"MERRIE ENGLAND"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1941, Page 9

"MERRIE ENGLAND"

OPERA IN CONCERT FORM

Edward German's essentially, English and tuneful opera, "Merrie England," in concert form, was given on Saturday by the Royal Wellington Choral Union. The concert was for patriotic purposes and it attracted a large audience. Mr. Stanley Oliver conducted. Solo parts allotted were: "Bessie Throckmorton, Gwenyth Greenwood (soprano); Queen Elizabeth and Jill All Alone, Connie Lee (contralto); Sir Walter Raleigh, Owen Bonifant (tenor); and Earl of.: Essex, Ken Macauley (baritone). The characters were sung in excellent taste and with spirit and expression; attacks were prompt and the finishes were crisp. "The Month of May" and "Robin Hood" choruses were outstandingly igood. Miss Greenwood had quite the voice for the part if tine opera had been performed in a theatre. She sang the exacting waltz song "Who Shall Say That Love is Cruel" with great charm, evoking and earning spirited applause. Miss Lee was accorded a great reception. She sang "Peaceful England" with tender feeling arid marked expression and was equally successful in the part of Jill, to which she imparted just the right touch of pathos when she sang "Where the Deer Do Lie." Mr. Bonifant sang with clear diction and a sense of the character of the song "The English Rose" and, earlier in the evening, "Every Jack Should Have a Jill." He also contributed much to the popularity of duets and' quartets in which he had part. All three soloists were recalled again and again. Mr. Macauley was in fine form, and his singing of "Yeomen of England" (with certain changes in words) for all its great popularity, was a worthy and artistic achievement. The apparently unwritten rule of "no encores" was broken in his case; it had to be, for the audience would not be satisfied until he had sung it again. Fine work was done by the orchestra as a whole and when individual players were called upon to furnish touches of bright colour. Mr. Oliver, so far as the audience appeared to be aware, had reason to be satisfied with the efforts made by his fine chorus, the orchestra, and the soloists. Mr. Clement Howe was at the organ. Proceeds of the performance were devoted to the Victory Queen Carnival funds and they should have been a welcome addition. The concert was bright musical entertainment, and gained in popularity by finishing at 10 o'clock.