COLLEGE CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 258, 29 July 1939, Page 16

COLLEGE CONCERT

Gifted Girl ’Cellist From Berlin AUDIENCE PLEASED To assist in the encouragement of music at the Wellington Boys’ College, a concert, the programme of which embraced almost every form of musical activity, was given in the Town Hall last night m the presence of a fairly large audience. Among those present were members of the college governors, the education board, and representatives of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association, all of whom were pleased to see a quickening in the desire of staff and boys to cultivate musical appreciation. It was also gratifying to see the manner in which the musical organizations rallied to the assistance of the college and helped to lend variety to the programme. The Wellington Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Leon de M'auuy, and led by Miss Avn Symons, opened the programme with the overture to Flotow's opera "Stradella,” a lively and melodious overture which lias not been heard in public for a long time. The work of the string department was specially good m this overture, as was also the case in the arrangement for strings of the "Londonderry Air" bv Bercy Grainger. Later in the evening the orchestra showed delicacy of accent in the andante eon moto movement (the second) in Mendelssohn’s “Italian Symphony," a movement of arresting chai'in. This was followed by the vivacious third movement in which Mendelssohn employs the lively “Saltarello” dance medium with exhilarating effect. Due of Hie most interesting contributions to the programme was the ’cello solos played bv Miss Marie Vandewart. who had no difficulty in impressing on all present her advanced musicianship. Miss Viiudcwart. exerts a beautiful singing tone, plays with a polished suavity, and always with the nicest sense of modulation.’ This young lady loft Berlin only four mouths ago. There she studied at the State Oouservatorium, where opportunities were given for playing a good deal of chamber music in association with other gifted musicians. Her numbers last evening were an "Adagio” by Baeh, a delightful "Pastorale” by Couperin, a “Toccata” by Frescobalfli (17th century), and an exquisite "Intermezzo” by Granados, played witli delicate vivacity and finish. Her accompanist, Mr. T. J. KirkBurnnand, was in full sympathy with the soloist.

Another accomplished young lady to find favour was Miss Jocelyn Walker, who played with facility approaching brilliance, “Rush Hour at Hong Kong” (Chasins).and a paraphrase on the waltz from “Der Ffedermaus” (Johann Strauss). Mr. Roy Hill's pleasing light tenor was heard to advantage in “Linden Lea” (Vaughan Williams), and "Silent Worship” (Handel), both addressed in the right spirit,. The Wellington Girls' Choir, under the direction of Mr. 11. Temple White, sang very sweetly such harmonized numbers as "Where the Bee Sucks” (arranged by Cyril Jenkins), "1 Would That My Boundless Love” (Mendelssohn), “To a Wild Rose” (Macdowell), and “Five Eyes” (an arrangement of Armstrong Gibbs’s quaint song). (Miss Molly Atkinson’s richness of tone is always .pleasing. She sang, with artistic understanding, “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men” (Vaughan Williams), the lueious "Feast of Lanterns” (Bantoek), and the whimsical song, "My Johnny Was a Shoemaker” (Old English). Iler accompaniments were admirably played by Mr. Clement Howe. In the second part of the programme the Port. Nicholson Silver Baud played •the march, “The Cossack” (Rimmer) and Ord Hume’s suite Bohemian, “A Gipsy’s Love Story,” in good style, under the conductorship of Mr. J. J. Drew. Mr. K. McCauley, a pleasing baritone, sang the song "Anzac” (ihy E. J. Eskridge), and "The Sergeant Major,” and Mr. E. M. Todd, gave « good account of himself in the poem, “For the Fallen “(Binyon), and tbe humorous jingle, “Mrs. Higgins on Shakespeare.” The School Choir contributed two numbers, and tlie Bridges trio, soon to leave for Australia, ali-’o pleased in their numbers. Miss Olga Burton, soprano, sang delightfully, “What’s in the Air Today” (Eden), and “One Morning Very Early” (Sanderson). Mr. 11. F. Vincent contributed a cornet solo, and Master Jeffrey Stewart, of the college, sang “Piper June” and “Alary.”

The concert concluded with a colourful presentment of “The School March Past.” in which the pipes, drums, trumpets, and bugles mailc the walls of the Town Hall ring again.

Madame de Manny lent valuable assistance as au accompanist.