PICKED TALENT

Evening Star, Issue 19061, 2 October 1925, Page 2

PICKED TALENT

FIRST GOiPETiTIOKS CONCERT Remarkable almost as the greater part of the talent, the magnitude of the three programmes into which it has been found necessary to divide the demonstration concerts of the Dunedin Competitions Society's 1825 Festival—altogether there are 121 items of infinite variety—indicates very clearly the mammoth undertaking with which the society, more so this year than in former years, has been faced throughout the last three weeks. It may attract a few extra shillings to an already well-earned treasury, but there is no question but that the motive of promoting demonstration concerts as a finale to a successful season comprises a preponderantly worthier ideal. The attendance at His Majesty’s last evening for the first offering suggests that though the performances or the elite (albeit without the overshadowing consciousness of the judicial presence) are a repetition of competitive efforts, they make a strong appeal to public taste. And that if only because there was a full helping of cream after a prolonged milk ration. One can imagine that the competitors, warmed by their successes, regard the demonstrations as the afterglow of an arduous day. Certainly this was reflected in the zest with which they played their parts last evening. It was a long programme of forty items, and Mr J. H. Walker found that the honor of officiating as chairman was not altogether a sinecure. For once the chairman’s duties were more onerous than those of the secretary. Mr E. S. Wilson was able to sit back and enjoy the night's programme, and without doubt the rest was well earned. It is hardly necessary—and with such a number of items, it would perhaps be a little unwieldy as well—to discuss the efforts of this first batch of the stars of competitions talent other than to commend them all for the spirit with which they entered into the occasion. They had nothing to gain last night but the appreciation of the big audience. It says well for them that in achieving this they worked ns keenly as if the rewards were still the palms which the adjudicators had had —necessarily and fittingly, of course—to confer with such sparing discretion. That each of them faced the house in this frame of mind is all that need further be said of the character of the evening’s entertainment. The items presented and those who performed them so skilfully are now detailed as follows;

Piano duo, ‘ Tarantolle,’ Missos_ J. Ellis and V. Sootten; recitation, ‘Memory/ Mies Gwen Thompson; child’s action song, ‘Kitty,’ Miss D. Deacon; ballet danco ; Miss Mona Silver; piano solo, ‘Petit Berceuse,’ Miss Alva B. Craig; Irish hornpipe, Miss May Thompson; Scottish song, ' Turn Ye to Me,’ Miss D. Stentiford; violin solo, ‘Peasant’s Evening Song,’ Miss V. Blamires; recitation, ‘The Knight’s Toast,’ Miss Jenny Griffiths; soprano solo, ‘A Brown Bird Singing,’ Miss 0. Bennett; Highland reel, Miss Lorna Budgo and party: piano duet, ‘ Valse Suite,’ Misses 0. Armour and M. Tucker; character recital, ‘Borneo,’ Miss Roberta Williams; Irish folk song, ‘Believe Me, if All,’ Mr Les. Dailey; fancy dance, Miss Laura Bain; _ Scotch song, ‘ Border Ballad,’ Mr David Forsyth; Highland fling, Miss Babs Saul;

song for boys, 1 Sing Merrily To-day,’ Master Fred Edgar; Irish folk song, ‘Kerry Dance,’ Miss Florence Sumner; vocal solo, ‘ By Lady Moon,’ Miss Elsie Preston: clioir contest—(a) ‘ Song on May Morning,’ (b) Slave song, Miss Meda Paine’s Students’ Choir; humorous recitation, ‘Ted’s Views on Early Rising,’ Master Duncan Todd; piano solo, ‘Ballad,’ Op. 10, No. 1, Miss Laura Himmel; skipping rope dance, Miss B. E. B. Cooper; baritone solo, Song of the Rover,/ Mr IV. Mitchell; sailor’s hornpipe, Miss Ethel Sinclair; recitation, ‘ The Chambered Nautilus,’ Mias Thyra W. Knight: piano duet, ‘ Nordescher, No. 1/ Miss U. Gardner and Mr W. A. M‘Donald: dramatic duo, Miss Iris Griffiths and Mr Bruce Warden; contralto solo, I Heard You Singing.’ Miss W. MPeak: recitation, ‘He Fell Among Thieves, Master Norman West; Irish_ jig. Miss Clara Dunn; piano solo, Valse Arabesque,’ in D fiat, Miss Bertha Rawliuson; fancy dance, Miss Martha Andrews; Sliakespearonn .recitation, ‘Henry’s Soliloquy on Sleep,’Mr A. R. Wilson; Eastern danco, _E. Crossan; humorous song, ‘My Inquisitive Kiddy,’ Master Jack Stevens; dialogue, ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona. Misses Anita Winkel and Sheila Neilnon: vocal duet, ‘ Home to our Mountains.’ Miss F. and Mr R. H. Sumner: recitation, ‘ The Fighting Temeraire, Master Sidney Ashton. SPECIAL AWARDS.

Two special awards have been made ns follow; —

Special prize of £8 8s to the highest aggregate marks in tenor, baritone, or bass vocal solo (operatic), and vocal solo (open k> all).—Dir Arnold Perry (Caversham). Special prize of £8 Bs, to the highest aggregate marks in soprano, mezzosoprano, or contralto vocal solo (operatic), and vocal solo (open to all),— Muss Florence Sumner (Opoho).