BAND RECITAL.

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 67, 17 September 1917, Page 3

BAND RECITAL.

The band of the New Zealand Natives' Association gave a concert in His Majesty's last night, when a large and appreciative audience was present. The recital was one of.the best given in the city for some time. The band, under the capable baton of Lieut. T. Herd, was in excellent form, and in its render-, ing of various, selections ,displayed an 1: -Intelligent grasp of the inner meaning of the music it essayed. This was rtlarkedly so in its playing of the charming contest selection, '"Nabucco," one of Verdi'.s best works, which abounds 'in tuneful melodies, and gives full scope for expressive interpretation. This item . was a particularly" fine effort. The brilliant overture, "Tancredi," was played most artistically. Rossini's famous composition was rendered with precision and a nice tonal effect, the subdued passages being delicately handled. The dashing march, "To the Assault," a Hume number, was played with plenty of dash... Lieut. Herd displayed admirable judgment and commendable, control. ■ Mr. Sigurd Lestrup, the operatic baritone vocalist, was in splendid voice, and sang with finish and artistry the "Toreador" song from "Carmen" (Bizet). To an 'insistent encore'iie" replied with "A Lover in Damascus" (Amy Woodford-Finder), a dainty song extremely well sung. Allitsen's "The Lute Player" was tastefully rendered, and, being recalled, Mr.'Lestrup delighted all with an aria from the opera "Martha." Miss- Ruby, Scott, the 'possessor of a flexible mezzo-soprano voiced aarig sweetly Carey's "Nearer 1, My God, To Thee," and infused . a lot of tenderness and expression into her' number. Her encore item, "Thoughts" (Fisher), . was just as sweetly sung. Mr. F. R. Johnstone, 'cello soloist, played the bracketed' selections "Memoirs" and "Tarantella," the former by Popper, and the.(latter by Cossmann —his rare musical ability was demonstrated to the full. He was recalled. Mr. Alf. M'Donald, the talented flautist, received well-merited applauefor his playing of Popp's "Hungarian Idyll."