ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1906, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

"SAMSON," The Wellington Choral Society gave it 3 first subscription concert for the season 1906 in the Town Hall last night, when Handel's oratorio of "Samson" was produced by a chorus of close upon 150 voices, backed by an orchestra of some 40 performers. Mr. J. Maughan Burnett conducted, the principals being Miss Amy Murphy (soprano), Miss Mina Caldow (contra'to), Mr. Leslie Hill (teqor), and Mr. A. S. Ballanco (bass). •The outstanding feature of the performance Wfls ita evenness: thero was not a weak number from first to last, though in some instances greater merit was apparent th.an in others. Only careful training, with rehearsal upon rehearsal, cquld have achieved so eminently successful a result. All the choruses were remarkably well interpreted, and Ihe orchestral accompaniment^ to recitative, .solo, and chorus ilike — which fqrm so great a component part in the artistic finish that marks all of this great composer's works — were, played with a nicety of tpne and modulation that greatly enhanced the general effect. The audience, whioh was fajrly large, rewarded al{ o.f £h,e performers with hearty applause, from' the giving of the melodious overture to the final chorugi '"-Let their Celestial Cpncerts all Unite." This latter number was probably the best of the pa any choruses, the great volume of harmony appropriate to its vocalisation— svnd. the splendid orchestral accompaniment with its me{odious fanfare — ringing out bo}d and clear. The stately chorus, ''Then round about the Starry Throne," and that of "To man God's universal law,', 1 were also especially fine and well-balanced productions. Miss Murphy's well-estab-lished, reputation was enhanced as result qf her efforts Jast night. Evory note rang true, and she voiced the many intricate and florid passages incidental to her allotted part with fine effect and apparent ease. "Ye Men of Gaza," "Let the Bright Seraphin," and "He* 1 Faith and Trust," were Miss Murphy's best contributions. Miss Caldow's several contributions were each well sung, her expression being excellent. She Avaa especially effective in the lengthy and trying air, "Return, Return, oh God of Sosts," in. which she aroused the audience tp enthusiasm. Mr, Leslie Hill's fine voioe enabled him to interpret with, seeming ease the exacting numbers allotted to. him, and his every effort was. rewarded with hearty approval by his auditors. TJje piqrtial number of "Honour and Arms" was 6pjend»dly yoked by Mr. Ballunce. In the opening strains he failed to make his voice reach the wide limits of the hall as effeotive]y as, he might have dqne, but when he warmed; to {he spirit of his song his tones reverberated and rang resonant find true in every part of the big building. There was marked contrast in the many numbers allotted to him, but he did justice to all of them. During the performance the orchestra: gave a sympathetic interpretation of !th.e pead March from "Saul," in memoriam of the late Mi, Scddon. It was a fine allround, effort. Taken as a whole, the heartiest ot congratulations may deservedly bo given to. the society and its conductor. "THE MARINERS OF ENGLAND." "The Ladder of Life" concluded ita exciting career at the Opera House la«b evening to the satisfaction of a large gathering of the public. To-night "The Mariners of England,' 1 by Robert BVchanan, will bo produced. For spectacular effects this play has been gjqwipgly- praised. The star scene is Trafalgar, where Nelson fought his lastj battle. WaTships pour broadsides into one- another; there Is all the excitement of an old-time naval conflict, with men and guns working at high pressure at close quarters. Indeed the public are promised a rare thrill when the drama, gets we.ll under way. The members of the Anderson Company have won good notices in the press for their performances in the varied roles, so that on alt counts, acting and staging, a satisfactory entertainment may be expected. THEATRE ROYAL. Fuller's entertainment ■ was wel\ patronised last evening when the weekend programme was repeated. The pre-j sent contingent of artists is a strong and popular one. The same bill will be presented td-nigh>. ANDREW BLACK'S FAREWELL CONCERT, To-night; at. the Town Hall, Andrew Black, the famous baritone, will make his farewell appearance in Wellington. The concerts that have been given by this singer and his company havp proved 16 be of exceptional merit, and they will long be remembered by those who have been fortunate enough to havo heard them, To-night's programme contains some excellent numbers. Mr. Black will sing f 'L.orjge in Fau6,ta" (Handel), "Invooation" (Chaminade), "Hear Tliee" (Raff), "Serenade to Don Juan" (Tschaikowsky), 'Wolfram's Romance (Wagner), "Blue Bonnets," etc. Miss Ethel Sinclair, the violiniste, will play "Spanish Dance (Sarasate), Allegro from Mendelssohn Concerto, "Romance" (Franz Reis), and a movement from a (Jreig Sonata. Herr Borschke, the pianist, will play Variations (Mendelssohn), Daa Rheingold (Wagner-Liszt), Spring Song (Ludwig), and other numbers." The company will leave tp-marrow for Christi church, so that to-night will be positive* ly the only remaining opportunity of hearing them. Seats for all parts of the house may be obtained at the Dresden. ' ' "THE FATAL WEDDING." The box plan for "The Fatal Wedding" was opened at tjhe Dresden \\\\a niqrniag. The company will open at the Opera House on Tuesday next, 26th inst., when playgoers will n^ve an opportunity of witnessing a pluy which has Been tletigliUing thousands of people for some months pasti in Sydney and Melbourne. The fame of the "Tin-can Band" and the talented thirty children associated with the company has already reached New Zealand, and something particularly unique in children's scenes will no doubt be looked forward Do. The costly scenery and accessories, of the production, arrived by the Mokeis* on Friday last in. charge of a staff of' mechanics. "The F^l Wedding" \* said \o b,e thft pioneer of a great dramatic movement. A contemporary writes that it is distinctly a musical drama, in. which the music is of the highest type, while nights of gaiety are to be found in the items so capably handled by the children. GARRISON BAND'S CONCERT. The concert to be givon by the Garrison Band at His Majesty's Theatre on Friday evening next promises to be a great musical success. Mjes Ghcgwin, a popular soprano vop^W from, Christchurch, whp is to assist, arrived yesterday, and !yii*s Mina Cajdow, eonVfllto, who scored a dittinct success at th.c Town Hall last night, will be h«»rd in some, of her best iUma.' PICTURES QF THE JAN FRANCISCO Edison's Popular Pictures and America at Work will onet? the New Zealand seasou of up-to-dalo piaturot in th,? Town Hh]l on the 23rd inst. The management it most entuuViMtic. r?g(*r<Ung ths quality

and interest of the series pf films which have been imported direct from America. Some of the films are said to be longer than any ever shown in the colony, and a monster screen will be used, so that the details of the pictures will be plainly visible from all parts of the hall. The latest machine will be used for the reproduction of the photographs, and there will be an entire absence of flicker. Whilst facv will bp strongly p&presented in the entertainment — especially in the America at Work group— fancy wijl have mi ?'"?' a the fun -p r °vokipg element will Tae as much in evidence as. solid inBtructiveness. There will be a series of sensational scenes from the £ian Francisco earthquake, and the beauty spots of California will vie with $» qoloured representations of such, pleasure resorts 1 as Coney Island. Mr. Ayalon Collar^ is to appear ip vocal characterisations, and Miss Olive (Merton will bo in charge of a capable orchestra. The Nautical Bazaar' ab the Mission to Seamen, which proved so successful last week, will be continued pn Friday and Satprday of this week. Mr. Frank pullen, the Sputh Sea whaler, who recorded hia sensational experiences in that fascinating book '''The Cruise of tho Cachalot," i B gradually working his way south During last week he addressed large audiences in Bis, Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, when he went under engagement to Gisborne. Hm manager, the veteran R. P. Smythe, who first brought celebrities to Wellington more than thirty years ago, was in the city to-day on his way to' Nelson, where Mr. Bqllen will appear nextfweek ; ana from Anthony TrolW's "prettiest village in tho world," Mr. Bullen will go to Dunedin, a city that has p. special attraptioq for the writer of "The. Lqg of a Sea Waif," for jt was at Port Chalmers that occurred tl^at "change jn the starboard wflt-ch" ssoo o powerf ully described ip hjs, autobiography, In Wellington Mr. Bulled will probably bring his New Zealand season to a close, about tne middle of July. He lias promised to pay return visits to Sydney and Melbourne, and he wil) sail for England at the end of August by the Omrah, tb,e vessel in which be travelled to Australia,