SACRED CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 26 April 1924, Page 3

SACRED CONCERT

SPLENDID FINISH TO ANZAC D'AY.

Very fittingly Anzac Day was brought to a close with a fine sacred concert, which attracted a crowded audience, including several officers and many of the men of the visiting warships. The professional orchestra, which made its first appearance for the season, in rare spirit the famous "Pomp and Circumstance" march of Elgar, the "Fingal's Cave” overture by Mendelssohn, and that fine piece of tempestuous orchestration “Finlandia,” by Sibolius. This is all music which makes considerable demands on the resources of any orchestra, but under tho able direction of Mr. Frank Crowther, who had his forces well in hand, they came through with flying colours. The orchestra also played a setting for muted strings of Schumann’s beautifully melodious "Traumerei." The Commercial Travellers’ Malo Voice Choir, always worth hearing, contributed. the part songs “Every Rustling Tree" (Kuhlau), Homer’s Requiem" (encored), a fine setting of Robert Lnuis Stevenson’s famous epitaph, and “The Long Day Closes" (Sullivan), so well intoned that the audience demanded its repetition. The soloists were also of the same high standard. Mr. Len Barnes, in excellent voice, acquitted himself well in “The Valley of the Shadow,” a verv fine song in a sombre mood, and "A Toast,” both by Audrey Foster, a Featherston composer. When recalled Mr. Barnes sang “The Peace of God '(Gounod) very impressively. Mr. C. A. Williams, a sweet-toned. light tenor sang with artistic discrimination the aria "Be Thou Fathful” (Mendelssohn), and when recalled, “My Task.’ Miss Myra Sawver, a particularly sweet soprano, whom tho Wellington public hears all too seldom, sang "Fear Not Ye Israel” (Dudley Buck), and was tumultuously recalled. Willeby’s setting of Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar,’ was her appropriate choice, and she sang it so well that it had to be repeated. The organ and pianoforte accompaniment to this song, enhanced the effect immensely. Miss Ailren Noble, a pleasing mezzo contralto, sang an English version of "Ombra mai Fu" (Handel), and ‘ln Haven" iElgar). Every credit is due to Mr H. Temple White for arranging such a satisfying programme for the occasion and to Miss Gladys t M atkins for her sympathetic accompaniments.