EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4301, 9 March 1901, Page 5

EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS

“JUDAS MACOABAEUS.” Mr C. D. Mackintosh and the forces under control are to be congratulate, od upon the considerable success of last night’s performance of “Judas Maccabaeus.” The choir, despite the weakness of the tenor division, sang generally with powerful effect, and with a decision of attack and attention to the lights and shades of expression which told of care- : ful training. The singing of Miss Violet Mount in the chief soprano music was ~ naturally one of the features of the evening. Miss Mount’s work showed all the conscientiousness and artistic taste which have gained her such popularity with the Wellington, public. Not did it lack anything in dramatic spirit, notwithstanding that her voice, sweet in - quality though it bo, is somewhat light for the heavy music of oratorio. Her greatest success was in the fine solo ‘'From Mighty Kings.” Miss Winnie Birch, the second soprano, was" colour-' less, but did well in the pastoral duet with Miss Mount, - the “Invocation to Peace.” This was one of the best numbers of the programme. The contralto music was taken by Mrs Mackintosh, whose singing, so far as technique was concerned, was excellent. Mr B. J. Hill’s performance was one of the pronounced successes of the oratorio. The great call to arms of Judas Macoabaeus, “Sound an Alarm,” was delivered with ; surprising declamatory effect, the. audience giving a great hurst of applause at the point where the choir takes up the respouse. <r Wo Hear, We Hear.” Two other fine tenor solos, “Call Forth Thy Powers,’’ and “How Vain the Alan who Boasts in Fight,” were well sung, but in the first of these the accompaniment was not entirely satisfactory. The Rev. A. Mitchell, of Auckland, scored a great success with the martial “Arm, Arm, ye Brave,” sung as it was with stirring effect. Mr Mitchell has a round, full' Voice, and knows how to _ use it. He was heard to advantage in most of his work, despite the fact thaj; ho was suffprpnrr from a sore throat. As has boon indicated, the choruses were excellent. The song’of triumph, “See the Conquering Hero Comes!” had to he repeated. Mr C. D. Mackintosh conducted the oratorio, and Mr W. J. Haxland was at the organ. Wesley Church, where the performance took place, was crowded.

The Dix Gaiety Company p erf armed to a good house at the Theatre Royal last night. The whole of the company,, was well received, encores being; frequeut. "A change of programme is announced for to-night. ... , Fuller's Bijou Company is doing good business at the Choral Hall. Last night’s programme was witnessed by a large audience and was evidently much enjoyed. The usual weekly change will be made this evening. Professor McKenzie will lecture at the New Century Hall to-morrow “ evening on “Psychology, from the Academic Standpoint.” , .... The concert to TbeJ given by Miss Ha>.e - Ccnnell will take place m the Opera House on Thursday. Miss Connell, who is still in her teens, was trained at the , Wellington convent, and made a goo a impression when she appeared at a concert given by convent pupils here, tier remarkably rich soprano voice has much improved since then, and her present tour has been a complete success. it will be remembered that when Miss Connell was awarded the gold medal forAus tralasia of the Royal Academy ofMuslc she scored more ddmn .had At • before been attained in the, colonies. At. the conclusion of the New ZeaW tow Miss Connell will proceed to Australia ~ en route! to Europe. ~ »\