A "REQUEST" CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 151, 23 December 1925, Page 7

A "REQUEST" CONCERT

THE PUBLIC CH.OICE. The extra concert given. by Madams Stralia and her party last night was not only most enjoyable, but also interesting as indicating in a measure the public choice in music. The management had invited requests for sp2cial items, and many such had been received —so many in fact that only a selection could be made. Stralia herself sang by request "Softly Awakes My Hert" (from "Samson and Delilah"), "Because," Tosti's "Goodbye," and "Danny Boy." She was at her best in the "Samson j and Delilah number and in •' Dauuy I Boy," but the magic power of her voice and personality made even the less worthy numbers acceptable. Her duets witlT Mr. Andre Navarre were "Lacia Darem fa Mano" (from "Don Giovanni") and "The Garden of your Heart." It was not surprising to find that Mr. Navarre was asked to sing again the "Largo al Factotum" (from "The Barber of Seville"), the "Son of the Toreador," and "Duna." All were most pleasing. So many requests were made for violin numbers by Mr. Chuhaldin that only a selection could be made. It included "Aye Maria" (Schubert-Wilhelmj), the Bach-Kreis-lor "Preludium," and "Polonaise de Concert" ((Wieniawski). The pianist, Mr. Alex Sverjensky, received his share of the requests, and could not satisfy all. Tho "Dance Eustique" and "The Sea" were the , popular choice 'from his programmes. Mr. Hverjensky played the accompaniments with unfailing sympathy, aud the audience had tho further pleasure of organ obbligatos played by Mr. Page for several of Stralia's songs.