AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14355, 27 October 1908, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

MISS AINSLEY'S CONCERT. Miss Irene Ainsley gave her first concert in His Majesty's Treaitro last evening, and was completely sucaisslul in .creating a most favourable.impression. The fact that Miss Ainsley and Mrs I'Jrnest H. Qucreo and Mr M. Hamilton Hodges, who accompany tier, secured imperative recalls on every occasion on which they appeared is proof of this. It seems that there is wisdom in a concert company visiting Duncdin, ami probably other places, limiting the programme,' in view of tho certainty of its members being called upon to again and again give extra numbers. While dt is certainly very flattering to the performer to be accorded such distinction, it is rather inconsiderate that so much gratuitous music as had to be provided should he expected, particularly when a, singer has given four or five consecutive items, as both Miss Ainsley and Mr Hodges did. The result was finite apparent in tho case of Miss Ainsley, who, under so severe a strain, upon her voice, was evidently singing with some effort towards the end of tho concert. Miss Ainsley has attained a reputation as a vocalist which her singing fully maintained. That she is a vocalist of considerable merit and a cultivated singer the audience was fully persuaded at tho conclusion of her first song, and not with,, out good reason. So long as no undue tax is placed upon her she sings with great ease, and manages a voice of great volume skilfully and with wonderfully good effect. It would, however, seem that'at times Miss Ainsley might with advantage restrain its volume. There is perhaps just a tendency jo miss opportunities where her fine singing would be rendered even fuier by a more rigid control of an exceptionally powerful organ. Miss Ainsloy's lirst soiig was the air "Mon coeur S'ouvrc a ta voix," from Samsori_ and Delilah, and on appearing to sing this Miss Ainsley received a hearty welcome at the hands of theaudience. The rendering of the air was in nianv respects exceedingly fine, and "Annie Lai'trie" was given in response to tho continued applause. _ " Souvcnance," by Bemkcrg,. " The night has a thousand eyes," " Absent," borti by Metcalfe, and "Invitation," by Katherine Barry, formed tho next works Miss Ainsley set herself to interpret. In the first of these the impression which some of the audience might have had that Miss Ainsley did not sufficiently control her voice was to a groat extent removed, and 'ho success achieved was undeniable. Ihe night has a thousand eyes" was most artistically sung, and "Absent" was remarkable for the exquisite expression introduced into the, singing. "Invitation," a totally different ; 'class of music, was delightfully sung, and called forth the second encore with which. Miiss Ainsley was honoured. One of the lady's best" efforts was her rendering of " Out on the rocks,"' for which she received quite an ovation. A houquot of choice flowers was handed to her in recognition of her singing of ; Dolby s\song. Sullivan's "Lost chord" was Miss Ainsley's concluding item, and its interpretation secured a rcdemaiid. Mr Hamilton Hodges was not heard at his bestin "I'ho Toreador's song," but it won for him a double encore. "Thy fee." by' Blumenthal, proved much more acceptableV indeed, it was probably the best song Mr Hodges gave during tho cvenin» The three •bracketed items - "Healherbud," Ever so far away," and "My song.is of the Sturdy North "—were all well sung bv Mr Hodges, the last-named being rendered in excellent style. Mrs Ernest 11. Quereo : contributed two pianoforte sole? the first—' 'Concert study," by Rubinstein-bem* brilliantly played. Both Mrs Qneree's solos mot with such favour that 4he lady had to give additional selections. Mrs Quereo aho supplied the acompaniments, «o that, her evening's work was bv no means a light one. . Another concert will be given this evening, and it will no doubt be as enjoyable as that of last night. PRINCESS THEATRE. The MacMahon-Carroll pictures at the irmccss theatre continue to draw large audiences, the excellent sporting and athletic programme being very attractive. The company exhibits for the last time on Ihursday evening. For the three tarcTCll nights, commencing with thisevening's performance, a specially interesting item will he introduced—viz., the appearance- before the audience of the Australian champion Bill Squires, who will describe the incidents of the historic contest, and, furthermore, give an exhibition" of boxing and the details incidental to training, such as punching tho ball, the skipping-ropo exercise, etc. DUNEDIN SPORTS CLUB, A social gathering of the Duncdin Sports Uub was held in the club room last evening, when Mr E. A. Falek was made the recipient of a gold albert as an appreciation of bis services as secretary for the past 6ix years. The presentation was made on behalf of the members of the club by Dr Stanley Batehelor (president), who was ably seconded by Messrs Sullivan, Walt, Cooke, and Williamson. Mr Ealck suitably, responded, and in the course of his remarks said that his work on behalf of tho club had boon a labour of love. Ho stated that it was the intention of tho club to attain the premier position in tho Dominion as a sports club, and with that object in view they purposed securing rooms that would be found more suitable than the ones they at present occupied. He .proposed the toast of" The Yachtsmen of the Club," who, lie. said, were practically the mainstay of the institution. Messrs Bolt, M'Kcggan, Israel, and Warren suitably replied. It was decided that a Duncdin Sports Club Day should be held during the season, to which a cordial invitation was extended to all members. Mr A. J. Sullivan proposed the toast of "Dr Batehelor" (president of. the dub), who, be said, was one of the oldest members of the club, and was a real live member. During the evening musical items were rendered by Messrs Bedford. Woods, Warren, Brundcll, Falck, .lago, Slater, and Williamson. Mr Williamson acted as accompanist. ' SUNDAY SCHOOLS' DEMONSTRATION. By popular request tho demonstration of| the united Sunday schools in connection' with the Salvation Army self-denial week was again carried out in the Barrackslast evening, when there was a fairly large attendance. The programme was even more acceptable than when originally gone through on Wednesday evening last. ILLUSTRATED LECTURE. "Australasia To-day" was the title of a lecture delivered at iihe Tabernacle, Great, King street, last, evening by Mr J. C. Ferdinand Pittman, a. visiting evangelist from Adelaide. The views siiown were many in number, and considerable care, was shown in malting a collection, representative of Australasian life and scenery. Starting with Western Australia, the lecturer worked hie way to South Australia, thence to Vic-, toria, afterwards-to New South Wales, then to Tasmania, and finished up with a few views of New Zealand scenery. Where so many views were shown they had of necessity to be passed rapidly in review, and Mr Fittmnn was called upon io speak hurriedly in order to keep pa<se with tho moving slides, but, notwithstanding these drawbacks, the audience, a fairly large and appreciative one, was eiKiblcd to carry away a uood impression of the dtics, towns, and villages, railroads, waterways, mountains, hills, valleys, and plains depicted and described. Hooart and Now Zeaand views in the lecturer's collection were not numerous, iuid Mr Pittman explained this fact by stating that he was making arrangements for adding to liheso before returning to Australia, and proceeding thence to iho Homeland, where he will give lantern lectures on Australasian life, cities, and scenery. The exhibition of pictures was punctuated with numerous anecdotes, and an occasional humorous pictorial situation served to vary the panoramic presentment of Australasian views. At tho clcse of tho led lire, which was listened'to with close jiltpnitp-i.' Mr Piftmry> announced that he \,v.:!i! d'.-:;-;::- a:v:'.!:cr .c'ture this evcnintr.

A collection was taken up at the' conclusion of the lecture in aid of the Burwood Boys' Homo.