THE ROYAL WELSH MALE CHOIR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10095, 12 March 1909, Page 1

THE ROYAL WELSH MALE CHOIR.

TU-X I (JUT. lieferrimi; to Hil* iioyal Welsh .Male Choir, which U to appear at the Municipal dpera House this evening for one concert, the Sydney Daily Telegraph says: — "Tue Koyaf Welsh Male Chuir .justified Us reputation. when it began an Australian, j lour in the Sydney 'J own Jialh ihe memj hers of this organisation, 22 singers, eonI ducted by .Mi' William Thomas, have a j lijnir list of successes to their credit, gamj cd "within the past ten years in all parts iot the I'nitcd Kingdom and in America; and their vsit to Australia, undertaiveji imder the direction of Messrs J. and -N. fait. should enhance the kune they ha\c enjoved. for thev met with an enthusiastic r-M entiuiL last night. Such admirable choral and part- oingim: really explained ihe high position which the choir has won tor itself. The perfect balance oi tone, the enunciation, the electrical attack, and the remnant full harmonics, were ail distinguishing features ol the performance. The control with whiib the voices are employed was shown deiightfully insuch | pieces a* the part song in W eJsli vMoep. a plaintive melody, sung pianissimo, with the (. i'i fsccndocs exi elieni ly managed, and in the hymn, 'Lead Kindly bight, all cm-: re piece. which proved one of the most ai tractive item*. The people were captured early in the evening with the stirring mi o? the Northmen/ and lis curt.iv pici-e. the welbknown "Men of jlar- !»•: h.' The pact •-•ong. 'Sleep or 'Cwsg, to ;;i». c ii i name as printed ill Welsh-—came a; a distinct umtrasi to these vigorous soi-us. in ilvs delicate harmony, revealing the milkers in «jiiit-e a different phase oi their "work. As the encore piece, another meh.di .us air. 'Ti-e Ash Clove/ was sung ;; 1 s.; in WeUh. Two notable pieces "were ih • line -j. lee, \Stiike the Lyre,' and the {•rid; d».-. rioti\•• chorus «>l" Ambroi-e | immas. ihe icr«d. I nen toe familiar j, <i, 'ltalian Sa'lad.' with its whimsical reiteration ot mimical terms borrowed a glossary, and set to flawing niclinlv. exhibited the choir in lighter vein. 'Quartettes. tri- . duets, and solos, wi re also admirahiy rendered. I'ox plaiw I are on view and div sales (os) available

THE NEW STRAUSS OFEfi-.A,' With to-ni ihCs Mn-il r. marsal. h-eld in riuid secrecy, ihe preparations are c, n-pi'.tt; for the pr-.-dr,"tm at the (:. : 1 i'-.»yal ' peri! ! i.>11 j... /ii:.!:iy or i)r Kieh;'.!'! Strai;-.-/ n.-v; < p-r:i. longav.'aited "!•-!;• 1 • tj•:»*" »\vi:ll • i ihe l.'eidin corr. : pon:.iout of No .imiiar wtflit h.as i'ur \c'irs p-ist bee?: icokcd forward to wiih s;rj]i interest. Kverv in th-.- theatre was sold weeks a-;:>. * The mash- of ' Kl e.-l:a" ii said to surpa-i at ail points ti-e :irtHiill elfccds 1•! |)r Strains hr-:t work. '"'•ai-'imC'. No s'j c:-:tr t'>rd!n:;ry hi-s evev bclore ! :i v.iitten lor t!:e Mm-'. I'.rn-.s-titic S;.h'.nuann-i :c::i;-:. t. e i.-linu-'i.dn.'d i k-rman-American contriiho. who smgs tin pari, of C.ytann n< stra. d-.-'.e.iro: t•; 1 the vocal part- "arc not- sni'-inu at all. but a i hund-.'rors mc:ii«o groans,, moans. ■m: i :-iL-iis. intense -dramatic pi/\ver air! eirh'.-ii Mubnras ot ju»y and pas.-i''!!." Although tlm '.l.- jtrivileged to ■jttend the rth.oai--aN as-ert tlmt the thunder of the Wagmiian orck<s;r;i is a wlii-i----p-.T Lon.ij:ari.:l "I'llcfira. l)r Strauss has sj ent v. -;tle.->s days and nights inducing orchestra and singt :*s to increase ihe vc'mu.o of :;ound. lie has the -;t:en-ith oi th-.: orchestra iron: ninety madcians i i 125. und would ad'U aKoihcr t wciiLv-jiv*.- w-.-re tlar-e roi.ui for tht'in. The c'horas have i:-. en shouting themselves h.;ai .-.e in an attempt to produce _ tho 4-y.-hrnic roar which the composer de.-ircs. For piirpo.-c.- <;f reaii-im he lias crowded tile staae with ]icoplc and animals to the p-.int of :-:"-ii'oL-ation. For the great fipectacaiar sc.ne of the opera—a t-aciiiuaal proce-.doii—l)r .Sti-auss demanded a verit djJr m. nagerie. 'ihe mana.gemcnt agree/, to ftirnidi iive lami's and donkeys, bail objected to th.e herd of hulis which the composer included in bis schem-e. Mme. Sehumami-l leink. who ha.< to wear ;i ilamiiu rt d robe, t lirraten-. d to desert tho : ,t if real ladls were introduced, and 1 the composer finally accepted the t':nni pi'ojjdve of live c »ws which wdl wear btilis ; iiorns. lic'^ardle-s oi tlie t'motiomii strain i on th* amHeiiec. Jlr Strauss has pianiKMl 1 his work' in a single a<"t, whkh I;ists an