FOR A GREAT CAUSE

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 143, 17 June 1916, Page 2

FOR A GREAT CAUSE

A NOTABLE CONCERT.

On the programme for the Naval Relief Fund concert, given in the Town Hall last night, there was a picture of H.M..S. Queen Mary with the words below: "Sunk in two minutes at Naval Battle off Jutland with over 900 men on board • tiie enemy's battleships' concentrated their fire upon her." On looking twice at the picture one noticed that the decks were lined with men, and one realised what the loss of a battle-cruiser meant in-terms of life, of desolated homes, of widows and orphans. And more than one ship was sunk. Well mieht the Navy League "be active to assist the widows- and orphans. The concert organised by the Countess of Glasgow-was worthy 6f_'the great cause. There was a huge audience, spreading even into tho organ gallery, and all present had the double satisfaction of assisting the fund and receiving full value for their money. It was an evening of most pleasant, entertainment from the time that the Amokura boys amidst applause filed into the gallery seats till <M. Dufault, afterbowing his acknowledgments of the applause given for his spirited rendering1 ot "Marseillaise" raised his hands and conducted the audience in the National Anthem to the thundering accompaniment of Mr. Bernard Page at the grand organ, v. M. Paul Dufault was the premier attraction of the evening. Most appropriate were his items, and most inspiring was his singing. The Handeliau aria "Sound an Alarm" (Judas Maccabeus), with the trumpet-like notes of Mr. Page's organ obbligato, was a resonant call to action, and a fitting con-' elusion to the concert was ''The Trumpeter," sung as it has rarely been sung in Wellington before. Me fiufault sang also "Au Pays" and "Inter Nos." It may have been the hall or ,it may have been the instrument, but Mr. Harold Whittle's accompaniments had not quite the same charm that has been so notable at previous concerts.. But there were other items than those by M.. Dufault. Miss Mina Caldow, who was in excellent voice, sang "Land of Hope and Glory" (Elgar), "Mother Machree," "I Hear You Calling Me" (Marshall), and a more trying ' song, "Melisand." Madam Anderson quite, caught the popular taste with "Caller Herein'," "Three Fishers," and other songs. Very evident also was the appreciation of Miss Rene Queree's pianoforte solos, a haunting and delightful Chopin Valso, a lively "Caprice" (Grondahl), and an elaborate "Arabesque" (Debussy). Mr. Sigurd Lestrup, though in good voice—misjudging the qualities of the hall a little perhaps—was not so happy in his selection of numbers. A crowded Town Hall audience will applaud classical songs and did applaud "The- Calf of Gold" (from Gaunod's ".Faust"), and "Shepherd See Thy Horse's Foaming-Mane.," but Grieg and Svendsen, however, well interpreted, do not find favour, at a popular concert unless sung, in English.- The popular a-udience has little appreciation of the original language of the composers. One must not forget the two pleasing arid appropriate overtures played by an orchestra of leading musicians under Mr. John F. Woodward., The. overtures were "The Bohemian' Girl" (Balfe) aiid a medley of nautical, military, and national airs. Accompaniments were played by Miss Phyllis Hannify, Miss M. Fahu, and Mr. George Holloway. Before the concert commenced 'the Patriotic Society's band played outside the hall, and ladies in nurses' uniform did brisk business in programmes. Their Excellencies the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool, the Countess of Glasgow, the Mayor and Mayoress, Mrs. Hall-Thompson, and representatives cf the naval .and. military forces, arid the Navy League, formed the official party. " . .