, a setting of Isobel M. Cluett's "Centennial Song." This was sung to an organ accompaniment played by the composer. Another interesting "special" performance was that of H. C. Luscombe's "Centennial Ode," written for chorus and orchestra, in which effective uee is made of the grand old hymn, "Now Thank We All Our God." The audience joined in the singing of the final verse with impressive effect. The combined choirs were again heard jn Sir Hubert Parry's Ode for Chorus and Orchestra, "Blest Pair of Sirene." Thifl was given a most dignified performance with a telling climax. The choir, one of the most evenly-balanced ensembles ever heard here, sang with animation and excellent tone. Mr. Andersen Tyrer was .an inspiring conductor.

Opportunities of hearing the fine orchee* tral combination, apart from the accompaniments, were- given in the performances of Mendelssohn's "Ruy Blae" overture, German's "Welsh Rhapsody," and the inevitable Liszt's "Hungarian Rhap-

sody, No. 2." The finish of the playing of these orchestral numbers under the sound conductorship of Mr. Andersen Tyrer demonstrated anew what a valuable musical and cultural asset the Dominion possesses in the Centennial Festival Symphony Orchestra; one that all mueic-lovers hope may become a permanency.

All these renditions were enthusiastically received by the audience. The warmest applause of the evening, however, was reserved for the visiting singers. Of these, Mr. Oscar Xatzke was the first to appear, displaying the wide range and noble quality of hie bass voice, as well as his considerable powers of interpretation, in an operatic excerpt, "Doromiro Sol," and following this with a number in strong contrast, Mouesorgsky's sardonic "Song of the Flea," both sung to tastefully-played orchestral accompaniment*. Extra numbers had to be given, including the patriotic song, "There Will Always Be An England.

Next came Mies Isobel Baillie, who delighted her listeners with a beautiful rendition of Haydn's "With. Verdure Clad." in which the limpid tones of her lovely soprano voice were heard to perfection. As usual, thie charming artist had to sing extra numbers and among these was one of the gems of the evening, "Art Thou Troubled," from Handel's "Rodelinda," moet feelingly eiing to a delicately-played string accompaniment. y

Mr. Heddle Nash, who was the following soloist, gave two numbers by Handel, "Weft Her, Angels" (Jeptha) and "Sound an Alarm" (Judas Maccabaeua), the latter given a rendition, that electrified the audience. The fine orchestral accompaniments in these contributed considerably to the general effect. Included in Mr. Nash'e recall numbers were two requests, "Silent Worship" (Handel) and "Ah! Moon of My Delight" (Lehmann), both sung with consummate artistry.

The final soloiet was Miee Gladys Ripwho presented three Songs of the Hebrides: "Skye Fiehere' Song," "KishmuFs Galley," and "An Eriskay Love Lilt," all sung with great* expression. Alliteen's "The Lord is My Life" was given as a recall. Mr. Noel Neweonie wae a most unobstrusive and artistic accompanist.