ENTERTAINMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 141, 14 December 1908, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. A fairly large audience assembled at the Opera House on Saturday evening to witness the change of programme provided by Maskelyne Devant. A comic film entitled "The Baby Competition "' was first shown, then followed a few sleight-of-hand items by Mr. Owen Clark, including an illusion, " The Giant's Breakfast." Another fine picture was that 'depicting the arrival of the fleet in America. Mr. Maskelyne's two playlets, "Elixir Vitae " and "Mr. Daffodil Downey's Seance,' supplied ample scope for the display of the mystical. In the former piece, one Dr. Bolus is depicted as receiving a patient, to whom he explains that in. order to cure his disease it will be necessary to make an incision in his neck. While performing the operation the doctor inadvertently cuts the head of his patient completely off. He is naturally imbued with .1 desire to evade the law, to which end, ho hides deceased's body in a trunk, but A'hile the doctor is absent from the room the trunk slowly opens and the headless body gropes about the room in search of its head. To the amazement of the audience the head seemingly commences to speak to its late owner. The body io guided by the sound of the voice to the table, and tucking the head under its arm, it walks in ghostly fashion from the room. As may ' be gathered f rom tho title, the second play deals with a meeting of spiritualists. At tho conclusion of the play Mr. Barclay Gammon brought the audience back from the land of the supernatural with an original interpretation of "Oratorio." M. Gintaro, tho Japanese juggler, exhibited skill in balancing a glass of wafor on tho summit of wooden blocks, piled one upon another to a height of several fed. During the interval Mr. Martinengo played a solo on the violoncello. Tho performance will be repeated to-night. "MISS LANCASHIRE, LIMITED." "Miss Lancashire, Limited," again occupied the stage at the Thoatro Royal on Saturday evening, before a crowded audience. This evening there will be a new musical programme, when Miss Florence Baines will sing "Home, Sweet Home." The clever comedy actress will also giv.e an entirely new exposition of musical laughter, intermingled with character studies, and show how "the world wags" in unconscious comedy when different nationalities order dinner. CHERNIAVSKI CONCERTS. The third of the series of concerts by the Cherniavskl company was given ill the Town. Hall Concert, Chamber on Saturday evening. Each oi the three brothers was down, on the programme for ons solo, tut encore, items were the rule, and in addition they were associated in. trios for violin, violoncello, and pianoforte." The opining piece was a trio ny Arensky, one oi the leading modern Russian composers. This tine work gives much scope for the display oi executive skill, which was taken aavantagc of to the full. Loud applause followed the brilliant finale, the youngest of the brothers, played exceJlcntiy Goltermann's conceii/j ior violoncello, a work- well adapted for showing the range of the instrument, and introducing soma rapid combined bow anu pizzicato passages. A storm of appluuise followed, and k the perionner leturned and played a • short Greek dance. Jan Cherniavski's piano contributions ware Chopin's melodious Berceuse, and a Polonaise by the same composer— a' \V6i'k full of violent contrasts, and quite exceptional as a test of the performer's skill. -In this case ihs test", was pasted with Hying' colours. Jan does not preserve the quiet pose usually insisted oil by, music teacliers, but occasionally indulges in excessive action. None the lets, he gets ,the full effects' out of his instalment, and much may bo forgiven in a player of such undoubted'mem. Iso the listeners thought, and they were not satisfied until the player leappeaied and added a dainty mazuika by the French composer Godard. Leo Cherniavski's 'selection for the evening was a violin concerto by Paganini, the greatest, oi all the modern virtuosi on the instrument, i\ho as a composer, created the dilhculties be executed with such facility. Apparently • tkib piece presented no difiicuity to Leo, for he played it in a way which loused the enthusiasm of his auditors, la response to an imperative recall he played an old French jnenuet. Madame Marie Hooton sang a German, song by Bohm, "Still wie die Nacht," ,and an old English bailad, "Jan's Courtship." Both i\ero much to the taste of the audience, and equally acceptable were her encore songs, "I Wonder," and another old ballad. Mr. Driver's baritone . voice was heard to good effect in an Egyptian love song, and in two humorous songs to which he pJayed his own accompaniment on the piano. Two taios by the brothers concluded the concert: "Kol Nidr-ei," a Hebrew lament, inexpressibly sweet and bolemn, 1 and Greig's '.'Norwegian Dance, No. 1," m which the tuneful melody and ryth j i mic measure- furnished a pleasing relief to the piece which preceded it. Conceits, will be given this evening and to-morrow, and there will be a clos- j ing matinee performance on Wednesday afternoon at 3. The programme will be changed on each occasion. No music lover should miss the- opportunity to near these finished) artists, who are entitled to rank in the first flight of their profession. ' The CherniaVski brothers were entertained at the Jewish Social Club last evening. There were about 250 guests present, and Mr. and Mr 3. D. 3. Nathan received the visitors. Mr. EdWard Branscombe replied on behalf of the Oherniavskis, expressing their great appreciation of the kindness shown to them since they have been in New Zealand. Musical itemG were given during the evening by Master Gelhor, Misses ft. Mark, Liaack, G. Cohen, Van Stavereu, Kruttner, Hyams, and Messrs. Gelhor, Dryer, Hyams, Sander, and Schotlander. Refreshments were served, the catering being done by the club steward; Mr. Jackson. SACRED CONCERT. Mr. P. R. Johnstone organised a concert in the Town Hall last evening. Each item of tho programme was of a sacred character. Mr. Johnstone's 'cello solos were of a first class order, and were plajed with the performer's usual tasteful skill, and his obligates wore in every instance enjoyable. This player's honesty is a characteristic feature. : there- is none of the "climbing"' that detracts from the success of so many 'cellists' work. Gounod's "Meditation" and Schumann's "Traumerei" were his numbers. Mr. Parke's robust voice- was heard to advantage in "The First Palm Sunday," and "Crossing the Bar.." Mr. W. A. Robyns sang "The Lord is My Light," and "Arm, Arm, l r e Brave' 1 ; the s'nooth, even execution ofthis singer and the absence of effort aer much to be commended. His every note is music. Mrs. Sutcliffe recited "The Leper" and "The Vision." She was recalled, but none of the many encores of the evening were responded to. Mrs. Montague accompanied with efficiency. ORGAN RECITAt. The attendance at Saturday evening's orgun recital by Mr. J. Maughan Barnett iq the Town Hall was not in Uccninsr

with the excellence of the programme, albeit the appreciation of those present was none the less heartily marked. The first of Mr. Barnelt's items was Bach'a " Tocatta in .D minor," and next "Andante Con moto in F " (Smart). Then followed Hollins's "Intermezzo" and Boellmann's " Final Marchc," the latter being the final movement of a second suite for the organ by the French composer. The organist's fine execution of Nevin's " Narcissus " was responsible for an encore, and he was loudly applauded for " Berceuse in D" (his own composition). The final number was Wagner's overture to " Rienzi," which provided a fitting termination to a much-enjoyed recital. Members of the Saturday evening audiences hn.ve been asked to mark on the programmes or on slips of paper any of the pieces they may de.=ire to hear again. It is intended that the programmes of every sixth or seventh recital shall be selected from the pieces so marked on the programmes of the preceding recitals. The next recital will bo given on Saturday. EOYAL PICTURES. The popular programiae shown by the Royal Pictures prganisation at His Majesty's Theatre drew a crowded house on Saturday night. The same pictures will be shown to-night — a well-balanced arrangement 'of grave and gay, and of tragedy and comedy. HERE MAX HOPPE'S PUPILS. On Saturday afternoon the parents and friends of Hcrr Hoppe's pupilt> as sembled in the Dresden room for the end of term recital. Miss Ava Symons played Mofidelssohn's violin concerto in excellent style, the performance being worthy of an experienced adult player. Her accompanist, Miss Leatham, played the difficult piano part, and also a violin solo (Allegro Brillante by Ten Have) on her own account. Miss Anderson played a "Capricio," also by Ten Have, from memory in a very firm decisive style. She should make a valuable orchestral player. Othot performer* were : Misses Walter and Stnbbs, and Messrs. Meier, Bcrder, and Oiliver. Herr Hoppe is to be congratulated on his tuitionary faculty as evidenced by the young players, and even the juniors' efforts showed no single instance of slovenly work. Nervousness was inevitable, and received the sympathy of the interested audience. Herr Hoppe proposes to commence a beginners' class in orchestral work, with a view to providing recruits for the string orchestras of •> the city. BENEFIT CONCERT. A concert in aid of the widow and seven children of the late Mr. James Ramsey was given at the* Opera House last evening by tho Wellington. Profefi« sional Orchestra. The audience was large, filling every part of the house. 'I he opening piece, was Fuick!s "Marchc Triomphale," played with fine spirit by the oichsstra, which also contributed the familiar overture to "Zampa" (Herold). Miss Domenica Martinengo sang "Sweet Spirit, Hear my Prayer," and for an encore "The Children's Home. ' Miss May Driscoll gave "The Man of Sorrows." A pleasing item was a fhito solo "Romance" (Saint-Saens), played by Miss Nellie Simpson. Mr. Leslie Hill contributed the fine "Song of Thanksgiving" (AlliLsen). Finally, Mr. Barclay Gammon, in a new role, delighted th.° audience with tha mono- 1 loguc recital at the piano of "Christmas Bells" (Mayne). Miss amy Remington accompanied, the performers on the piano. The amount realised was over £50. CHRISTMAS CAROLS. The performance of Christmas Carols to;be given^at the Town Hall to-mor-row evening by the Wellington Choral . Society promises to be a success. Mr. Maughan Ba-rnett, the conductor, is dovoting a large" amount of time with the choir, and ac it is the first tinle tho society has taken up Christmas rarol singing, the occasion should prove veiy attractive In addition to the carols Miss "Mina, Caldow (contialto) will " sing — "The_ Lord is my Light" (Allitwn), and "Nearer My God to Thee" (Carey), Mr. TV. A. Robyns (baritone) will sing "Nazareth" (Gounod), and "The. Pil gnms. of the Night" (Frank Idle), and -Mr Egerton Pegg, who ie a recent ai rival from England, and is the possessor of a fine Lcnor voice, will ring -"If with all your Hearts" (Elijah),