A PLEASANT CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 229, 22 June 1920, Page 5

A PLEASANT CONCERT

A good deal more money would have accrued to the fund for purchasing a new uipe organ 'for the Methodist Churcu at Island Bay had not tho weatl6r proved in sullen mood. As it was tho Concert Chamber was fairly well' filled, and a very good concert repaid those who ventured out in the wet. The programme commenced and closed with ffieHarmonio Quartet, which exhirnted nice tone and balance in Dudley Buck's, part 6ong, "In Absence," "Lovely Nigh?' (Chwatal), and an amusing ■ parody on oratorical miwic set to the wottls.of "Simple Simon," of imperishable' memory. Mrs. W. J. Coventry, a pleasing mezzo, sang Barrett's fine ballad, "My Ships," "The Cuckoo," and, "Kathleen Muvoumeen." Mr. Hamilton Hodges gave attractive readings of two new ballads, "Harp of the Woodlands"/and "Tho Spell of True love," the lyrics of (which' are particularly, beautiful in their delicate fancy. As an oncoro the singer presented "Birds in tho High Hall Garden," a gem from Somerville's cycle, composed; on verses from Tennyson's "Maud." His interpretation was delightful. Later Mr. Hodges 'was heard in.Blumenthal's "Thy Foe," to which the singer lent originality by the staccato manner in wnicii he sang tho runs. Miss Mono. Castle, a mezzo.contralto of even quality and some sweetness, sang Tosti's old ballad "Parted," to which Mr. Claude Tucker supplied a flute obbligato. The singer, howovcr, imparted moro feeling to tHe encore song, "0, Thank Mo not," very : charmingly intoned. Mr. Culfonl fell gave point to the hnmour of Stephen Leacock's comic tilt at, "The Health Habit." "Borrowing a Match," which followed, was almost as funny. Mr. Claude Tucker, flautist, played an abbreviated getting of "Le Carnival de Yenlco," beloved of all flautists, and was encored A novel item was the deft swinging of a pair of electrically-illuminated olubs by Miss Beta Crane. • No singer made a deeper impression, than Mr. Rupert Meates, who sang Lully's dolorous Sombre Woods," ft remarkable ballad of blighted love set well below the Btave. In bright relief the basso sang "The Floral Dance," and. when recalled a second time, sang that fine old ballad "Out on the Deep." _ Mrs. B. H. Quereo was the accompanist of the evening.