ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17571, 9 September 1920, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

. MADAME LEED HAM-CROWE

The pianoforte recital promoted by Madame !The pianoforte recital promoted number of Leedham-Crowe attracted a fair number of music-lovers to the Town Hall concert chamI ber last evening. Various schools of com- , position were successfully exploited by the recitalist during the evening, and in the course of the interpretation the pianist's skill in memorising was extensively drawn upon. Madame Leedham-Crowe's methods are hap- ' pily free from ostentation, though there is an occasional placidity about ner playing , which, detracts somewnat trom the weighty eaect of the lortissunos and stronger j climaxes. Nevertheless, her technique is umtormly clear and ample, and the more poetic side of her renaerings, as exemplified in deftly-angered passage- ranging over tiie. ueyooard is never in question. Her left hand agility is unusually iree and brilliant, while in general her more engrossing etlects are secured without apparent enort. The recitalist' outstanding contributions were ' Beethoven's great " Appassion-ta " Sonata and Chopin's wonderiuliy conceived " Ballade " in G Minor. Her deft fingers were ', well suited in trie first movement of the > sonata, and the elaboration of the main ; theme was highly interesting. The " variai tion " section was very well done, while the i clearness of the passage playing in the final S movement was adequately conveyed. The I Chopin "'Ballade" showed undoubted gilts of interpretation and was warmly applauded. A dainty treatment was accorded Sibelius' " Valse Triste." and the composer's own ' clever " Barcarolle " was invested with a ' charm all too fleeting. The remaining 1 solos by Madame Leedham-Crowe were 1 Samt-Saens' Caprice on some Airs de i Ballet, from Giuck's operas, and the clos- ' ing "Inquietude" (Pfeifier). The recital j also introduced Miss Violet Dennis in a ' series of vocal contributions which were ] mainly acceptable in a high degree. Miss | Dennis possesses a voice of mezzo-soprano ! quality, and a pleasant platform 'style. i Miss Dennis sang with intelligence, and . scored principally through her commendi able enunciation. Her closing numbers . were much better sung than those on the J earlier part of the programme, and here [ she enlisted the warm interest of the , audience. Miss Dennis' French songs, ~ " Elegie " and " Ouvre Tes Yeux Bleus." were interpreted with chaste diction, while Madame Leedham-Crowe's " Lans Mortis," and Haydn's "The Spirits' Song," rroved , more sombre fare. Miss Dennis was very successful in Saint-Saens' aria from Act 11. of, " Samson and Delilah," " Spring's a" Lovable Ladye " (Elliott). and " Sing, Joyous Bird " (Montague Phillips). In the domain of accompanist, Madame Leedham- . Crowe was invariably artistic. ! DRAMATIC RECITAL. i An enjoyable dramatic and humorous rei cital was given by the pupils of Miss Ruby j Palmer and Mi-:.s \eia ZiniHi. in i,, t>r .... . u L brary Hall last r-\-<yn:ris b"f<>r.- an a;,prV"i iative audience. A feature of the evening was the graveyard scene from " Hamlet," in which Miss Helen Seibrook appeared as

Hamlet. Miss Maud Morrin as Horatio, Miss Winifred Crosher and Miss Phyllis Brown as the gravediggers. Miss Margaret Trafford was warmly applauded for her musical mono'ogne " An Old Romance," while Miss Winifred Crosher gave an effective character sketch "On Strike." Miss Helen Seabrook was heard to advantage in a dramatic recital, " Paul Revere's Ride." and Mips Dorothy Hobday's contribution " The Death of Minnehaha," also proved very popular. " Party Politics." a children's sketch, was effectively staged by a number of pupils. Recitations were given by Misses R'.-dla Zahara. Phyllis Brown, Joyce Crosher, Eileen Lilburne, and Joyce Mansell and Cedric Zahara. Humorous sketches were given by Miss Nora Hagen and Mis 3 Valda Adnmson. while Misses Elfreda Hall and Joyce Mansell gave an entertaining humorous duet. The assisting artists were Miss Lynda Murphy and Messrs. C. Prime and J. Costello. BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA. The third concert of the setson of the Bohemian Orchestra will be held in the Town Hall this evening. The programme includes from the- masters and instrumental items to be given by Messrs. G. Poore, J. Jackson and F. Amodeo. Mrs. Cyril Towsey will be the vocalist and Mr. Cyril Towsey the accompanist.