FINE VOICES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 34, 9 August 1933, Page 3

FINE VOICES

MAORIS ENTERTAIN

The popularity of concerts by Maori entertainers seems by no means'to diminish in Wellington, aiid last night's capacity audience" at the Town Hall was treated to fare comparable with the best that has been given,ln this city. The party was'the'well-known Maori Methodist Mission Choir, and they succeeded in living up to the reputation which had preceded them. Composed of representatives from all over the Dominion, the choir is of excellent blend,.welltrained, and accurate in intonation. The ability of the Maori to paint pictures of vivid life or pathos in his singing was brilliantly shown, and there must have been few who wept away from the Town Hall last night: without some feeling1 of satisfaction at hearing this party. Besides the singing of tho choir, there were solos, quartets, pols, and hakas., In the first part of the programme, representing the Maori of yesterday, the party established themselves early as favourites with tho audience. In the second part, "the Maori. of today," tho traditional canoe song and pol of Kupe wa3 given, and received merited applause. Other pols, including an interlude with the long pot, were also given. Maori games with sticks and hands filled in spare moments, and the show was kept moving. Tho Onal part of the ( entcrtalnment included some fine string items and concerted singing which was greatly appreciated. A solo by Tono Tilcao. of Canterbury, was the gem of the evening, his finely modulated tenor finding brilliant expression in "Home, Little Maori; Home." As an encore he sang "Somewhere a Voice is Calling." Another flue, soloist was.'Mlss Mori Ellison, who sang two contralto solos, ono unaccompanied. It Is scarcely fair to" tho party to particularise, for all acquitted themselves well. As a choir a fine balance anil blending was always present, and there was nothing lacking to make the concert a success.