ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7300, 2 December 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. NOKATAN-TILITZ CONCERT COMPANYThe concert company which opened a short season at the upera iioiuo last evening oompivsCri oingerd who tor tho most part are familiar io New Zealand audiences. They presented a programme oi popular music Unit secured lor them an encouraging reception, and it was no do unithe setecTkm of music which appealed to the people that placed the pertormers eo strongly in the good graces of their hearers. The company hud a big counter attraction at the Town Hall with the “Passion’* performance of the Musical Union, but without this attraction to-night there should he many glad to renew acquaintance with members of the company. Miss Amy Murphy returns from her Australian engagements in the full vigour *of her voice. She has improved in several respects, in. facility of-style and method, and gave ample evidence lost night of cultured training. Always a. welcome figure on the concert platform in ‘Wellington. she was greeted with the utmost cordiality, the graceful compliment of floral offerings being paid her. She selected in the first part the polonaise from "Mignon (Thomas), and in the second "Carmona" (Wilson), both splendidly sung, and to which the requisite dramatic feeling was imparted. Her encore pieces were "O, Hush thee, my Baby’* (Olutsam), and “Homo, Sweet Home,” the two simple melodies striking a • responsive chord. With Mr Walter Whyte (tenor) Miss Murphy sang tho "Trovatoro” prison scene duet-, which stirred the audience to much enthusiasm. Mr Whyte possesses a voice of high range and quality and he created a distinct impression. "A Dream" (Bartlett) and "Annie Laurie" were bracketed pieces for : his introduction, and later he sang "Come into the Garden, Maud," in which he did bo well that a double encore awaited him. "Sally in our Alley" and "Take a pair of Sparkling Byes’* added* to the favourable opinions formed of his singing. Miss Nellie. Black, who is a talented, musician, played ns a violin solo "Romance and Bolero" (Daucla), with "Canzonetta" a*s an encore. Her vocal items were ■ "The Lord is my Light" (Allitsen), and 'A Slower," tho latter as an encore. With Miss Mnrpby she sang the Rossini "Venetian Regatta.” and took part in an instrumental trio with Mr Louie Blit/, ('cello), and Mr Charles Norman (piano). Miss Mabel Fowler has a very sweet, sympathetic voice, which she was able to use effectively in, "To-ntobt” (Bim.i), and (Tosti), both encored. Sh r san». in addition, "A Bmvl of T?.o«eV’ and "Loch Lomond.” Miss Edith. Nevill sn-n/ "Cornin' thro’ the Rro” and "Rosebuds 1 and Mr Louis Blitz slaved as a ’cello solo Schubert’s "Are Maria.” Mr Ohnrlos Norman was accompanist. The second and last concert of the son will bo given this evening, when A-mr Murphv will sing the operatic‘ seen? "Ombra Leggier?.” from "Dinornh." "Mother o’ Mine” (Touts), and .fenny Lind's "f>ho Song." Mr W.aHcr Whyte wUI sing "When other Taps’* (Balfe), and "Mary ,of Argyle" (Borns). "THE PASSION." (St. Matthew —Bach). The rendition of Sebastian BacKs "Passions Musik,” by the Musical Union last evening was a notable event from the musical noint of view. Such music as this requires to be heard not once, but several times, in order. to enable tho listener to appreciate Its full beauty and significance. The conception is a stupendous one, and is universally conceded to be the finest work of the kind ever written. As its name signifies. the Passion music is an attempt to set forth in complete musical form the history of the world’s Sublimest Tragedy. This is done by a series -of recitativosdouble chorus, and chorale. The part of tho "Narrator” or "Evangelist" is taken ij-’ the tenor soloist, and an extraordinarily difficult and ©xigeant part it s is, making the most strenuous demands upon /be- singer who is accompanied only hr the'pianoforte. It was manifest from t-lie: first that Mr Parker had his largo double cborua thoroughly in hand. The number. ‘‘Come Y© Daughters, Ween with Me," with its volume of harmony, punctuated by the “passing notes” of tho'.'-ejaculations -from the excited crowd, . was admirably ’ given. Dr FyfFe. who was oast for tho tenor, showed the musical knowledge and appreciation which one expects from him. But the part-, with its long recitatives and unusual and constantly-recurring intervals, ‘ taxed his light tenor voice too heavily, and he soon showed symptoms of strain. . His clear and incisive enunciation,, however, never failed 1 him-

Mr Clarkson, as the loading baritone, toojc tho-words spoken by the Saviour, and Ins fin© voice, aided by the • rich accompaniment of the strings, enabled him to express the part with a dignity which was none the less dramatic for its admirable reserve. Throughout the whole performance the excellent work of the choruses was productive of the greatest pleasure, and tho wonderfully perfect realisation of the broken murmurs and hoarse ejaculations of a vasrfc crowd, caught up and represented by voices, organ, strings in . one : complete sound-picture, was an experience such, as tho audience will not bo content to hear only once. One may specially mention th© brief terrified questioning of the Apostles as they cry: "Lord, is* it l?" the double chorus. ,'TTo is Guilty of Death"; tho tremendous shout of the multitude demanding the release of Barabbas: and the final exquisite double chorus of farewell at the tomb of the Saviour.

The two ladies who respectively took the soli parts, while careful and conscientious in vocalisation, -were colourless in manner, and their voices lacked that sympathetic quality of interpretation which would have added to the aesthetic beautv of the music. ■With regard to the "chorales" with which the Passion according to St. Mathew ,ia plentifully interspersed, their effect is both grateful and soothing. “Thev are supposed to express tho voice of the whole Christian Church," says Dr Groves, "and are so arranged as to be within tho power of an ordinary German congregation." They are sung very slowly and have a strangely soothing effect with their hymn-like swing, serving to bring into fine contrast the power and dramatic force of the more fervid recitatives and double chorus.

’ In conclusion it ma-v be noted that the first attempt at Passion music was made by St. Gregory Xaziaaen, who lived between 330 and 390.- and that the Idea slowtv evolved from the fn’mp’e monotonens - l >nnt of his conception • until, on Good Fridnv opening, 1729. B«bn»tian Bach's .'Paswas rr'‘ vr, n<' fv d for the first time in tho. '"•Vi"oh o F St. Thomas. Leipzig, That thinks of the community art* 1 no'to: Mr ■•‘Robert Parser for the infinite *ns -O'-* m’xst hove been the Inbonv o F love represented by i«i«t. *vght’s goes without "w’f'T. Mr A. W, Vino. organist at Tewkesbury En'daud, ns , organist,, morm than fulfilled the expectations of the audience. ..THEATRE ROYAL. Tho Theatre Royal was well attended last evening, and every item of a ver* entertaining programme by Pullers’ Vaudeville Company was heartily applauded- A first .appearance was made bv Mr Godfrey Hunsley and Miss Nellie Florence in :• dramatic cnisodo in three brief act®, cntitled "A Father’a Love." Mr Hunsley, i

who comes from tho principal London and PiVjvineiai music-halls, exhibited evidence oi’ considerable histrionic ability, espc-Mu ia tho more vehement and emotional passage*. Mi 43 Florence made a very satisfactory heroine of the conventional melodramatic typo. In tho first scene Alisa Florence sang "Daddy” in a pleasing manner, The story is , not ornate but aims i a natural pourtrayal of an incident of everyday life. Tho heroin© is an orphan who is the sole comfort o! her father, a sea captain. She strays from the path of rectitude, and is banished by her heartbroken father. Ho takes to drink, but Mdaughter returns to his side and a happy reunion ensues. Tho last two nights of tr • juggling Gazzcs and Mr Tom Vivian are announced The programme will be icpcatod this evening.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The audience filled every portion Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when the current programme of motion pictures wa. repeated. Among the gems of a choice fcolcction arc “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” "The Great Lion Hunt,” "Norway Now York,” "Feeding Soaks," ’ ‘Foolshead an Fisherman," and "A Summer Idyll." Tho programme will be repeated to-night, and a matinee is announced for to-morrow. Tho change of films will be made on Monday evening. FRED GRAHAM’S COMEDY COMPANY. To-morrow night, at the Opera House, will be introduced to the Wellington p; blic Mr Fred Graham's English Comedy Com. pauy, which will stage a screamingly funny comedy entitled “Tue Brixton Burglary/ Judging by the press reports from Dunedin and Christchurch, it is a piece that requires Irreproachable acting to maintain the interest. The dialogue Is smooth aim natural rather than artificially brilliant, as baa been the case’ with so many modern iarco-comciiies. Foremost in interest is G-orald E. Kay Souper, acknowledged one of tho best English actors who have visited Australasia. His long experience includes George Alexander's parts in the "Prisoner of Zenda” and "Rupert of Hentzau," Marcus Superbus in the ‘‘Sign of the Cross,' for years with tho P. R. Benson Shakespearean Company, "A Midsummer Night's Dream,” “Othello," and "As You Like It." During the past fourteen months he has made a hit of the leading parts with Oscar Ascho’s Shakespearean Company in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. This compaiv should meet with strong support during it.« stay in Wellington. Popular prices are advertised. The box plan is at the ajpcsden. BEEBE BALLOON COMPANY. Tho Beebe Balloon Company will make their final appearance at Day’s Bay tomorrow afternoon, when even a more tiiriUing and sensational ballooning exhibition than that on Wednesday will be given A double ascent and parachute race will be made by Mr Scbpho and isii Eastwood. Tho two intrepid men will ascend, to a height of a mile or more on the huge balloon, and at a given signal both aeronauts will fall from the balloon aunosfc simultaneously, and race to earth with their parachutes. Tho spectacle ia a novel and unique one, which requires extensive preliminary preparations, quite a? interesting as the ascent itself. . The Ferry Company have arranged a special steamer service for the afternoon, and extra boats will leave the ferry wharf at frequent intervals between the hours of 1.15' afld 3 p.m. , NEXT SUNDAY'S CONCERT. At the Town Hall on Sunday evening the Professional Orchestra will give a concert of unusual excellence, assisted by a number of high-class vocalists and instrumentalists, tho full list of which will be advertised tomorrow. The orchestral items will include "The Ride of tho Valkyries" and "Peer Gynt"’suite, in response to numerous requests, and owing to the hundred? turned away on tho last occasion these items were performed. In order to aEow suburban patrons to attend, the management has decided to■ commence the concert at 8.15 p.m. A silver coin collection will be taken at tho doors. PICTURE RECITAL. The box plan for the picture recital to bo given by Miss Sybil Johnson and Mr J. H. Clark, in the concert, chamber of t.v-r Town Hall on Tuesday, is now open at tho Dresden. A full programme will appear in to-morrow’s issue. Tho special concert to b© held at th<* Missions to Seamen this evening promises to be as successful as former ones, with such popular performers as Misses LloydTtassell and Graham, .and Mosses •J. F. Carr, A D. Kenny. A. C. C. Stevens, Tr Isaacs, and men of the merchant navy. ■ ' 6