ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 69, 15 December 1919, Page 16

ENTERTAINMENTS

" WILLIAMSON GRAND OPERA. To-morrow morning, at fl o'clock, tho box plans for the first six nights of J.C. Williamson's grand opera season,. in English," will bo opened at the Bristol Piano Company. There is every indication of tho booking being heavy, as extraordinary public interest centres iu the event. The season, which commences at tho Grand Opera House next Monday evening, is strictly limited 10 tli!■.•:* weeks, during which twelve operas will ba staged, including three new to Wellington. ' Tho first week's programme is distinctly of tho popular order. On Monday night next Miss Amy Castles will mako her debut in "Faust." Thn cast will also introduco to New Zealand some of the English and American siugers, Messrs. Walter Wheatley, Alfredo Valenti, and Carl Formes, as Faust, Mephistopheles, and Valentino respectively. Miss Thelnia (.'alter will lw Siebol, and Miss Vera Bedford Martha. Tuesday, tho second night: of the season, will be notable for the first production in New Zealand of Offenbach's delightful . opera "The Tales of Hoffman," a sparkling work which scarcely comes under the heading of serious grand opera, yet demands tho capacity of grand opera artists, to sing its brlliant music. Tho well-known "Barcarolle" is only one of ■fifty gems that illuminate tho score. Tho American tenor, Kalph Errolle, will make his first appearance hero as Hoffman. The cast will also include Eileen Castles. Tlielma C-artcr, Palti Unssell, Tom Minogue, Fred Collier, Elsy Treweek, and Carl Formes. "La Boheme," with Amy Castles us Mimi. will be staged on Wednesday. A grand classical concert by-the'full force nf the Opera Company will be given 011 Christmas Night. Friday will be devoted to the production of' "It Trov.itoro," mid Saturday to "Madame Butterfly." Tht» company includes an orchestra of 40 'nstvuments under the direction of Mr. <»ustav Slapuffski, a mi:lo chorus of 20 voices; a female chorus cf -!0. ORGAN IiECITAL. The picgrammo of Saturday's organ recitol comprised several masterpieces of music, that, the city organist (.'dr. Bernard I'age) had previously done much to f'.'.miliariso Wellington ami eiiecs with. Not tho least inspiring of the beautiful numbers listed was too isrelude to "Tristan and Isolde" (Vvagnei>, in which tho spiritual progress of tli.r great tragedy is wonderfully foreshadowed. The wiiolo composition m charged with Die deepest .emotion, it had its birth, in fad. in a lovo perhaps 110 less ardent than the flame that consumed the legendary two of whom the opera is written. Other lumbers that. Mr. J'age rendered were: "Suite Gothique,'" B-'ellman: "Andante from Siring Quartet," Debussy; "Serenade (No 5)," Gouvy; "Prelude, Fugue iiii-i Variation (Op. i§i," Cesar Franckj "Lento" and "Andnnt.inn in E .Flat," I'lancl;; "Choral (N-o. 2 in B Miner)," Franck; /■ AMATEUR COMPETITIONS. Under the Vernon Spencer management the amateur competitions nro looked'upon as a very popular form of entertainment 011 "off-nig :is." Saturday night's series at (he Grand Opera House was no exception to tlio rule. Tho f-opjpetitors were numerous and their fllorts uorc intnesied by a. kirgo end; who never hesitated to fake frill measure ol the crit'..'.\s' iiccnse peculiar to the amateur competitions. There were two particularly bright features iu tho programme in the shape of the children's turns and tho "jazz'' orchestra. The ■orchestra, ployed several opening selections, and was thrice encored, and in the interval it "jazzed" again to the delight of the awlienec who were in a frolicsome mood, as some of tho adnll competitors found to their cost. Tho juvenile., competitors were the .first to figure on the stage, and the placed competitors gave very finished performances, /incidentally putting thosj who graced thu Senior test's sadly in the shade. The winning child was little Miss Meg Cimino, who, daintily attired in tricoiour gave "Oh, I'renchy," with "Wi Wi Marie" as her recall number. She 6ang faultlessly, and her actions and general stag.j-bear.ng were intmitobio. Erie Murpiiy, wha sang pleasingly "Believe lie if all Those Eiid?ai'ing Young Charms." was placed second, while to lilllc Miss Vera Houston, a clover and dainty nitisto, went the third prize. Her number was "When I'aderewski Plays." AH tiio children competitors were fairly good. Of the adults, however, many were numbered with the slain, and in 110 uncertain voice the audience let their opinions be known. Both sexes were "fairly evenly distributed, and their efforts ranged from slra.',glit-out vocal work to vaudeville and patter comedian "stunts." Several early took. the count to the accompaniment of tangible tokens of the audience's disapproval. One of their number who, with a persistence wrtifhy of a better cause, refused to make his conge when counted out, was recorded a time-honoured symbol of disfavour—an egg of uncertain age. Another nude competitor whom tiio crowd coi signed to I'.uibo refused to leave the Biage • until his plaintive ditty was given ;v hearing, and ho passionately denounced his auditors' verdict, but to 110 p.vail. One the whole, however, llicro were no hearts broken, and everyone, competitors included, man tested a gfn-c-tous good humour. The prizes were, by the vote of the audience, awarded as follow: Vaudeville, Aliss Ttowell, combination pianofcte solo and jig; vocal, J. Henderson 1, Eileen Fairclough 2; comic Feng, Gcmge Thomas 1. During tho evening. .Mr. Bright, winner at tho last competitions, gave a very acceptable specialty turn of club and sword-swing-ing and the like.

■ HAfiVOXtC SOCIKTY TlW'TfT'J.ii;-. programme lo ):b tnl>n)lt>u * lit tlio liiiiii concert of the 1911) season of Jho Wellington Harmonic Society at the -.'Concert Chamber, Town Hull, i/irt f "lit' selected from among numbers Vi'rii'ia Hie sockity hat; been asked to repeat, and i"i! "(H)/|i IL prove a jno-it popular toilecUc.i. 'l'lic choir -vii 11 Ijj conduct:d by .Mr. 11. Temple White,. mill will sing m all ten part songs." eight of which will be quite unaccompanied, includ'tig "An Eriskay Lovo 7,i11" and "Av Wankin' 0" (Kcberton). "in Silent Night" and "Love, i''are 'J.'hes Well" (ISrahins), and Dudley Buck's "Hymn to Music." ?>lr. B. Ycates, an e.\poncnt of l.lie capabilities of the ■bassoon as a solo instrument, will contribute two pieces by Mendelssohn and a liumorous numb. 1 !' entitled "I.usy Long" (Godfrey). -Miss Peggy Jones (soprano) will sing two solos, and "Tho Harmonic" Quartet, champions at the recent Cc<ini'etiii(ms, . will sin? the»r winning selection and "When Ev'n.'ng's Twilight" (Hatton). Mr. Harold AVhittlo will be at the piano. Sent.s may be reserved at the Bristol till 12.M, where the booking is very good. "HINEMOA." Thse who have heard Mr. Alfred Hill's beautiful Maori cantata "llinemoa," tliough it is manv years since it was performed in Wellington, will welcomo the opportunity of hearing it again next Thursday evening at I lie Town Hall, where it is to lie given by Mrs. Ernest H. Querco and her advanced students. This work contains somn very beautiful melodies, especially these sung by "llinemoa" and "Tiki," llie haunting "I,ako Music'' and the astonishing "Pa Ha. War Chorus." It is an exacting work for ail tlio eololists, but with such students nt Miss Clmtwin. Miss Harry, and Miss (l.idier, Mr. Kupeit. .Meats. Mr. Austin ' Ble.ckie, and Mr. K. .1. Hill, a finished 'performance is anticipated.