THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 4 September 1923, Page 11

THE COMPETITIONS

WORK NOT SO GOOD

DIFFICULT CLASSES.

More important classes were dealt with at the competitions yesterday, aud few of them were up to standard.

The piano solo resulted:—Miss I. Middlemiss (Levin), 79 points, 1; Miss F. M. M'lCenzie (Hamilton), 78 points, 2; Miss G. Wing (Island Bay), 77 points, 3.,, «

This was an open class, and the judge remarked that the piece set ("Reveil Sou s Bois," Op. 44 (Diemer), Alphons Leduc, was the. most difficult in the whole of the competitions. It was a composition in which the imagination played a large part, and in which the competitors must exhibit a wide variety of tone colour and interpretative ability. The final result of the operatic solo (contralto) was: Miss Phyllis Oribben (Auckland), 78 points; Miss M. Allomes (Wanganui), 76 points; Miss' E. M. Buckniaster (Hataitai), 74 points. Several of the. competitors in the soprano solo spoilt really good voices by singing out of tune. ' Those recalled showed refinement of style and accurate interpretation. Mies M. Clegg (Lyall Bay) secured 81 points, and waß heard to the best advantage in the song set ("Sing, Joyous Bird"). Miss R bcott (Hamilton) secured 78 points, and Miss B. M'Lean (Wanganui), 76. In the baritone solo section, there was some good singing, though on the whole the voices were too light for the song ("Pagan," Key E flat). The competitors failed altogether to express the high spintedness and nobility of the pagan chieftain. Mr. J. Taylor (Wellington) secured. 83 points, Mr. C Moss (Wellington) 82, and Mr. D. Bishon (Christchureh), 81. P According to the judge, not one competing couple in the dance duo (fox trot, 9 to 12) fox-trotted. None had danced the three-step movement, and she had been obliged to gauge on style. Some ol the displays were quite vaudeville, hne had expected to see ballroom dancing, but she- certainly had not seen a fox trot. Miss E. Wright and Miss 0 iatorous (Wellington) 63 points, Miss Z Carroll and Miss F. Bassin (Wellington) 60 points, Miss A. Searlo and Miss F. Bassin ' (Wellington) 58 points. The New Zealand test recital (gentlemen), second section, resulted in a win £ r Mr- C. Chapman, Kelburn ("The Hell Gates of Soissons"). with 80 points. Mr. W. H. Moses, Christchureh ("The Outlaw ) was second, with 79 points, and secured a first on the combined first and second sections with an aggregate of 159 points.

The first section in the New' Zealand test recital (ladies) was heard. Only one competitor gave a correct interpretan? 4 n.?i f piece 6et I'"1116 Beleaguered L/ity ). The recalls were not announced. 'A tie was announced in the recitation in character (boys, 12 to 16) between Bert.. Goodland (Christchureh), and L. Shepherd (Hataitai). The section was not brilliant. Shepherd ' gave!. a clever burlesque on the judge. The judge remarked that' he was extremely pleased with the reading at sight (gentlemen). More attention was paid to reading in Wellington than ■ in any town in which he had adjudicated. Mr. W. H. Moses (Christchureh) secured 82 points, Mr. W. Knox (Wellington) 81, and Mr. C. Chapman (Kelburn) 79. Every one of the competitors gave an intelligent reading of the piece set ( 'Christmas Carols," Dickens). The open class for humorous recitation by ladies was won by Miss E. Aifcchison (Kopuaranga), "Catching a Mouse," 83 points. Miss M. Halliday (Hataitai) 80 points; Miss S. Neilson (Wellington) 76 points. The pieces generally were unsuitable. Thejudge highly complimented the winner on her voice, stage presence, and natural touches. Two sketches in the story without words competition were enjoyed by the audience. Mlsb Edna Purdie was seen in "Shopping," and Miss Nola.Wright and Master Wenton Turner put on a bright little turn, "Infectious Jazz."