ARTS HAND IN HAND

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 71, 20 September 1912, Page 2

ARTS HAND IN HAND

SOME REMARKS 'BY THE GOVERNOR. Almost all the arts came to the aid of the Arts Club last evening at the concert given in aid of its funds. There were represented the graphic arts, the arts of music and oratory, and also the little appreciated art of intelligent listening. An agreeable interlude was provided by. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington), wht> briefly spoke on the good work the Arts' Club was doing, and- of its effect in making the homes of the citizens (within and without), and the city itself, more beautiful. He referred to the lack of practical appreciation which the painters of the Renaissance suffered, particularly' mentioning Botticelli as ' a case in point, where recognition of great talent not only did not come in the lifetime of the artist, but not until centuries afterwards. So with regard to Wellington, in fact New Zealand, who could say that there was not here already some artist- who was to-day but little appreciated, but whose work might be greatly appreciated by posterity? The artistic world was a, struggling world, and that being so it was a pleasure to him and he thought should be to the citizens as a whole to know that in Wellington there was a well" organised, sympathetic Arts Club. He emphasised the importance of doing all that could be done to support such am institution. Clubs of the kind could. do much to elevate the sense of culture, to raise the tone of the surroundings of the city. He pointed to the Town Belt, and to the scope that offered in making the cijby beautiful, also to the opportunities for artistic development which the isuburbs offered. Through the agency of a club like the Arts Club the architects and surveyors of the city could do much in guiding public opinion, in the Jaying out and beautifying of the Town Belt of the city. The Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) also made a- few observations on the endeavour made by the Corporation to beautify the city and its surroundings, and of its appreciation of the effortß to that end of all such institutions- as the Arts Club. ; The programme itself was varied, ex-, cellent, and much enjoyed; albeit the audience was far too small for the hall. This fact had, however, no chilling effect] upon the performers, and made no difference in the quality of the entertain* ment. The programme included a delightful male quartette by members of the Orpheus Club, the parts blending perfectly,'and -the singers themselves havingvoices of high quality. "He and She," a dialogue in which "He" was mute, and "She" did all the talking— a lot of itwas cleverly played by Miss" 4 Ruby Scott (as She) and Mr. Norman Aitken (as He). Mr. W. B. Hudson (with Mr. Hardie - Shave's assistance at the lantern), gave a lecturette on Venice, into which he compressed mudn interesting matter, and well selected. The pictures of St. Mark's, the ducal palace, and some other notable buildings were described in an agreeable manner by one who had had the advantage of studying them on the' spot. Mr. F. R. Johhatone's 'cello solo/ an Adagio of Tartini, was exquisitely 1 played. Mr. Horace Hunt played Moskowski's Caprice Espagnol for the piano, and waa well received, . and Miss Dordthy Wells played .the Reve Angelique of Rubenstein, a violin solo calling for considerable executive ability and artistic feeling to adequately play it. The singers were each and all fwarmly applauded for their ' acceptable^ coj^ribu* tions to the programme. They werfe Miss Zelnia Hugo, a -powerful contralto 1 , wfio sang, "Melisande in the Wood" ; Miss Neljif .Castle, "My Heart is Weary" (Goring Thomas)>, Mr. R. S. 1 ' Allwright, v 'The Song ' of ' the Torrent*.(Mallinsonh and MivW'. H. .Church, "Plymouth Sound?' The entertainment was concluded with the "Toy Symphony" by the orchestra o* the Society of Professional Musicians, the movements played' being as follows : Allegro vivace, ' Mr. L. F. Watkins ; andante con expressione, Mr. Horace Hunt ; and allegro con' brio, Mi\ Maughan Barnett. It gave a most delightful finish to the evening. The accompanists wjsre Misses A. Remington, Fay Wayward, Mesdames F. R. Johnstone and Na.tusch.