ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14868, 20 December 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS .

HANDEL'S "MESSIAH." AN INSPIRING OCCASION. ; The great auditorium of the grand concert chamber of the, new Town Hall was a vast sea of faces, reaching to the remotest corners of the building last night, when the; Auckland Choral Society ushered in its 1911-12 musical season in a manner without precedent in the musical annals of this city. The oratorio underlined was Handel's perennial favourite, " The Messiah," a work whose popularity, remains undiminished as successive Yuletides come and go. " Never before in the : history of the society.had such an 'interest been displayed in its productions, as , was the case with this first concert ; under notice. The new concert hall, the fact that at. least three of- the 'soloists engaged, were of Australian reputation, as well as the 1 augmented chorus and orchestra; all combined to create an unparalleled interest." The dense audience, which included 5 His Excellency the Governor, was, critical, yet enthusiastic when its admiration was stirred, as the hearty applause which from time to time punctuated the j proceedings, proved. ;" y,- : - ■ "'■"'.''",' '".'"

To Miss Zara Wolinski, a Sydney soprano, of musical fame, was entrusted the task of interpreting the many recitatives and, airs ,'. which abound throughout the work. Her voice iB brilliant rather than sympathetic, and, moreover, possesses a good carrying power. ; Her readings were' evidently' the outcome of careful '■' study, ; and r mUch ,; understanding' of the task in hand. _ Her opening set of four recitatives, beginning" with " There were , Shepherds,' a were cleanly given, and showed variety of treatment. ~A » plastic tone quality was evidenced in .the florid ; aria, ;:• "Rejoice, Greatly," which was in 1 itself sufficient test of vocal efficiency. - "■ The smooth vocalisa-1 tion employed in " Come unto Me," was* allied to an", " expressive interpretation. " How Beautiful are the Feet," was some-" what mechanical : in ; treatment, - and more - ] might have been made of its possibilities. Miss W.olinski made a good impression in I her phrasing of'the beautiful air, "I' Know That My Redeemer Liveth," ' though it-! cannot be said that the voicing of. the..] word "liveth "in the style of the,ending I of a recitative sentence improved the artis-I tic effect. Miss Wolinski's v enunciation ■ was . generally free from faults,- and ! throughout she displayed much •;* intelligence and grip of the more subtle portions' of her work. , >• -' ■■: ; ' , •

Miss Adelaide • Bruce - was • set down for the contralto. numbers. In ■ her 0 pening recitative '."Behold, a Virgin' "■ Shall Conceive, ' the _ impression was con- ( * veyed that her voice would not be heavy, enough for the solos, and" the result was rather disappointing. Though the tone quality on the. lower notes of the ensuing aria, " 0 Thou that Tellest," was rather light, the music was sung with earnestness and a full appreciation of the text. After the recitative, . "Then } Shall the Eyes of the Blind," Miss Bruce put ! forward much temperament in;-, her fine phrasing : and clear diction of * the favourite; "He Shall Feed His .Flock.''' In this number she reached a, highatand-, ard, and : was warmly applauded. .. The pathos and grief of ''He was Despised" were artistically conveyed by Miss Bruce, who displayed musical judgment in every bar. - - . ■' -.-,.. ■ •-..«•' v.... '

Mr. Joseph . Wolinski (tenor), * also en- • gaged If dm Sydney, proved that he is an agreeable singer, ana the possessor of a musical' tenor voice, which has been carefully cultivated. His upper 'registersin' particular has good penetrative quality, and j there is no apparent forcing of the higher tones. ; The tenor gave :an easy treatment of the recitative, "Comfort Y»,' while the following aria, Every Valley Shall be f Exalted, ,v : was rendered in a suave and flexible style. His recitative, "Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart," : and the. air I" Behold, and. See if there be* any Sorrow," leading up to the air, " But Thou Didst not; Leave His Soul in Hell," .'were; capably ;* sung, I while -the aria itself was creditably enunciated. Mr. Ernest i Parkes : was entrusted ;■ with ■ the onerous -task of singing the-bass solos, which, though not numerous, are of suffi- •• cient difficulty to disconcert any but the - most ' experienced and highly-trained.: This ; was Mr. p ParkeVa 4 first appearance ; in oratorio, and ; though he showed -. over- # "anxiety •in his first solos, this jfeeling was dispelled as the evening proceeded. Here and there his low: notes lost a little ;in carrying force, but the s general insist, ■ shown, - and ~. the , vigorous ; declamation ? of dramatic' numbers, "But Who: 1 May Abide," and the strenuous "Why do, the : Nations,'' carried . conviction. A fine con- ■ ception was shown in the recitative, " For' Behold! Darkness : .Shall Cover the Earth," and the significance of • the ensuing aria, "The People that Walked in Darkness," was thrown into stronger relief through,the power of :contrast. ,"•'!{-\ ! The 'concerted portions by Miss ; Wolinski, Miss Bruce, Mr. Wolinski, and£Mr. Parkes were effectively given;' and. showed, requisite- balance. ~, ,- ." > ■ ■'. -';. The large choir ,-of ,- some • 300 voices pre- ; sented an impressive spectacle as they rose to sing their choruses. ' AIT worked; well to achieve the desired success, ' and in ? most' instances the result, was inspiring and touched an exalted 1 standards The basses ■ ' were a tower of strength, and over-heavy at' times."' Occasionally, as.in.-&.' chorus like "He Trusted,in- God,"; the sopranos lacked spontaneity and tone-force, • but} on: the whole, there was little to cavil at end, much : to. praise. Few : present .will'probably readily j eradicate the impression made by such choruses as " And " the Glory,": "For Unto Us a" Child is Born," " All We Like Sheep," " The :Lbrd*Gave the Word," and that magnificent paeon of praise, the famous Hallelujah," as it surged through the great concert halL -,-■'•<--.'.-', ;•• "; ■•' At previous concerts by the Choral So j ' ciety ;it has ! not always been possible to' speak• in terms of -praise regarding the orchestra. . This' reproach has at last been removed, and the body of players' at last night's: concert, besides .'being numerically. strong, showed in .the majority of cases that; their inclusion i was justified. The, orchestra at present-comprises"l2 first violins and the same number of • seconds, six violas, four 'cellos, four basses, together with a full complement of brass and; Woodwind ;•' the latter including two bassoons. Dr. W. E. Thomas conducted, and - MissEdith Whitelaw, L.R.A.M., acted in the; capacity of orchestral leader. r.-'...„.;,. ■'; s .. Prior to the commencement of ; the oratorio, a short organ recital, was given upon the great concert organ by Mr. J. Maughan Barnett. ■ His selections consisted •; of■ -» &[ masterly interpretation! of the ■ "Prelude and Fugue in C Minor" (Bach), a' ' highlyfinished portrayal of the romance "Star of, Eve," from Wagner's.. " Tannhauser," and Mr. Barnett's own paraphrase oh Men-. delssohn's Christmas hymn-iuhe ,-?• usually associated with the words "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing."-; Each selection -was highly appreciated' by the huge assembly. who ■ warmly- r applauded 1 the talented organist after each-number. ; , - % **•;; .-.-• 'j:i. i . " The Messiah" will be repeated on Friday evening. ..' '~'";,'.'> !.'';. ;M< v ,' t V', ; ' ... \ \ ■ i ii " i ; i■ . "THE" CHOCOLATE SOLDIER." . it. A delighted audience assembled * at. His Majesty's Theatre " last" evening, when the. second performance of - " The Chocolate Soldier " was given by Mr. J/ C. Williamson's:■) English Comic Opera Company. The brilliant; success of the opening night was repeated. ;: The tuneful and haunting, airs appealed to those present, and .-• frequent demonstrations of •; approval prevailed' throughout the evening. • • "-The ! Chocolate Soldier " will be repeated this evening. The box plan for the' last six; nights of the season opens at eight o'clock this morning at . Messrs. .; Wilctman and Arey's. :; "-v';.-,; . • : i

; KUDDERSFIELD ~/ BEjiftlN GEIIS I! *";,:'/ . , BAND.; . M;/ ;.M'l The famous ' Huddersfield Bellringere' Band begin their season -at the new Town 1 ; Hail on Boxing, Night. r Under the eonductorship of Professor A. TowmendUlie bellringers are said to treat: classical '. compositions ■ with ; perfect r technique. 1 } Besides . high-class; ; f muiic ;; they7':produce,! numerous well-known selections aha plaintive airs, and the varied 1 nature : of the

programme is; in no :sniajt way lie secret of- their' • success 'with -'the public— ringers appearing to bo able to master anything that 'comes their way. Accompanying the beliringers on their tour are two singers, Miss Ella^-Airlio. and Miss Muriel Bennett; The box plan opens this morning at * Wildman and - ;Army's,"' and'' the day sales -are as usual. , ... .;. "'fCHRISTMAS CONCERT. *" l The box plan of the Christmas, concert, to be ; held on Christmas Night in the hew Town Hall, opened yesterday at \Vjldman and Ar'ey's.. |- . Judging by the number of. • '; seats booked already, the concert'promises % .' to be "a marked i success. A programme of v oratorio solos, part-songs, also' organ ■ solos, and other instrumental items will be contributed by .the following well-known artists Madame Chambers,' Signorina *■ ". Do-mehica" Mktinengo/ Mies InVßoew'JM, Messrs, W. T. Sharp, Hamilton .Hodges, •' Wm. Aspmallr J. !W. : Ryan, : Alan ' Mc- 'X % Elwain, and the-Lyric Four. The concert is under the patronage of His Worship the • Mayor,: councillors, Auckland iV Lie'dertafel, , • and Auckland Savage and Orphans' OiJis.

"ti TOWN HALL ORGAN RECITAL. £; Mr. J. Maugham Baraett will give' his fanal organ; recital for the season at the 1 own.Hall this evening. A i popular programme has been arranged; ;.■-.(■'; ..; :%* . "CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND." ",'.' The Children's Fairyland " v was continued last evening at St. Benedict's Hall, the building; being again crowded.V The children of Remuera gave a splendid display, which was much appreciated. The fair will.bo continued this afternoon and evening. '■'■','■' " : -' : -.:"•■■"■■. «p'

- PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS.■ .'.: ; ; A change of programme is to be given at the Adelphi i Theatre this evening. v>> VA large audience assembled at the Opera House;, last f evening, ; ; when; , tH excellent specimens... of moving .pictures delighted those .present.''.!, ;•,..;',.....;'.', ■ '.'■'". -'v.The excellent programme presented'.'at the Newton Picture Palace attracted large numbers 'of people throughout • yesterday. Fuller's Pictures, at the r King's Theatre, were : Wellr patronised last night. ; The "Rob Roy'.';'picture;' with the accompaniment of Scottish airs ? contributed by Piper Chad wick, "■ was particularly I admired. ~ . ,;, The ; new .system-of' colqurmatography, ,presented, at the Lyric Theatre, is a revelation in natural colour pictures. "Chrysanthemums" is a most gorgeous study—in : fact, the' whole' series *is an excellent one. This afternoon; at: the matinee; West's announce their Christmas>. change of*programme. The selection appears a capital one, - and, will include .four coloured studies ;;.'. —A, study, of flowers, French army horses, and a fine drama, by Pathe, " The Law of Mercy." The system of colouring is said to ,be Pathe's latest. ";; " The ; Italian Navy" is \ another film * ! of I interest. ' " Billy, the Kid," is a cowboy story of Western flav- ,L \ our ;"■"Through' Paris on 'the'' Seine," \ and exhibitions 5 of club-swinging.in addition ■;■ to several humorous films, form a splen;did holiday programme. ! .' , fi:ftrA«; :;:'.: Yesterday • *[■ the ii Queen's " f ,- Theatre ■■£• was 1 thronged, the . ; whole of i the ; seven * sessions : being greets:! with prolonged applause -by large and gratified .audiences. •* Summer ,Babies,'' the educational.photograph; study,. dealing with the care of the little ones, is a picture every woman in Auckland •,c6uld\ with advantage 'witness. : u".t ; -' .; ' v At the Empire Theatre a change of picK gramme will be given this evening; " - THE FLYING» ANGEL MISSIONS :TO ' ~ SEAMEN.;; ;si -A most, enjoyable concert was given ; in the" Seamen's .: Institute, Lower Queen- ;. street, last evening, t? when > a large number of seafaring ): men attended. The follow- ; ing ladies " and gentlemen ! took l ■' part :— Mrs. ; Hulse, Miss 'Winn, Mr. R; , Hulse, Mr. Rayndr, and Mr. W. Skemtt The mission'er ; KMr7.;'ArtHM;,P,\,Go'wi^ was in \ attendance, .and . returned thanlaj.'on be* half of the man. .':.■"■ o-. • , r , •' '>:':*,,'.('*'.iiv K'W re r.'.i■ <">i 3.. .■:>.,,at;o</l fet"g/a. (■'.'■.' .■