HARMONIC SOCIETY.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 146, 21 June 1923, Page 5

HARMONIC SOCIETY.

The first subscription concert of the Wellington Harmonic Society was a real musical treat. The. Concert Chamber was filled,, and the audience waxed enthusiastic over the many delightful numbers submitted under Mr. H. Temple White's able conductorship. The chorus members, who total about fifty in all, rendered exquisite harmony in Dvorak's "Blessing Born of Teeming Springtime." Tho part sonss included Cyril Jenkins's "The Storm's Triumph," Elear's "0 Wild West Wind," Granvillc Bantock's "Awake! Awake-!'' (recalled), W. yon Moellendorfi's "Night Whispers" (recalled), Davies's "When Summer's Merry Days Come In," an.d the part song for female voices,, Gnstav yon Hoist's "Sweet and Low" for female voices (recalled). The madrigal, "0 that tho learned Poets," by Orlando Gibbons, was also given. The voices blended with nice modulation, and there was a confidence in attack which pleased the most critical ear. The-programme was a well-balanced one. Assisting was M. Leon de Mauny, the talented violinist, who offered several solos, and again showed himself the rare artist he is. Drdla's "Souvenir," with its' quirking melodies; the "Second Hungarian Dance" of Brahms; and Handel's "Largo" were his original numbers, played in finished style, but so insistent was the- audience, and so sincere in its anpreciation of M. de Manny's exceptional talents, that the violinist had to give three recalls. M. de Maunv is decidedly an acquisition to Wellington musical circles. Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Orr sang "Love's Command" (A. Goring Thomas), and a quartette comprising Messrs. V. R. Bennett, E. W. Robbins, C. W. Howe, and B. W. Evensen, rendered some finely toned harmony work. Their numbers were "Cargoes" (H. Balfour Gardiner), and a humorous encore item. The quartette was very popular with the_ audience. Mr. Harold Whittle sit the piano was most efficient and contributed in no small degree to the success of. the racital.