ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12241, 9 April 1903, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A MUSICAL event of considerable interest will take place to-morrow evening at the above theatre, when a sacred and classical concert will be given, whioh will include Rossini's "Stabat Mater." The principal soprano work of this favourite oratorio will be rendered by Madame Lilian Tree, an artist who ha? achieved the highest honours in her profession, and who is now sojourning in Auckland, where she has for some time past been surrounded by a number of pupils, to whom she has been most successfully imparting a musical education. Miss Maud Tobias (a debutante and pupil of Madame Tree) will essay the contralto solos and concerted portions of this beautiful work. Mr. Frank Graham, the eminent English tenor, will sing the tenor solos, and Mr. Rupert Mantell will be the bass. A large orchestra and chorus will be under the efficient direction of Mr. Arthur Towsey. In addition to the oratorio, the • following choice selections will bo rendered in the first portion of the programme:— Lilian Tree will sing Mendelssohn's " Ave Maria," with violin obligate by Miss Doris Boult. Mr. Mantell ill sing "It is Enough" (Mendelssohn); Miss Maud Tobias will sing "There is a Green Hill far Away" iGour.od) ; Mr. Frank Graham will sing "If With All Your Hearts" (Mendelssohn); Mr. Wilfred Manning will sing "'Thou Art Passing Hence" (Sullivan); and the violin solos, Raff's " Cavatina" and -Visuxiemp's "Reverie" will be rendered by Miss Doris Boult. The concert will commence at a quarter-past eight. WESTMINSTER ABBEY GLEE AND CONCERT PARTY. The public—both those who had and those who had not heard the Westminster Abbey Glee and Concert Party at their two previous concerts—were evidently very numerously determined to bo present at the final concert, which was given last night at the Opera House. The theatre was full to overflowing in all parts, many people paying merely to stand or sit in the aisles. This, on the third 'night, bore testimony eloquent enough to the fast hold the gifted company's performance had taken upon their auditors' esteem. The many scores of disappointed ones who could not gain admission to the theatre missed a rare musical treat, tho programme presented being so charming, varied, and rich in vocal tit-bits that it formed an entertainment enjoyable to a degree and one to bo long remembered. Many of the old ditties, glees, and part-songs roused half - forgotten memories in the minds of those in front, who so appreciated the efforts of the artistes as to forget to spare them. Thus it fell out that with an original programme of 14 secular numbers and an anthem no less than 13 encore numbers, were given— other words, the audience were indulged with Wo concerts in one. The concerted numbers, all of which were most artistically rendered, and those by the full company sounding at times like a rich-toned organ, were "Foresters, Sound the Cheerful Horn" (Sir Kerry Bishop), "0 Hush Thee, My Baby" (Sullivan), a group of three old Scottish melodies—" Allister McAllister," "Charlie is my Darling," and '" The Blue Bells of Scotland" (arranged by Dr. Vincent), " In Those Delightful Pleasant Groves" (Pureell), Poor Thomas Day"— catch (Harrington), by request—and "The Dance," vocal waltz (Vogel). The encores to these were "Take Thy Banner" (Coward), "Dawn of Day" (Reay), Gentle Spring" (Wilson), "Sweet and Low" (Barnby), by special request, and '" 'Twas You, Sir" (Mornington). The anthem was one of Sir Arthur Sullivan's, its singing making a deep impression. Madame Marie Ilooton, whose beautifully-trained voice and charm of manner appealed strongly to her delighted listeners, gave two old Scottish songs, " Oh, Can Ye Sew Cushions" and "The Laird V Coekpen." Both were supplemented, the one with " Good Morrow, Gossip Joan," and the other with Welsh's " Tho Ash Grove." Madame Hooton also, in conjunction with Mr. Edward Branscombo, gave the duet, "It Was a Lover and His Lass" (Walthew), the hist verse being repeated in response to an appreciative encore. Mr. Branscornbo's opening contribution was Rcichardt's weirdly-melodious song, " Tears of Anguish," sung with vocal accompaniment by the other gentlemen of tho party. This was a gem of vocal work, as was the encore number, an old German folk song, also given with 1 vocal accompaniment. Mr. Branscombe was next heard in an exquisitely feeling rendering of the favourite Scotch ballad, " Mary of Argyle," following with the encore number, "Ailsa Mine." Mr. Percy Coward (alto) sang with great taste and expression the old Irish song, "Oft in the Stilly Night." He was loudly encored, and submitted a fine reading of " I'll Sing Tlieo Songs of Araby." Master Leonard Hubbard was warmly recalled for his sweet singing of Dr. Arne's old English song, "When Daisies Pied," and gave as an encore a beautiful rendering of Cowen's solo/ "Tho Swallows." Prior to the last item on tho programme Mr. Edward Branscoinbe came forward and in a few wellchosen words expressed on behalf of his party and himself their keen appreciation of the reception accorded to them in this city. He announced that at the close of their tour they might be able to return and give a farowell concert in Auckland, and if this should be so they would gladly welcome the opportunity of so doing. The hearty applause which greeted this little speech "gave testimony to the cordial spirit of appreciation set up by the party's brief series of performances in their auditor?'' minds. We feel it due to the gifted artistes concerned to remark that their visit has been a true source of pleasure to concertgoers, that thev have taught us many tilings of value in the art of singing, and that they leave a blank in our musical world by their departure. DIN'S GAIETY COMPANY.

. The attractive programme at the City Hajl attracted an enthusiastic audience last evening. The bill is a thoroughly varied one. Mr. Frank Graham, the tenor; Arnoldi, the juggler; Miss Emmie Smith, coon singer; Mr. Charles Howard, the favourite descriptive vocalist; little Miss Vera Kearns, the clover little dancer and comedienne; Mr frank Yorke and Mr. J. Kearns, two popular comedians; Miss Annctta Bodin, the Sisters Gilardi, the Sisters Smith, Professor Schmidson, and the popular soubrctto and dancer, Miss Ida Roslyn, form a strong and decidedly varied company. WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. A special meeting was held yesterday afternoon in the Central Mission Hall, to welcome home Mrs. and Miss Dewar, who went as delegates to the convention at Dunodin, from the Auckland and O'liehunga Unions respectively. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mrs. Dewar for her very interesting and clear report. Afternoon tea was served. STEELE-PAYNE BELLRINGERS. This popular combination, which appears in a grand sacred concert at the Opera House to-morrow night, comes with a reputation of long standing, for the Payne Family is very widely and favourably known throughout Australasia. Six members (four ladies and two gentlemen) constitute this company, and between them easily manage to present a bill of fare of wide diversity, and one that is uniformly acceptable. Miss Lizzie Payne (now Mrs. Steele), who was in the stage life of her father, his "right-hand man," scores as well as ever she did, and her efforts alone make tho company's entertainment one of great versatility, while her clever and talented sister, Miss Maude Payne, is sure of a hearty welcome back to Auckland. Miss Agnes Rahilly is a new aspirant for public favour, and is said to be an clocutioniste of a high standard. The other members of tho combination are: Miss Kate Maher, mezzosoprano; Mr. James Williams, basso-pro-fundo; and Mr. Ralph Steele, who are all well known. The programme will consist of sacred part-songs, solos, duets, and trios, recitals, and musical selection on various instruments, including tho bells and glassophone. " THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF THE STAGE." ' " In the Cornhill Magazine for January, the greatest living actress, Madame Sarah Bernhardt, has an admirably-written article under the above title, in which she states: "It is the public which profits the most by the benefits and tho lucrative instruction of the theatre." Madame Bernhardt has hit the right nail on the head when she says that it is the public which profits the most by the instruction of the theatre. For the essence of the drama is .that it deals with human beings in action, not in contemplation. However agreeable an eloquent essay may be in a book, the moment it is put on the stage we cry, "Away with it; it is undramatic." For the drama concerns itself chiefly with what is of importance to the average man, i.e., action, and not with reflection, which is the more important to.the scholar and philosopher. The test of a masterpiece is that it pleases all three classes of spectators—the intellectual, by its justness of observation and its subtlety of thought; the'sentimental, by its tenderness and feeling; and the crowd, by ■ its variety and strength. These conditions are fulfilled in a marvellous manner by the dramas written .by Mr., Walter. Melville, the best of whose works, entitled " The Worst Woman in Loadon," will be staged by the Anderson Dramatic Company on Saturday night.-