ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9251, 30 June 1910, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENING. The fifteenth season of the Palmerston Orchestral Society opened last eyening with the promise of a worthy continuance of its splendid history. The Opera House' held a' crowded audience, and the programme presented was marked by all those enviable characteristics which have come to be associated with the Society's work, and which as of yore reflected the exceptional musical attainments artistic discrimination ... of the conductor, Mr Maurice Cohen.

the composition of the orchestra itself there is a marked and welcome change. There was in the past occasionally noticeable an absence of "body" and volume. In such works as Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance," where the crash of opposing armies and the triumphant shouts of the victors were, being rendered, the orchestra was hardly powerful enough to give due impressiveness. But that fault has vanished, and right through last night's programme the change could be felt- The last number amply proved the effectiveness of that change. It was "The March of the Gladiators" , (Fucik), and triumphant martial strains were never more powerfully rendered. Most of the orchestral items- were entirely new, and among them were some gems, whicn music lovers will wait to hear again with pleasure. The' programme- opened .with the beautiful. Thomas overture, - " Raymond," and-it was one of the best numbers of the evening. A work of great variety and beauty, it, received worthy treatment from the orchestra. There followed a charming intermezzo of Ord Hume, very simple in theme, and relying for its beauty and effect on an artistic balance of light and shade and a clever contrast of instruments. Then came the Beethoven numbers, the great German being represented by two . movements from his No. 2 Symphony. The larghetto movement was given with thrilling effect, and was in many respects the finest work of the evening. lii the allegro molto the orchestria's ability was taxed to its _ utmost, and a • spirited rendering was given. In the second half the audience discovered, an item after its own heart in the two - delightful bracketed numbers, " Narcissus " . (Niven) and "Traumbild" (Von Blon). Both were charmingly rendered. The latter morceau represents a young lady's dream picture of .the ball she has just left. The delights of the various dances pass, in review before her, and then with a crash of the final chord she awakes. Played with, muted strings, and containing a lovely little melody for the 'cello, the number was a charming one, and was received with great applause. It had ,'to be repeated. Mr Frank R. Johnstone played the 'cello solo with his usual artistic feeling. The' remaining items were a vivacious suite of dances, "The Palace of Puck" (Fenigstein) and "The,. Entry of the Gladiators" (already mentioned). Both added variety to the programme, and were notable for that versatility in interpretation which has characterised Mr Cohen's reign over the instrumentalists.

Before the concert commenced Mr Cohen announced the indisposition of Miss Irene O'Brien, the vocalist of the evening, but said he wished to make Eublic recognition of her pluck in taking; er place on the platform under such trying circumstances. The o.ccasion was practically Miss. O'Brien's debut, and her appearance was eagerly awaited. The vocalist chose as her opening number "Melisande in, the Wood," a beautiful song of Alma Goetz too rarely heard here. •. It admirably suited her rich . and tuneful contralto voice, and revealed not only the young singer's vocal organ as of a quality quite rare and charming, but showed a true realisation of the possibilities of the song. The result was a most pronounced encore. Miss O'Brien's second appearance only served to confirm the promise of her opening number, and a delightful rendering of "The Blue Alsatian Mountains' (Adams) was given; It produced another very decided • demand for a repetition. The two encore numbers were "Music Charmeth with Soft Voices" and "Rosary." Mr Fred Baines, who reoently arrived from the Old Land, appeared in two items, "Song. of Thanksgiving" (Allitsen) and "Nita Gitana" (Newton). They served to reveal a baritone! voiceof exceptional quality, well trained arid well handled. Mr Baines was loudly encored; and responded, with "Eyes that used, to Gaz&. in Mine" and "Home Love." . Altogether the concert was a. distinct success. Mr H. E. Gunter again considerably assisted the evening's enjoyment by his rare gift of realising the true mission of an accompanist; Miss Gaustad was again the Society's discerning pianist; and Mr T ; Kitchen led the orchestra, being occasionally heard to advantage in pretty little bits of solo work. The smooth running of the arrangements also, as of yore, revealed the experienced hand of the secretary, Mr H. K. Swallow.

ZEALANDIA HALL. Hayward's new programme drew a packed house last nipht, and the a.udi©nee was not disappointed, for m return it received a, picture entertainment of a quality equal to the exceptional standard set by the management in recent shows and equal to the best shown in any part of New Zealand. The series opened with the launching of the warship Zarra, the first boat built for the coming Australian Squadron. It was a good film. Of the other real life studies, the best was "Winter Sports in Vosges Mountains." . There have been many similar snow pictures, but none to equal this very fine piece of cinematography. Ut the dramatics, a Pathe colour study entitled "Zingari" was an artistic piece of work, while "Don Carlos and lhe Silent Piano" were also two dramas powerfully told. The comics were really good. They included the immortal *oolshead's attempt to appear at home on a pair of roller skates. Only Foolshead could do the things done in very laughable picture, which is comedy of the best kind. The beauty competition finished last evening with a win for J\o. 15. A great "gift" matinee is announced for Saturday afternoon.

KING'S FUNERAL PICTURES. TO-MORROW EVENING. Messrs Thompson and Payne, in coniunction with the Empire Picture Syndicate, will present the'first series of mov-, ing pictures of the King s Funeral_ at, the Opera House to-morrow evening. These films were ordered by special cable, and have only just been landed, so Palmerston will see them simultaneously with picture audiences in the larger centres The picture commences with scenes of the London Stock Exchange during the King's illness, a view outside Buckingham Palace, and a copy of the bulletin which conveyed the news of the King's death. Several incidents between the time of the death and funeral are shown also. The_next scene is one to. be long remembered —that of the draped coffin of the dead Monarch lying on its catafalque in the Throne Room. A long film of the funeral procession follows, m, which are seen many of the crowned heads of Europe. * A melancholy feature of the procession is the favourite horse and dog of the late King following the coffin. The nature of the proccssion makes it a sceno of wonderful interest, and as the picture was taken on n fine day all the details are shown with remarkable clearness. . THE KING'S FUNERAL. The Mascotte Picture Company will on Monday and Tuesday night of next week present for the first, time to a Palmerston audience a complete picture film of our late. King's funeral. Their picture" will be shown in its entirety. Among the many features of interest in the picture are included the late King's favourite dog led l?y a Highlander, and sailors from H.M. warships taking the body of his late Majesty to its final refit-

ing place., Another? feature "in- this' great..: "procession;,shows the great sympathy of ; the civilised world, as evidenced by tho gathering of Kings and Princes. representing practically, every country in Europe. In addition to the star film a programme of pictures entirely new- to Palmerston will be shown. Full particulars of which will be advertised in Saturday's edition.