FINE CONCERT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 November 1928, Page 5

FINE CONCERT

PUPILS OF MR LEO BUCKERIDGE

. The concert given by Mr Loo Buekeridge's pupils in the Marsdcn Hull tvas very line indued and the vocal ability .shown by those who took part was a credit both to themselves and to I heir teacher. Mr Buckeridge took u;i his residence in Nelson only a short time ago and this is the iirsfc concert. given by bis pupils. There was a large ;it tendance and the pupils were warmly applauded for eaeli item. The programme was an ambitious one as far as the music was concerned for it included several songs requiring considerable vocal powers to interpret them adequately. The evening was made all the more interesting for the audience by the inclusion of a dramatic reading of a one-act play. The concert opened promisingly with a part sung, "0 who will o'er the Downs" (ile I'earsall). It went very well but the singing was even better in the solos which followed. Mr J. H. Brunt who is a baritone sang "The King's Minstrel" (Pinsuti). As an encore he gave '"Harlequin." A contralto solo, "There is a Green Hill" (Gournod) by Miss Ncalo was the next item. Miss Xeale sang well and in response to the applause gave "In the Silence." Miss Kathleen Simpson possesses a beautiful mezzo-soprano voice and she sang "One Fine Hay" from "Madame Butterfly" (Puccini) with commendable ease and taste. As an encore she sang "Sieiliana" from "Cavaliero Rustieana" (Mascagni). Miss Rees, another lnezzoRoprano, sang "Just Think" (Cecil Moon) followed by "Life's Recompense." Like Mr Blunt she is a pupil who has made great headway in a short while. Mr J. R. Smith is so far the only tenor.that Mr Buckeridge has discovered in Kelson. He sang "Ah Moon of My Delight" (Liza Lehmaim) and a Border Ballad as an encore. Mr 0. R. Criehton who sang "Caro Mio Ben" (Giordani) and "Ring Bells, Ring" (Maude C. Day) has a remarkable" voice—a natural male contralto or alto. He sings exceedingly well.. Mr Howard Knight possesses a baritone voice of pleasing quality and his singing showed that he had it under excellent control. His song on the programme was "The Windmill" (Kelson) but his encore, "Tally-ho," a difficult song, was even more enjoyable. Another contralto in the programme was Miss D. Nightingale. She gave "Sink, Sink, Red Sun" (Riego) and "Salaam" as an encore. The concert concluded with a duet, "What have I to do with Thee" from Elijah sung by Miss K. Simpson and Mr Knight. The dramatic reading was a one-act play from a volume of plays about famous writers by M. M. Frank. "A Mistake at the Mrflior" deals with Oliver Goldsmith and is a delightful little story. Those who read the play acquitted 'themselves and special mention must be made of Master Tom Johnston who acquitted himself well as young Oliver Goldsmith. Mr Buckeridge introduced the play by reading an explanatory note explaining the incident around which it was written. The cast was as follows:—Squire Featherston, a country, gentleman, Mr J. R. Smith; Mrs Featherston, his wife, Miss Every; Grady, a butler, Mr Leo Buckeridge; Molly, a maid, Miss D. Nightingale; Cornelius Kelly, a groom, Mr V. B. Beid; Oliver Goldsmith, aged IS. Master Tom Johnston. A recitation "A few bars in the key of G," was given by Miss Every. It deserved the good applause that it received and as an encore Miss Every recited "Pickett's Xell." another fascinating story in verse. The accompanist throughout the eoncert was Miss Tucker and her excellent work at the piano was of the greatest assistance to all the vocalists. Those who sang in the part song were as follows: —Sopranos, Mrs Rees, Mrs Wood and Miss Kitty Johnston; male contralto. Mr Criehton; tenor, Mr Smith; bases, Mr Howard Knight and Mr Wood.