VARIED MELODIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 1, 1 July 1938, Page 4

VARIED MELODIES

THE AEOLIANS' CONCERT

Collecting for charity Is often a thankless task, and those who do the collecting receive many a snub and unkind word for their efforts, but sometimes the good work can be hidden in pleasant guise, and those who give get some tangible reward for their offerings. To give to charity through attendance at the Aeolians' concert in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last night might almost have been said to make the donor at the same time the recipient of his gift, for the return was manifold. :

A very pleasing combination of male and female voices, the Aeolians themselves provided the larger portion of the programme, their numbers including tuneful glee songs, choral dances, madrigals, and all the varied forms of part-singing. Purcell's dainty melodies, country songs of different vintage, and familiar numbers of Handel, Schubert, and Sir Edward Elgar were all sung in skilful and attractive manner by the Aeolians. Mr. Maxwell Fernie conducted the choir, and Mr. John RandaL L.R.S.M., was the accompanist. Fortunate indeed were the Aeolians in their choice of assisting artists, whose services, it was stated, were given free.. Few could fail to be impressed by the magnificent baritone solos of Mr. Russell Laurenson, in particular the two Hungarian songs, the well-known "Shepherd, See Thy Horse's Foaming Mane," with its stirring and rather horrible theme, and the almost equally, sombre and primitive "Had a Horse," with its heartbroken references ■> to Mahacs Field, scene of a national disaster. Mr. Laurenspn's powerful yet well modulated Voice was admirably suited to his choice of songs. A young performer, Miss Jocelyn Walker, gave two short piano recitals, showing: complete mastery of difficult works. Brahms's Capriccio in B Minor was a particularly fine piece of playing. Solo contralto for the evening was Mrs. C. Pengelly, who chose as her first and most attractive number Brahms's "The Nightingale." Mrs. Pengelly's songs were all; executed with understanding and artistry. .

Two of Elgar's choral songs were rendered by the choir with flute obbligato by Mr. Jsmes Rodgers.