THE CIRCASSIANS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 33, 8 August 1934, Page 3

THE CIRCASSIANS

SECOND CONCERT OF SEASON

The fare provided by The Circassians, who gave their second concert of tho season in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last evening, may bo described as both popular and good—popular in that it did not aspire to anything of too liif.'hbrow a nature, and good in that it never descended to anywhere near tho level of music-hall trash. ■ Certainly the audience appreciated what Mi\ Thomas Wood, the conductor, had arranged for their entertainment, and the good impression which The Circassians made on their first appearance last May was more than sustained. "Four Jolly Smiths" and "0 Hush Thee, My Babie," were the two opening numbers, Sullivan's music to tho latter being very artistically interpreted. "When Song is Sweet," "Hard Times, Come Again No More," and "Stars of the Summer■ Night" (The Circassians' good: uight melody) were other concerted^ items in which the voices blended well. Equally successful were- "Laugh and be Merry," "Choral Fantasia on National Airs" (an excellent opening number for the second part of the programme), "Boat Song" and "Songs of the River," "The Vacant Stare" (a humorous student song), and, last but not least, the French-Canadian folk-song "Alouette," which was such an outstanding success at the previous concert. Tho lady Circassians did full justice to the always popular "O Peaceful Night," and again to a bracket of Russian songs, "The Red Sarafan" and "Oh! the Merry Frost Time." The, gentlemen presented "Jonathan Jones" with conspicuous success.. One of the aims of The Circassians, according to a note on the programme, is "to bring forward good voices that in the ordinary way may never be heard in public, for in these days of wireless concerts and gramophone records tho professional and amateur, vocalists are apt to bo passed over." This laudable aim was furthered last night, and some of the several solo voices in the choir had items to themselves, apart from solo efforts'incorporated in some of the concerted numbers. Two sopranos, Miss Mary Holmes and Miss Eunice Standen, delighted the audience, the former, singing "Home, Sweet Home," and "Tho Last Rose of Summer," and the latter "Down the' Forest" and "Ritorna Vincitor" from Verdi's "Aida." "Sappho's Farewell" (Gounod) was sung by Miss Dora Look, the possessor of a good mezzo-contralto' voice, and Miss Renee Petty presented in delightful manner the Scotch character song "Caller Herrin." "Who is Sylvia?" was the tenor solo proeented by Mr. Arthur Goatham, and "The Song of the Flea" was Mr. George Grny's baritone solo. Each soloist received a flattering reception. In spite of their wealth of talent, The Circassians went outside their own ranks for three items. Two of these were character sketches by Miss Dorothy Seymour, who was loudly applauded for her "Miss Vinney Discourses ou her Denominational Garden" and "There's Always Something," and the third was a much-appreciated tapdancing turn by . Jack Hanna and James Phillips. For the last-mentioned item Miss Hazel Martin was at the piano, the accompanist otherwise being Miss Isa Anderson. ■ ■ ■