PLEASING CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1939, Page 4

PLEASING CONCERT

FOR SEAMEN'S INSTITUTE

Vocalists and instrumentalists prominent in Wellington's musical world lent their services last evening at a concert given in the Town Hall in aid of funds to build a gymnasium for the Seamen's Institute. The stage was beautifully decorated with gladioli and greenery, and the concert was carried tnrough very successfully. The Misses Betty arid Vivian Blamires delighted the audience with their polished instrumental playing. The former contributed several pianoforte solos, which included the Schumann-Liszt "Liebeslied," Schumann's "Traumes Wirreri," and "Toccata" (Op. Ill), by Saint JSaens, the last-named being brilliantly played. She was the periect accompanist for her sister's violin solos, these being "A Sailor's Dance", (Dunhill), "Libesfreud" (Kreisler), "The Forlorn Queen" (Hughes), and "Mazur" (Mlynarski). Together they provided the pianoforte accompaniment and violin obbligato for Rachmaninoff's- "Oh, Cease Thy Singing, Maiden Fair," which was sung by Mr. Roy Hill. Mr. Hill's tenor voice was also heard to advantage in several other numbers. Miss Olga Burton excelled in. her, singing of "The Wren" (Benedict), a flute obbligato to this popular item being contributed by Mr:, ©James Rodgers. Another effective*;' vocalist was Miss Marjorie Bennie, amongst her several items being "Orpheus With His Lute" (Sullivan) and "Arise, O Sun" (Day). Mr. Kenneth Macaulay's bass-baritone solos, which included "The Lute Player," were received with appreciative applause. The vocalists between them contributed several excerpts from German's "Merrie England," this being a very pleasing addition to the programme. Very popular were Mr. H. Temple White's organ solos, which concluded each of the two halves of the programme, these being Lemaire's "Andantino," "Spring Song" (Hollins), and "Evensong"- (Easthope Martin).