MALE CHOIR CONCERT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17375, 24 July 1918, Page 3

MALE CHOIR CONCERT

It is most regrettable to see the ovordecreasing nambor of singers that form tho Male Choir. The past tour years have been disastrous for tho choir, whoso ranks have from time to time been depleted. At hist night's concert it seemed as if a fourth of the original number, at least, were absent from one cause or another, and the good results attained arc all the more to bo wondered at. The deficiency is moat noticeable- when the choir sings music of a florid character, and it so happens that last night's programme was largely composed of such works. It is not that the choir failed to give very fine renderings of nearly all tho part-songs it essayed to sing, but there was an absence of that robustness for which tho choir w;is at one time famous. The partsongs were eight in number, and leaving nice discriminations alone, these were consistently well treated. Candish'e ''Song uf the Joily lioger" went with a good, swiinc. and tho choir put all the vigour into it thai) could be expected. Dβ Rille's "Destruction of Gaza" was sung in the triumphant strain the theme demands, and must bo considered .another success. Do llille seems a favourite composer with many bands of singers, and that may account for the inclusion of his ''Evening Song" in the programme. It was given with nice effect, and is entitled to be regarded as one of the chief successes of the evening. In Diird's "Xight and Day," the choir had plenty of descriptive sTnging set it, and came through the ordeal most creditably, I tho basses being particularly effective in certain parts. "Thr> Yok-e of tho Torrent," by Paliard, is another descriptive piece of music, and it went excedinglv "well. \ An exceptionally pretty little barcarolle— ' "The Gondolier'—by Schubert, gained special favour. It was admirably sung. Aschor's ballad, "Alice Where Art" Thouj" arranged for part singing, has been heard on previous occasions, and was as welcome as ever, the choir, which was as usual conducted by Mr Jesse Timson, concluding tiie concert with Ofco's humorous part song. "The Gongs Are Boating." The firstsoloist to court the good opinion of the audience—a large one, despite the wot irirrht —was Mr G. C. Scott, who snug a selection from Mascagni's "Cavoll'-ria Itustioana" with excellent, eifoct, and MissCorrie Aslin, who followed him. gavo a fine dramatic interpretation of Verdi's "Ah fors' o lui." Miss E. Smith's vocal selection was from Saint Saon's opqra. "Samson et Delilah"— "Amour! Viens Aider"—which she sang well, if the pitch was not always finite true. A double recall followed this item. and Miss Ivy Mazengarb was similarly honoured for her recital of tho "Ballod of Splendid S'lenco." Mr Alfred Ibbotson SM.njr "Tho Bells of St. Mary's" in v. manner that could not fail to hn acceptable, and Mr J. A. Wallace played as a. violin solo Do. Beriot.'s "9th Concerto" with musicir.nly skill. Mr E. Heywood officiated at the piano. •