AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14849, 28 November 1911, Page 8

AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS

SECOND ANNUAL FESTIVAL.

RECORD ENTRIES.

THE FIRST DAY'S : WORK.

For an organisation less than two years of age, the Auckland Competitions Society has achieved a remarkable success. Its second annual carnival opened yesterday with a number of entries constituting a record for the Dominion. The total is 1960, and this exceeds by 640 the number received for the competitions held last year. The executive has drafted a programme covering 12 days, and comprising several special occasions which, by including collections of the best performances, will afford the public every. benefit possible in the way of entertainment. The society is offering a very large sum in prizes, and it has on its list what is reputed to be the most valuable prize ever given at a festival of the kind. This is a piano,, valued at £140, to be awarded to be the best amateur pianist. This fine trophy hats naturally attracted a large number of competitors, and the 40 who have entered have been divided into four groups, who will play on different days. In order to obtain the most satisfactory judging possible, it was decided to bring two Australian judges to Auckland,• and the society selected Professor Ives and Mr. J. H. Hopkins, of Melbourne, the former to judge the musical sections, and the latter for the elocutionary competitions. Unfortunately, the judges; having deferred their departure till the last moment possible, were delayed by the exigencies of the Sydney service, and did not arrive in time to take up their duties at the opening of the competitions. The executive was able to make satisfactory temporary arrangements. Mr. Harold 1 Gregson undertook to judge the vocal and instrumental music, and Mr. Leo dc Chateau the elocutionary items in the meantime, to the extent of making a selection from the main body of the competitors. The competitors themselves met the situation in the most liberal way, and unanimously approved of this arrangement. Mr. Gregson was somewhat apprehensive, having regard to the fact that the competitors included one of his own pupils, and desired that he should not be required to adjudicate upon his work. The rest of the competitors, however, agreed among themselves not to allow anything of the sort to interfere with the progress of the competitions, and the judge was very pleased with the evidence thus given of a good spirit of sportsmanship.

The daylight hours were given over to reducing the number of competitors in large classes. The numerous performances had a certain popularity, and there was a fair •attendance at His Majesty's Theatre. In the evening the small groups of competitors thus selected repeated their performances before a large audience. The evening came on without any sign of the Sydney steamer, and Mr. Gregson carried through the judging of the music. The elocutionary tests had to be left as they stood at the evening adjournment, as Mr. de Chateau had to go South and they will be concluded before Mr. Hopkins.

r THE OFFICIAL OPENING. / ■~ .■ . A CITIZENS' AFFAIR. A brief official opening ceremony was held in the afternoon at His Majesty's Theatre. " • • : . ' " : \ "• The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) expressed pleasure in opening the society's second carnival. The perfection and completeness of the arrangements were a matter upon which the executive and officials were to be congratulated. There had been, inevitably, certain small : and perhaps irritating hitches during the first carnival, but they would, no doubt, be completely overcome in the present one. Such competitions undoubtedly exercised a great benefit in the community by raising the standard of musical taste and elocutionary art. Competitors came from all parts of the Dominion. It was his desire to see the competitions bring further branches of art within its scope, ;to the end that Auckland should become the Mecca of music in New Zealand.' , . Mr. C. Hudson, chairman of the executive committee, after thanking the Mayor for his presence, said that the success of last year's competitions had justified the extension of the programme to cover .a much longer season this year. The society had received 1950 entries as against 1320 last year, and water mark had not by any means been reached. :; The number of entries in the- vocal competitions had not been, as large as might be desired, but the entries in the pianoforte sections showed a gratifying increase, in some cases as much as fourfold. Dr. W. C. W. McDowell spoke briefly, and stated that the sooner it was understood that no. private benefit underlay the competitions the better. . The executive represented the leading musical and elocutionary societies, and •the educational authorities of Auckland. The competitions last year had been a great success, and this year .there was promise of one still greater. He hoped the citizens would recognise that this was their affair, and would afford the competitions the support thev deserved as a means of benefiting the city. . - The Mayor then declared the competitions opened," and referring to \ a remark by Mr. .Hudson. regarding the small aid given by the City Council, he stated that last year a grant of £5 was made, and this year the Council donated £25. It must bo remembered that the Council had many claims upon its generosity, and that many of the councillors held the view that they could not give from the city funds for the assistance of outside affairs over which they had no control. He wished the competitions such success that there would be no need at all to ask the Council for any assistance in the future.

VOCAL SOLOS. SOPRANO AMATEUR CLASS. \ ' The soprano solo amateur class drew ten competitors, for whom the test piecewas " Orphens with his Lute" (Sullivan). This proved in most cases rather an uninteresting song, but its sting lay in its tail, which completely floored several or the ladies, and very few" of them seemed quite sure which way it ought to go. The following were the competitors : —Misses Letitia Gardiner (New Lynn), A. White (Mt, Eden), L. Sill, (Mount Roskill). V. Murdoch (Devonport), B. Price (Wellington). L. Matthews (Ponsonby). E. Brooke-Smith (Parnell), C. Fray (Kingsland), A. Laver (Ponsonby), M. Coleman (Devonport).. The singers chosen to ap- . pear in the evening were Misses L. Gardiner (New Lynn), A. White (Mount. Eden), B. Price (Wellington), C. Fray (Kingslahd), and M. Coleman (Devonport). .The following was the award :— Miss L. Gardiner, 81 marks ... ... 1 Miss A. White, 69 marks . ... ... 2 Miss M. Coleman, 67 marks ...;.. 3 The judge remarked that Miss Gardiner gave a fine performance. The faults indicated were "poor attack, 7 a slightly defective mezzo voce, and an inclination for the voice to be produced too openly. Miss White's singing was rather 'throaty, and her diction was faulty. Miss Coleman's breathing was' defective, and her diction, not perfect, and she showed a tendency to throatiness and to sing sharp. " - BARITONE. . . The baritone solo was Hatton's "To Anthea," one of those simple, easy things that demand great ability to perform well.

Messrs. N. Howe (Mount \ Eden), R. Dellow (Mount Eden), M. Orchard (Devonport), P. W. Powell (Waihi), E. MacCormick (Auckland), W. Ellis (Auckland), P. Lee (Auckland), R. Powell «(Bay of Islands), F. Bourke (Farneli), H. Piper (Ponsonby), F. Livingstone (Onehunga), C. Carr (Ponsonby)/ C. Cutler (Ponsonby) competed. Messrs. Dcllow, Orchard, P. W. Powell, P. Lee, and F. Bourke were chosen to reappear. The judge's award was:—' ■:■' ■ M. Orchard, 77 marks ... ... ... 1 R. Dellow, 75 marks ... ... ... 2 P. W. Powell, 74 marks ... ... 3 OPERATIC TENOR. The operatic tenor solo was a disappointing class, calling out only four singers, and none of exceptional merit. The song chosen was Gounod's " Lend .Me Your Aid." The following was the award :— F. Adeano (Ponsonby), 77 marks ... 1 T. Johnstone (Auckland), 70 marks... 2 E. Dennis (Stanley Bay), 69 marks ... I Mr. R. Rogers (Ponsonby) also sang. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. % PIANO SOLO— 18. Beethoven's 18th Sonata was the tes piece for the amateur piano solo class, fo performers over 18. and the folkwin ladies competed -.—-Misses Elizabeth Mc Laren (Dunedin), Dorothea Taylor (Re muera), Ida Walker (Ellerslie), Rose Yate (Auckland). Lvdia Martyn (Mount Eden] T. A. Martin (Ellerslie), Nina Coates (Mata kohe), M. Carey-Wallace (Invercargill) Marjorie Lusher (Auckland), Jessie Wei ster (Ponsonby), Hope Cornwell (Pon sonby), Rita Land (Mount Eden). Th "trying-out" process occupied four hour* and the judge selected Misses Yates, Mc Laren, Lusher, and Webster to play agai in the evening. The second performance were given in pairs, and thus divided wer much enjoyed by the audience, all fou ladies playing the sonata in a finished style The following was the award of the judge: Miss R. Yates, 73 marks ... .- .;. 1 Miss E. McLaren, 70 marks ... , ... £ Miss M. Lusher, 69 marks ... ... 3 Commenting upon the performances. Mr. Gregson paid that" that of Miss Yates showed evidence of reserve power and the possession of temperament, and was generally musicianly. Miss McLaren lost tone by sitting too jar from the piano. Her style and execution were good, especially in the finale, but her performance had too many blemishes to merit the first prize. Miss Lusher's playing was inclined to bo mechanical and her tone a little hard. FLUTE SOLO. .■'•/■' Four soloists . gave the flute solo "Serenade" (Ernest Kohler). The awards were :— . S. Moren (Takapuna), 82 marks ... 1 F. Hoffman (Ponsonby), 76 marks ... 2 C. Swallow (Auckland), 70 marks ... 3 Mr. W. Maberley (Auckland) was the fourth performer. ELOCUTION. DRAMATIC RECITAL-MEN. There were 10 competitors in the dramatic .recital class for men. This class was j open only to those who had never taken a I fee for a performance or won a prize at a competition. Each competitor choso his own piece. Mr. de Chateau found that the competitors had stuck to "old favourites" in the choice of their selections, and to a time-honoured ctyle in delivery, but the performances were in general good. He selected five to go before Mr. Hopkins. They and their selections were : Mr. H. Borradale (Auckland), " Ballad of Splendid Silence ;" Mr.: A. Tressider (Onehunga), "Julius Caesar;" Mr. E. Armstrong (Auckland), "Gunga Din;"■■ Mr. S. • Ferguson. (Thames), " Trouble in the Amen Corner;" and Mr. J. McAneny (Devonport), "My Lady's Leap." ;».■-•"• . ' .. ,' . -■ .';.'■•' i ' "The other competitors* were : -Mr. Harrison (Auckland), " Mark Antony's Address;" Mr. E. Ward (Avondale), "Old Farmer Gray Gets Photographed;" Mr. J. Deveson (Auckland), " Ballad, of Splendid Silence Mr. A. Banks' (Leigh), " Harry;" Mr. S. Saulbrey (Ngaruawahia), "Eve of Waterloo. SHAKESPERIAN RECITAL— A very attractive class was the Shakesperian recital for ladies. Ten competitors delivered the test selections, Juliet's speech from s Hamlet beginning, " Shall I Speak 111 of Him. That is My Husband and Portia's well-known speech on mercy. The competitors were : Misses M. Carte (Wellington), May Bain (Auckland); B. Cooper (Epsom), Hartley (Ponsonby), ;M. Kelly (Devonport), B. ; Purdom (ParneD), !M. Carey-Wallace (Invercargill), Arnold (Wellington), , Mrs. J. Armitage 1 (Devonport), and Mrs. Tate (Mount Roskill). Several of the performances , were of much, merit, and six "wero, selected as worthy of further consideration, the ladies being Misses M. Carte, May Bain, Z.*Bartley,;B. Purdom. and Arnold, and; Mrs. Tate, ,"

TODAY'S PROGRAMME.

FINALS IN THE EVENING.

The programme of competitions for today includes as its principal item the first section. of the solo pianist recital class; for the £140 piano presented by the English and Foreign Piano Agency. There f are 41 competitors in the class, and the names have accordingly ; been divided ; into four sections. To-day's list contains 10. : The music ' for " the : competition is, '"; (a) Beethoven's " Grand Sonata in A , flat;" Op. 26; (b) Chopin's walte, Op. 64, No. 1. The other competitions will include the bass solo (" Hybrias the Cretan"), sacred soprano solo ("Had I Jubal's Lyre"), and the B flat cornet > solo. These classes .will be taken in His Majesty's Theatre. ■ . '; The elocutionary section will be performed in. the Y.M.C.A. Hall, and. 'will comprise a Shakespereari recital for men, a humorous recital . for,;. ladies (own selection), and a debate on.the question, The Yellow Peril: Is it Real ?" In the evening a programme of finals will again, be held in His Majesty's Theatre, in addition to classes for which there are a few entries only—the piano duet- under 16, and the operatic contralto solo. The humorous recital for men (own selection), with, eight entries, will also be taken. ■-.