AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14461, 2 March 1909, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

THE WELSH CIIOIR. Those who attended the third concert given by the Royal Welsh Malo Choir in the Garrison Hall last evening were as enthusiast io over tli3 performance as it was possible to be. Perhaps their enthusiasm carried them a little too fa.r on one or two occasions, and deprived them of that power of discrimination usually very much in evidence in a DuiK-din audience. However, the principal object to lie attained by a concert, company—or indeed any body of performers—is to satisfy the audicnce, and that tho Welsh Choir did this last evening in a very marked degree is beyond question. The singing of the choir was, throughout ,lhc programme, of an exceptionally high order, and left, very little to bo desired. It appeared, however, in one or two instances as if the tenors were scarcely strong enough to hold their own against the tremendous volume of sound poured out by the basses; not that the tenors arc at all of a weakly cast, but because they are, bv comparison, small in number. This wa-s the only thing to which any real exception could he taken, and, as it was neither prominent nor frequent, it was very far from being sufficient to interfere with the genuine pleasure to be do rived from listening to the singing of the choir. While the solo singing is to be commended, it suiters to some- extent by comparison with the work done by the choir—at least, 'that was tho case last evening, with the exception of Mr Robert Jones's singing of Tosti's "My dreams." This was exquisitely rendered, and Mr Jones fully deserved the emphatic marks of approval his singing met with, The other soloists were Messrs W. Todd Jones and Mr David Davies, the former contributing "Tho outcast" (Donizetti), and the latter "Big Den" (Pontet). Both these gentlemen were quite successful in pleasing the tiLxlience, which insisted upon addi-d numbers being given. The same compliment was paid Messrs Rob-srt Jones and D.ivies Tur their singing of the duet "Tho moon has raised her lamp above," front

"The Lilv of Killarney," the encore item ("Tenor and baritone") finding equal aeci'ptiiJicc. Of the choir numbers, "Robin Adair," "The martyrs of the arena," and "The Crusaders" may Ik- selected for special approval; but eii the part songs wore exceedingly well rendered, and the audience in every case clamoured for something additional. '.'The hallelujah chores," from Handel's "Messiah," was a fine performance, and the other.items were "The Hungarian march," "The rtorin" (a descriptive piece involving considerable difficulty in the way of execution), "The long day closes" (in which finer and more delieat" treatment was required than in Ik other -elections), and "Killarncy" (the solo part of which was taken by Mr Todd Jones). Mr W. Thomas conducted with marked, ability, onr.l Mr H. Hughes accompanied where necessary on the piano. Another concert will be given this evening.

WEST'S PICTURES. Within the last year or two biograph entertainers have displayed wonderful enterprise and resource, with the result that the, "moving picture." regarded so short, a time ago as something positively unique, is to-day one of the most popular means of entertainmeift, and is growing rapidly in favour as a 'factor of education, ft seems but a week or two since the world was horrified with the account of the Messina earthquake, and the cables (lashed the tale of the cataclysm round half the earth to New Zealand; yet so promptly has the work of the biograph men been done that pictures of the Sicilian ruins may ho seen at the present time in His Majesty's Theatre, where West's everwelcome biograph entertainment is again open to the public. So soon after the disaster were these views obtained: that the survivors may be seen camping in the streets, while the smoke and dust from ruined and stilltburning buildings is blown about them. Hero is observed a rescue party digging corpses from the wreckage, tliere one notices a. Rod Cross corps attending .to sufferers, while yonder the miserable, homeless people line up to receive supplies from (lie relief ships. Everywhere is seen tottering walls, buried streets, and smashed buildings—scenes of weird and awful desolation, to the description of which only the biograph can do justice. West's entertainment, as usual,comprises many splendid pictures, notable among' thesa being a series depicting the assassination of the Due de Guise. Tho tale is well known, and when it is said that Sarah Bernhardt assisted in its delineation, and that it offers unusual opportunities for the action necessary to tell a story before a biograph camera, it will be understood that the series is of unusual excellcnoe.' "Living Blackboard" is a really extraordinary illusion, so clear and so quaint as to bo in a. class by itself. " Yachting at Oowes" was a series oT scenes that evoked much applause and other similar pictures—" Ascending Mont Blanc" and "Whaling in the South Seas" —were kindly received by tho large audience. Other pictures. many of them humorous and some farcical—" Apprentice's Smock," "Park-keeper's Daughter," " Enchanted Mantle," " Farmer's Daughter," "S.s. Adriatic," "Hurrah for I'reedom," "Gladiator's Bride," "Cold Water Maniac," and "Rocking, Chair"— were much appreciated. De Groen's Orchestra supplied excellent music, and Mr Trovelyan's piccolo solo, an entracfo item, received the favourable reception it well merited. Tho programme will be repeated to-night.

PRINCESS THEATRE. The expressiveness of French gesture goes a long way' towards making cinematograph convincing, many o' the scones being" laid in Franco and rehearsed by I'rench actors. The excellence of this acting is apparent in the Wide-World Pictures, which continue their popularity at (lie Princess Theatre. This, however, is only one phase, and last night a film descriptive of the sights and scenes of the terrible Sicilian earthquake wore thrown on the screen. "Life in Arabian Desert," " Scenes in Hungary," " Life on the Zambesi," ajid "Industrial South Africa" swell the comprehensive list which makes the term " wide world" apropos. The dramatic and pathetic sides are by no mean.s neglecled, and such films aa "The Unlucky Bridegroom," "Tho KidV 'r "Fantastic Heads" furnish a Wide field for merriment. Taking into consideration the various counter attrac tions, tho attendance last night was, from . 1 o(Hce view, satisfactory. The Wideivorld 1 ictures will be displayed to-night,

ADA CROSSLEY CONCERTS. Considerable interest is being taken, in the concerts by Madame Ada Orofsley and her gifted ooinpany, announced to take place next Thursday and Friday at the Garrison Hall, and large booking of reserved scats was made on the _ opening of the plans at the Dresden on Saturday morning. The prices are within the reach of all. It is stated that the concerts being givon by Aladamo Croesley* on her return South ato being oiiormously attended, and it is anticipated that there will be great crowds at the concerts hero. It is at once a boon and a pleasure to be able to hear the great-singer at the every-

THE QUESTION OF THE DAY. The question of to-day, of to-morrow, and of every succeeding day, is HAVE YOU USED PEARS' SOAP? If you havo not, you have not done your duty by your skin and complexion. If, on the other hand—that is, on both hands, and on the fa/x, and on the skin generally,—you HAVE used PEARS' you can feel happy, for you will have do.ne the beet that possibly can 1« dono (or tiis 6kin's health and beauty. I'EAllS' SOAP has been making beautiful complexions for nearly 120 years. . . P E A R S 1 Matchless for the Ccmplexi<%

day price, and Madame Crossloy has done v.-isely in making it possible for everyone to hear ,ior. She will be accompanied bv ltientioally the same artists as were heard last month, and will give entire changes of programme

THE ciikrniavskis. ~ Musw-lover, will be delighted to heat that the Chorniavski. Conccrt Tarty will return to Dimcdm and give three farewell joeitals in the, Burns Ilall on March 11, 12, and 13, flicso brilliant young artistes nf°(C v °'! , i P,C H nR > a most Sll «essf»l tour of tho Wand. It is generally admitted that the Cherniavskis are tho host ;1 ° ( ? "' s, ""»P»lalist 3 that have ever visited tho Dominion. nm i wc are Sllr e that their return will bo heralded with n ' h,i wmbination of aihstca las enjoyed ,t s tour through New Zealand immensely, m \ though the recitals announced abnvo will be " eo od bye for the present, the members of the party all hope, when they have completed their I'.nglish and Continental enga-ements in years to romo, lo return,to us" Their farewell recitals will include many > 10w items, and some of those which were so popular when they played here before