ORGAN RECITAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1296, 27 November 1911, Page 5

ORGAN RECITAL.

There was a very good attendance at tho municipal organ recital on Saturday evening, the introduction of vocal numbers by way of a little variety evidently being much appreciated. Tho programme of organ numbers selected by Mr. Maughan Harnett (City Organist) consisted of special request items, and in its general character offered an interesting comincn- ■ tary upon the predilections of Jlr. Harnett's regular audiences. Bach, (he master of masters, was represented by the magnificent choral prelude, "Erbnrm' dich mcin, O Herre. Gott," which followed tho imposing "Toccata" from Boellimuin'3 "Suite Gothique," played as tho opening number. Wagners celebrated "Ride of the Valkyries," and tho Finale from Widor's "Second Symphony" were two brilliant exr.ernts which were received with unstinted admiration. Among the lighter and more delicate items, Schubert's charming "Serenade." Mendelssohn's melodious "Spinning Song," and the beautiful Saint-Saens number "Lo Cygne" (Tho Swan"), were highly appro? dated.

The soloist, for the nvening was Mr. .T. Calvert, a robust tenor, of pleading rjuajity of voice in the lower register, but rather forced in the upper. His iloms included Colcridt'e-Tsiylur's fine song from "Hiawatha," "Onaway Awake, Beloved," "The Ro-arv" (Xeviii), and "In Moonlight" (Klgar). Mr. Calvert sang his songs with cominendaljlo care, and his items cnnernlly were much appreciated. The "Hiawatha" number was an ambitious ell'c.rt. and had it been possible for the singer to have transposed tho air to a more suitable key, the result would have bven very much more pleasing by ffison. of the absence of "forcing." In the other items he was much more aocenliible. It is announcr-d that an organ recital ntiil concert will be givon at the Town Hall on the evenina of Christmas Day.