ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13762, 29 May 1908, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S. Thk last two performances of the popular pantomime "Cinderella" are announced by the John F. Sheridan Company, the first taking place this evening, and theother to-morrow afternoon. To the latter performance the members of the Veterans' Home have been invited, while each child present will receive a toy. To-mor-row evening "The Earl and the Girl," a musical comedy,- which has proved very popular wherever it has been staged, will be put on, Mr. Sheridan. and Miss Heba Barlow taking the leading parts. . - ST. DAVID'S CHURCH. A concert in aid of the erection of new classrooms for the- Young Men's and Young Women's Bible Classes, in connection with St. David's Church, Khyber Pass Road, was given in the .Sunday-school Hall last evening. There was a large attendance. The programme submitted was an excellent one, and found much favour- with the : audience, who demanded numerous encores. The contributors were Misses M. Webbe and E. Moon, Heir Krcutzer, and the Lyric Quartette (Messrs. Asninall, Blakeley, McElwr.m, and Ryan). "Mrs. Neave acted as accora•wnist. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the performers. The founda-tion-stone of the now classrooms will bo laid on Saturday. June 6. SACRED CANTATA. At St. Matthew's Church last night Ascension Day was marked by the performance of Mr. J- H. Phillpot's sacred cantata, "The Ascension." There was a large attendance. The work, which formerly was annually presented mi. St. Paul's Church, was listened to for the first time on this occasion in St, Matthew's, where the coinposer is now organist and choirmaster. It contains tome very fine and effective partsinging, and displays ample signs of having been carefully written. There is an introductory symphony for organ, after which follow ■"chorales," quartettes, recitatives, solos, and choruses, besides an intermezzo. The cantata concluded with a fine chorus, "Thou Art Gone Up On High." which terminates with a fugue (which every work ot the kind with anv pretensions should contain). The exposition of this fugue is admirably treated. The subject is given out by the basses, followed by the tenors and altos, and. after an episode of two bars, finally by the sopranos. This is followed by the usual stretto, making a fitting finale to an excellent musical work. With the composer at the organ, good effects were ! gained last night by the choir 6F70 voices, including 20 boy choristers, who displayed the results of good training. The .soloists were Mrs. C. Rouse (soprano), Miss Gladys Robinson (contralto), Messrs.' G. " Howe (tenor) and E. Rescue (bass). T1;»V acquitted themselves well both in their individual numbers -and in the quartettes. It is intended to perform the cantata in future each Ascension Day. ~ ORGAN RECITAL. At St. Andrew's: Presbyterian Church last evening, Mr. W. T. Sharp gave the second organ recital on the splendid instrument .recently erected in. the church.. There was a large audience, and the organist's efforts were fully appreciated. Miss Blanche Garland lent valuable assistance, and. her charming vocalisation left a most favourable impression. The choice of instrumental items was varied Randano's dainty "Chant du Paysan,' for instance, was contrasted with* the "Marche Funebro,"' adapted from Chopin's pianoforte Sonata. Numbers that occupied a prominent place in the regard of the audience were the well-known " Turkish Patrol," played by ; special request, and " The Storm" (Lefe-bure-Wely), and amongst other items were a selection from Mendelssohn's Sonata No. 1, Grand Offertoiro in D (Batiste) and March in D Major (Best). Miss Garland's singing was thoroughly appreciated, her rendering of "O; Divine Redeemer," being particularly pleasing. Miss .Garland also, sang "Crossing the Bar," "and was equally successful in this number.