OPENING CONCERT OF 1925 SEASON.

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 102, 4 May 1925, Page 10

OPENING CONCERT OF 1925 SEASON.

Ihe excellence o£ performance for winch the Harmonic Society, under the direction of Mi-. H. Temple While, has built up a reputation in Wellington was well maintained at tho first subscription concert of the 1925 season, held at the Town Hall' Conceit Chamber on Saturday evening. The programme was a particularly attractive one. a, novel feature being the inclusion of a. choral arrangement by Maurice- .Jacobson, with pianoforte overture, of Gay's "Bo" B ar's Opera/ which formed the second part of the entertainment. The operatic choruses were sunn- with fine tone and balance, and the principal solos and duets, suitably arranged for quartette, were altogether pleasing- and acceptable. ■Not all ot the numbers in the ouera of course are used in the fantasia, 'but ?"'>, e n c}\ lei "I them. They include: Let Us lake the Road," "Come. Sweet Lass «H the Heart of a Man," "The iirst lime at a Looking-plass " "Virgins are Like the Fair Flower." "In the Days of My Youth," "Mv Heart was Free ' ■'Pretty Polly, Say." "Before the Barn.Door Crowing," "Cease Your Funning. _ One of the most delightful numbers m the first part of tho programme was the Celtic hymn, "The Outgoing of the Boats," a prayer for the saiety of the sailor at sea, in which the melody is sung by the male voices, accompanied by the wailing siMis of the women Tins was much appreciated by the audience, and had to be repeated. O.her choral items were: "All in the April Evening" fKathenno Tynan) Hymn to Music" (Dudley Buck) '"You Stole My Love" (Mac'f arren), "Tho Shower (Elgar), "The Turtle Dove" a iolk song arranced by Vautrhan Wil- ,," SLjnd ',' My Bonny Lass She Smiletlr (Edward German). "To Morning" (Bantock), for female voices, was a quite pleasing number. The Harmonic Quartette (Messrs. V. R,. Bennett, E. W. Robbms. A. Stark, and C W <«venson) rendered effectively "By Celik's Arbour ■ (Horsley), "Fishing'- and "The Baby on the Shore." Mrs. J F Woodward and Mr. Leon de Mauny,'soprano and violinist respectively, assisted tho society as soloists. Mrs. Woodward's immbera were "The Jewel Son<r" from i ™, " Ll!ac" (Montague Phillips), and "The Garden Wakes." Mrs Woodward s voice is always a welcome treat to hear. Mr. Leon de Mauny played with artistic finish Beethoven's "I?o----n96 H! F," Drdla's "Souvenir." Hejre Kali' (Hubay). and Drdla's Serenade. ' _ Mr. Harold Whittle Played tho pianoforte accompaniments m his usual brilliant style.