ENTERTAIMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17486, 2 June 1920, Page 5

ENTERTAIMENT.

SERTRUDE JOHNSON CONCERTS. The ls.rge and enthusiastic audience which intended the concert chamber of the Town Sail last night to hear the first: of tha Fohnson-Hunt concerts went far to -prop, ;he widespread interest taken in 'musical, inures of rara merit. Miss Gertrude Jdfcqion's remarkable successes gair#d diwihgfh* recent visit of the J. C. WiUianifoii jfaad }pera Company h>wd evidently not been orgottan, and her many admirers paid her ribute" after tribute of admiration as the>riilisnt young soprano astonished and Weighted everyone in a programme •o«<"<:ai»* ivating operatic and Pallid numi>y'a. Speaking generally, the "test of concert, ilatform may be considered severer, than' hat of the operatic stage, find it is to kiss Johnson's credit that she came through ast night's ordeal with' such conspicuous lUccese, Her voice was delightfully, jres'u md clear in. si', its registers, ana its reHeritable clarity in the Read voice a 'socrr<s - ;f never-ending delight to. the listener; Miss - ohnson's facile vocal management in fioi-id >assiges was of enviable excellence, yhde ■ the well-judged tone /-rttftnitions were achieved with - ease I'he soprano ma-!© a permanent impression n her opening recit. "E Strata". and wia "Ah fore o lui" from Vsrdi's'- "La Fraviata." Hera the expressive buoyancy of ;he voioe was exhibited to the full. ••• the irilliant passages being delivered with stiik,ng facility. Th? head notes rang out-puie is violin harmonics a culminating sensation win? made as the E flat in alt. ,• -van roiced in the closing measures. .A double scall-resulted, Miss Johnson contributing as 'extras" the playful "Saper Vorreste" from Audi's "Un Ballo in Mojche.'a" ad Bat en 3'. 'April Morn." The more aesthetic aid-} of' .' ier art was shown in the delicate interprets-• ions of I> Irak's " Songs my Mother Taught ' tto" and "Solveig's Song'" (Gries)j- ■-l-iiss,.'.-Tohnson's closing selection was th« lauiana • 'Mad Scene" from "Lucia," and here tho loprano fairly revelled in presenting the . nany vocal difficulties which abound in the sxcerpt. A fine climax was reached in the atter part, where the voice vied with the lute in a breathless series ct phrswsee. Of -he warmth of Miss Johnson's ncopiion hero could be no doubt, and in addition to he recall somes .already mentioned, she conributed a budget of popular favourites, including "The Lass With the Delicate Air.'' 'Waltz Song" from " Borneo and Juliet.''; . itc. Considerable. interest was centred in ' h'» appearance of Mr. Horace Hunt, who was leord for the first time here since his reurn from abroad. Not only is his pianistic kill such that any, composition he niays ,is r , nterpreted with great clearness of detail ana reneral accuracy, but during the years that lave elapsed his artistic perceptions have materially deepened. His ability in developing tho poetic side,of a work,was frequently n evidence last n'sht, and in tlii? rtapect ilore his nlaying showed artistic dentil and nsight. Lint's " Notturno," aud Choi>in's 'Study in F," Op. 23, No. 3, were played nth uncommon finish and attention to the: anal sli'd nrn. Two widely-dissimilar pieces it MaeDowel! were the fantastic " Imoroisition," _ and the gripping " Polonaise," 'hich as it ran its riotous surging course <. ver the keyboard, set forth in many, bars lie stro"T L'"zt influence over th« comorer. Mr. Hunt's portrrV&l of Chopin's.' Scherzo in B F'at Minor." wa 9 of con-' oieuous mer t. The pianist was much in emand. securing double recalls. aid apj.ea.rrs; aaain in- » new budget of solo. One f these, a " Nocturne " for the led banc, lone, by Serisbine, was of arresting in-, srest. Mr. Charles Russel* in hi* fluteclos. " Scherbo Capriccio " 'Sabathil) acid Gvo»v levels " (German), displayed technial brilliancy and tonal accuracy. Ilia solos rere mif-h enioyed and he was warmly snored. Mr. Eric Waters, as accomppoi?t. , •a.3 invariably in syrupatljy with the soloist. '* "he next concert wii! lie given on Thursday venin;. ACTION SONG ENTERTAINMENT. To-morrow evening a performance will K> iven in the Town Hall by the action song-,-erformers tra:reri by Mr. L. E. F&lkner, fho ha.» provided many original items'. oine of the leading features are: "A Rai'-■ay-Journey to ' Wellington." "Fairyland." Dolls for 'Sale," " Nursery Rhymes." Handkerchief Exercises," " Fairy Roels," cd " Watersprita." These items will he " ipplementcd -pith & miscellaneous and varied rogramme. OPERA HOUSE. An attractive vaidovil'.e programme, is at tne Opera House th ; -. week wen! new artists appear: An additional latmeo v-ill be given t/>-a:orrow afternoon. " OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS. - Flaneur and hi<s clover dogs appear at th« • fternoon and evening fcssioiis 'st tlvi Tinccss Theatre. "Th, Wcteniesa Ttm!" and tlu> Sunshin? Dmedy. 'Chicken a la CsUret," are lrtip" ;reoned at tho Natioi al Theatre. " " _Kitty irordon i& peeu in a dramatic S'ai , The Unveiling Hard," at nlfe Gwi>j heatro. • Hayakawa, takes tho leading ro'o ; 3 "The Illustrious p-inoo" at the Lyyi,. '-' hoatre. ; f '"?he Brorble Bush" heads the attractive rogvamiiie at the Que.;n'a Tliostro this w«k. ' , A Fortune at Stake is «'?«.re<l at the ' trend llicatro. There 13 a good Biipp^runif" rogramme. ' " ; A thrilling drama. "We Can't Have Evorr- ». • hnftre W C '"°' at^ act ' <m *' the.Tiroli" '.' "Eye* of the Soul.',' featuring beautiful • is .* Ferguson, is b&ms screened! at Evervsoy s Theatre. *>■< k , "Faith" and copter, fourteen of "Wolves '*■ ? Kultur are two i:ems"(u tho Globs neat re. . \ .