AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13710, 18 April 1910, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

_ ORGAN RECITAL. The programme of the organ recital given on Saturday afternoon by Dr. Bradshaw, at His Majesty's Theatre, was a very interesting one. The two outstanding numbers were the andante movement with variations from Beethoven's Grand Septuor and the Easter Hymn from "Cavalliera Rusticana." In the former the beautiful melody allotted to the different instruments in the Septuor was most charmingly played by Dr. Bradshaw. The resources of the different stops were most skilfully brought out, and in tho variations ail the lovely ornamentation with which the comfjoscr has adorned tho theme was artistically interpreted. In the "Easter Hymn" number there is a grand combination of the orchestra, chorus and solo soprano voice. This was very finely played by Dr. Bradshaw, and he was also excellent in the soprano solo, disnlaving the capabilities and charming" tone of the vox humana stop. Hollins as a composer is always melodious, and the lovely little "Intermezzo," which formed part of the programme on Saturday afternoon, was no exception to the rule. It was delicately and artistically played, and was one of the successes ot the afternoon. In "Caprice Orientale." by Lemare, the composer has been exceedingly successful in investing it with the peculiar weird fascination of the Orient. This character, which is distinctive, Dr. Bradshaw interpreted with great skill. \\ hilst not possessing all tlio martial character of the march "Pomp and Circumstance." the theme of which is the same, Elgar's song, "Land ot Hope and Glory,"' is full of spirit and force. It was admirably played by Dr. Bradshaw, the solo given by the baritone voice and the orchestral effects being excellently rendered. Schubert's "Military March," which has been played here by eminent pianists, was a very fine number, being played with I a great deal of fire and brilliancy.

FISK JUBILEE SINGERS. There is something quaint and original as well as wonderfully harmonious in the compositions known as jubilco songs which at once makes them lascinating to the hearer. This is so despite the fact that they are the songs of a people with but a primitive and crude knowledge of music. The harmonies aro so full and so inherently musical that one forgets the bizarre nature, bordering sometimes on tho ludicrous, which is the characteristic of most of them. The FisK Jubilee Singers, by whom they were interpreted on Saturday night, on the occasion of their initial concert, gave a wonderfully effective interpretation of the varioiis melodies—they entered most fully into tno deep religious fervour —though to our minds somewhat grotesquely expressed —which is the prevailing note of theso compositions. In the lull broad melodies, where all the parts blended, the singing was splendid. The two chcruses which opened the programme, "Steal Away" and "Tho Lord's Prayer," were very finely given, as were "Hear Dem bells," "I'm Rolling," "Nobody Knows/ and ''Hail, Hail." Miss Alice Baptiste, Mho possesses a mezzo soprano voice of considerable sweetness, power and range, sang "My Old Kentucky Home" excellently. The late Mr Fred Maccabe, in one of his clever impei sonations of a street singer, used to say "It's* the 'igh note that fetches 'em," and assuming tho truth of this. Miss Baptiste fchould he more than ordinarily successful as a singer, for she sang a very high note clearly and long in tho final refrain. Miss Bertha Haynos-Miller sing "Maggie, the Cows are in the Clover,'' and gave it with much success and spirit. Miss Florence Dixie is a remarkably clever banjoist, and played a solo very melodiously. Ac an encore to her programme number she played a march very finely. Tho guitar is essentially a drawing-room instrument, but its limited power hardly fit? it .-.s a solo instrument in a large building. Mr Martin, who played a solo on Saturday night, did so very artistically, but as has been said, the instrument has its limitations. Mr Sidney Haynes has a pleasant tenor voice, but it is somewhat lacking in sympathy. With this reservation his song, "We're Almost Home,"-was well sung. Mr R. H- Collins's coon sonns were amongst the most enjoyable items on the programme. Mr'Collins sings them con amore and with a thorough appreciation and understanding of the peculiar characteristics of the true coon songs, which are as different and much aboio the ordinary musical, comedy and variety imitations as it is possible to conceive. Both the numbers were delightful little bits of negro comedy. The company were most liberal in the matter of encores, and amongst the most successful of these was "Call John.' Professor White both played the American organ and accompanied the vocal solos with _reat musical 'ability. An apology on the ground *of indisposition was made for Miss Belle .Gibbons, the lady baritone. To-ni_ht the Jubilee Singers will appear in a new programme.

HIS MAJESTY'S. • A most appreciative reception .was accorded the new programme of pictures submitted at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening. The bioscope is nothing if not versatile, so that at one sitting the audience are regaled with pictures tragic, humorous, historical, industrial, and scenic. One of the best of the dramatic studies was "A Theft of Diamonds," which introduces the never-baffled human sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, in successful pursuit of a penurious young man who had\ feloniously deprived an actress of her diamonds. A pictorial, art parable in colours, "Forbidden Fruit," made an amusing and clever study. It also served to illustrate to what degree of perfection tho art of animated coloured photography has been brought. A historical study told the ill-fated love story of Ugo and Panama in a very powerful fashion. The best of the scenic firms was the extended view given of Constantinople, especially of the nob!e water front. "Fishing Under Ice" was an excellent sample of the industrial picture, depicting in a very informing way the ingenuity with which the Hungarian fishermen have overcome the difficulties placed in their way by Nature. The dramatic picture "Lines ot White" was repeated by request, andSignorina Martinengo was, as usual, highly successful with her vocal accompaiumcnt. The humorous films were capital, especially that showing the cleaning effects of a new brand of bensine invented by a crank. The orchestra, under Mr C. Parnell, provided suitable and tasteful musical accompaniments to the pictures. The *ame programme will be repeated this evening.

FULLER'S PICTURES. There was a lar_e and appreciative audience r.t the Colosseum on Saturday evening. The excellent and attractive programme was repeated very successfully. To-night the same bill will be _ivcn. WEST'S PICTURES. The new orogramme of West's Pictures at-the"King's, Theatre was given again on Saturday evening, and all the different series oi pictures were well received. The orchestra, under Mr Mumford, played several selections admirably. To-night the same programme will be _ivcn. OPERA HOUSE. The capital attendance at the Opera House on Saturday nighty when "last week's programme was submitted for tho last time, shows that vaudeville has lost none of ita charm for the public. Miss Priscilla Verne and Tcm Armstrong, in their comedy sketch, Frank

Yorke, comedian, and the rest or the company, were enthusiastically received, and had to respond to recalls. This evening a change of programme will be made, when Les Freres Crotton, the Roman Gladiators, will make their first bow to a Christchurch audience.

"FOR THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE." The plan of reserved seats for the season of th* picture drama illustrating Marcus Clarke's well-known Australian novel which commences on Thursday evening at the Theatre Royal, opens today at tho Dresden. The various sensational incidents in the book are said t.-» be most faithfully reproduced in the series of pictures to be presented. Every care has been taken to render them true to the work, the scenes being enacted over the same spots as described by the author. The story which is deoicted will bo narrated by Mr Alfred Boothman, tho well-known actor. The season is limited to seven nights, four of which will be devoted to "The Terra of His Natural Life' and the remaining three to a series depicting the career of the famous Kelly Gang.

ORPHEUS SOCIETY

The fourth subscription concert of the Orpheus Society will be given in the Choral Hall on Wednesday evening, at ei_ht o'clock.

BENEFIT CONCERT.

The Garrison Band to give an open-air concert at the Victoria square rotunda on Wednesday evening, as a benefit to Mr Rowland, drum-major, who recently suffered heaw loss by his premises destroyed by fire.