ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 139, 9 December 1912, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE MESSIAH. MADAME KliiißY LUNN A SOLOIST. The- Royal Choral Sqpiety has concluded arrangements with Messrs. J. and N. Tait, for the engagement of Madame Kirkby Lunn for the production of The Messiah on 20th December. The bass solos will be taken by Mr. Andrew Black, the English baritone; Mr. Walter Whyte, who was with the Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company, will take tho tenor solos, and Madame Wielaert, of Auckland, will be allotted the soprano solos. From a Soloist point of view this will be tho most notable performance yet given by the Royal Choral Society. Hitherto Madame Kirkby Lunn has not sung in. Wellington any selections from oratorio, but sne is world-famous for thi6 class of work. The production will have the benefit of the full orchestra instead of, as originally proposed, the grand orgaji. The chorus and orchestra combined will number over 320 performers. The occasion will be the last at which Mr. Maughan Barnett will conduct the society, and the production is expected to be a memorable one if on that account alone, MADAME KIRKBY LUN.K The final concert given by Madame Kirkby Lunn at the Town Hall on Saturday evening was one likely to satisfy the most ardent lover of music. Madame, as was only to be expected, was given a warm and enthusiastic welcome by the' large and representative audience, and it was not difficult- to understand : her immense popularity. The programme was generous as regards length, yet the audience was greedy for more, and the singer was recalled again and again. Al-, together, delightful was the beautiful aria "Che Faro" from,Gluck's "Orfeo," so clear/ and ringing and wonderfully,expressive was it. ' To the delight of the audience Madame ' sang that personal favourite, that tragedy in song^ Brian's "The Three Fishers/ as an encore to two melodic gems, "Poppies for Fcjr-, getting," (R. Coningsby Clark), ' and "Morning and You," a charming song by Florence Aylward.- Two bracketed .songs which .afforded a comprehensive of the quality of Madame Lunn's voice Wero "In Herbst" and "Vergiblesches -Standchen," full of the purest melody both. The singer was recalled again and again, and" added "Sapphische Ode" and "Der Schmied" (Brahms). Delightfully sung was "O 'Lovely Night," (Thomas), and that quaint Scotch song "Jock o' Hazeldetin." Mr. Andrew Shanks was also successful in capturing the 'audience with several fine songs, including the "Toreador Song" from "Carmen" (Bizet) and two Scotch ballads, "Hame" (Walford Davies) -and "Border Ballad" by Cowen. The programme was' further enriched by the brilliant and tasteful piano-playing of Mr. W. Murdoch who was repeatedly 1 called to the platform, his beautiful touch and finished technique being fully, displayed. His numbers were "Ballade A Hat" (Chopin), "Romance" (Wagner), and "Caprice" (Paganini Gorski). Equally enjoyable were the finished and sonorous violin solos of M. Andre do Ribaupierre, who showed an assured mastery of his instrument. His contributions were the "Sonata in A Major" (Beethoven), and Zigeunerweisen" (Sarasate). The accompaniments were played by Herr Wielaert and Mr. William Murdoch. Messrs. J. and N. Tait announce that they have arranged for Madame Kirkby Lunn to pay a return visit to Wellington, and give two concerts in the Town Hall on ' 2nd' arift *' 4th 1 January. For this occasion popular "prices will be charged. Madame will give a concert in" Palmerston North* taMMght, also one in Wangaitui ori Wednesday 1 'next, and • will 'open her season in OhristChurch on Saturday. ' - > "ON OUR SELECTION.* "On Our ..Selection" .will be produced at the Opera House on "the 14th iust. This piece has had a successful run in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide., Mr. Bert. Bailey will take the principal part^in the play. He is also one of the partners of this dramatic organisation,' and is principally responsible for writing the dramatisation of Steele Rudd's book. Mr." Edmund Duggan, who is also a partner, is a member of the cast. The box plan opens to- , morrow ■ morning at the Dresden. PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA. The Wellington Professional Orchestra last evening gave the final concert of the season at the Town Hall, under the conductorahip of Mr. Herbert Bloy, before a large audience. Perhaps the finest item of the evening was Moszkowski's 6uite "In Foreign Parts," a composition whose movements are replete with warm tune colour. The orchestra combined splendidly in what was -really a gem. The "Berlioz March,"' from "The Damnation of Faust," was also excellently played, and the applause at th« en^ was hearty. Among other numbers the overture to Weber's opera, "Oberon," and the fantasda, "Sur les Alpes" (Terschak) were charmingly played, and were interpreted with intelligence. KING'S THEATRE. A drama in colour, entitled "A Woman'B Ambition," will be the star feature of West's new picture programme at the King's Theatre to-night. The title givee the keynote to the 6tory. A "couple — poor, but happy— visit rich relations, and the wife conceives visions of wealth. She elopes with an adventurer, who turns out to be an utter imposter, and leaves the woman penniless. After many adventu-res she meets her husband again. The shock restores the reason which her former desertion had banished, and all's well that ends well. The rest of the programme is of high merit, including two Vitagraph exclusive^ featuring Maurice Costello and John. Bunny in "Wanted a Grandmother" and a "Love-sick Maiden." TSe King's orchestra will supply music. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. A complete change of programme takes place to-day at the People's Picture Palace, and the new bill," both in quality and variety, maintains the standard of it« predecessore. The star picture is one by the famous Nordisk Company, entitled "Shanghaied." The story is one of romantic love, not Tunning smooth, with the hero undergoing trials and tribulations before the final "curtain" of wedding belk. The programme runs continuously through the day. ST. THOMAS'S HALL. At St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, pictures again proved popular on Saturday night, 'the last of the old programme. A new programme, full of good thingß, will be presented to-night. KELBURNE SCOUT CONCERT. In connection with the programme to be contributed in the small Town Hall on the 14th inst. in aid of the clubroom building fund of the Kefbnrne Troop, a novel camp scene is to be introduced by the boys themselves, aided by Miss Cecil Haines as girl scout. Other items on the programme will be interesting. Mr. Norman Aitken will give his impersonation of Svengali. Miss Cecil Haines will perform some of her items, in addition to a character sketch with Mr. Shorney (Hubert and Arthur), duets, quartets, humorous sketches by Zante Wood arid Girdlestone. The comedietta, "The Curious Q," will complete tho . programme.

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. The last of the present series of orchestral concerts given by the Municipal Orchestra in the Town Hall will take place to-morrow night, when the programme submitted, will be a very popular, one. Rubeiistein's Wedding March "Fen-amors" commences the concert, followed by' Jarnefeldfs Prelude, Two Hungarian Dances (Brahms), Finlandia, the tone poem (Sibelius). The remainder of the programme can be said to be the most popular numbers performed by the orchestra. They are "The Death of Aso," "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (Grieg) from the "Peer Gynf Suite and Tschaikowski's "Dance of the Fairy," Chinese Dance and Trepac from the .Nutcracker suite. Miss Gertrude Hunt will sing "Should he Upbraid" (Bishop) with orchestral accompaniment, and "Auf Wielersclien" (Mailinson). Mr. Horace Hunt will be the accompanist. Patrons are reminded that this is the last opportunity of hearing the Municipal Orchestra under the conductorship of Mr. Maughan Barnett, City Organist. THEATRE ROYAL. ' The new programme •to be submitted this evening at the Theatre Royal promises to be an attractive one. Miss Bessie .Slaughter, the English contralto, will appear in three new songs "Never Mind the Weather!," "The Rosary," and "An Old Romance." Another new turn will be "The National Duo," a pair of talented juveniles, in songs and dances. The popular Crimson Ramblers will introduce an' entirely new and up to date programqje of songs, duets, and specialities, and other performers will include Miss Ida Berridge (soubrette), and Mr. ! Harry Linden (eccentric comedian). FULLER'S PICTURES. The popular series of picture entertainments at the Skating Rink, organised by Messrs. FulleT, came to an end on Saturday night. The 'announcement by the management of its intention to open the new Courtenay-place theatre in a few weeks' time will be welcomed by the many appreciative patrons of Fuller's Pictures in the past. THE NEW THEATRE. The bi-weekly change of programme was ushered in^ at The New- Theatre today with a sensational pictorial story entitled "The Mystery of a Glass Coffin." As most people will guess it is an Eastern conception involving the discovery, during the process of sorte excavations at a •French count's residence of a huge boxlike contrivance. When this has been opened at the count's order, it is found to contain the perfectly preserved re- . mains of an ' Eastern princess. After much deliberation and enquiry the codnt succeeds in enlisting the services of a Hindoo priest. In brief time he diagnoses the case as one of "trance and a few incantations bring about perfect animation. Prior to all this, f however, the count's fiancee is seen' bidding him au revoir prior to embarking on a lengthy trip. The count, however, forgets his love, and soon completes an alliance with the princess. Incidentally a male friertd falls in , love .• with the princess, entices her I away by a ruse to a circus proprietor, and has her placed under restraint. Her recovery is effected after a recurrence of sensational happenings, including a fatal duel in which the count emerges victor over his faithless friend. The film is about 3500 ft long and takes three-quar j ters of an hour in the screening. The ! programme contains many fine supporting subjects. • THE EMPRESS THEATRE. Evidence is not lacking of ' the popularity of the current programme Qfj^hei Empress Theatre . Continuous .Pictures?,] which is being presented for the last time • this evening. The regular complete change to-morrow' will include a dramatic-;, sensation, '"A Rogue of the j Turf," 'The story follows the adventures ! and ambitions of a professional gambler, who is caught cheating at cards in a Wild West saloon by a young Englishman. The adventurer goes to England,, and by chance becomes acquainted with the Duke of Darley «nd his daughter. The subsequent developments are said to be interesting. "The Girl Reporter's Big Scoop" and an A.B. exclusive drama "A Line at Hogan's" will also figure prominently to-morrow. The moving pictures taken by the Greater Williams Company at the swimming carnival at the Te Aro Baths last Saturday will bo presented, shortly at the Empress Theatre. SHORTT'S PICTURES. Shortt's Continuous Picture Theatre bills, to-day as the star piece of the new programme a picture entitled "The Hazards of Life," a powerful and engrossing domestic drama. Another attractive item is a release entitled "Kathleen Mavourneen," while among the_ rest of the pictures are sterling entertainers in "Lost in New York," "Orator, Knight, and Cow Charmer," "Australian Gazette," and 'Typist for the Occasion." The programme' stands for all sessions. To-morrow, for one night only, that coloured picture "The God of the Sun," will be screened. STAR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. To-night's attractions at the Star Theatre by Wests and Star Pictures will include the latest releases arriving by to-night's mail. "A Woman's Ambition" is' a. 3000-foot coloured film. The story is a telling one, written around a delightful romance of love and adventure. Two Vitagraph ■ specials are a John Bunny comedy "Lovesick Maidens of Cuddleton" and "Wanted a Grandmother" with Maurice Costello and Florence Turner in the leading roles. The latest Pathe Gazette will be screened. A fairly large number of excursionists journeyed to Day's Bay in the ferry boats yesterday afternoon. The Waterside Workers' Band provided a, programme of music in the Day's Bay grounds, under the baton of Mr. H. Douglas^ and they performed Very well.