CHAUTAUQUA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19316, 31 October 1924, Page 8

CHAUTAUQUA.

FINAL PERFORMANCE. The concluding Chautauqua programme of the season was presented in Burns Hall last evening to a fairly numerous audience ■which thoroughly appreciated both the music and the address given by Dr David D. Vaughan. Mt Ritchie, prior to the entertainment commencing, said" it was his pleasing duty to introduce the concluding programme of the season, and in doing so he would like to mention that the guarantors did not participate in any profits. They had guaranteed a certain amount for these entertainments, but got hone of the profits. Any failure they guaranteed. Up till now expenses. had been paid, which was very gratifying. He was sorry, but he did not think that they would be able to do anything to " benefit the Radium Fund financially. The high standard of the entertainments had been maintained throughout. ' The'musicians on this occasion were Miss Constance Ziebell. violiniste, and Miss Phyllis M. Allinson, pianiste, who proved themselves to be accomplished artistes. Miss Allinson's playing of MacDowell's "Etude de Concert" at once stamped her as a pianiste of high merit. The lady has a light, delicate touch, and is a brilliant executant. Her playing of the study, in parts, was, beautifully crisp. Being recalled Miss Allinson played Henry Ketten's "Castagnette." Miss Ziebell's first selection was Moskowski's "Guitarre," of which she gave a very good rendering. It was evident that- the young lady's conception of how the music should be treated was a correct one, and the performance was particularly free of all blemishes. As a repeat number , Miss Ziebell played Beethoven's "Menuert." Reocoupying_ the post of soloist, Miss Allinson exhibited remarkabla taste her playing of York Bowen's "Nocturne," which she rendered with great expression, and, in response to a recall, a. very pleasing interpratatioh of Levallee's "Butterfly." On making her third appearance Miss Allinson played Paderewski's "Polonaise" very skilfully. It was a brilliant performance the audience heard. In complying with a recall the young lady finished her evening's work by playing Paimgreu's "The Sea," in which her descriptive methods were very effective. Miss Ziebell played Schubert's beautiful "Ave Maria" with most satisfying results. She threw an immense amount of feeling into her work. A "Scherzo" by Van Goens was given as a recali_ piece. On. her next apearance Miss Ziebell played a caprice by Kreisler ("Caprice Viennois'), and followed it with "Souvenir," by Drdla. Miss Ziobell was accompanied on the piano by Miss Aillinson, and their united effort was always successful. Dr Vaughan (Boston University) spoke on the subject of "Ideals of Democracy,' prefacing his lecture by remarking that he had determined to come to New Zealand, where he had had a delightful time. 'He expressed the opinion that the people of New Zealand were more like Americans than the other peoples he, had met, in many ways. He" proceeded to the development of frontier character, stating that the frontiersman was always democratic. Speaking of the British and American nations, he said he hoped that some day they would be more closely related than they were at present. People said that the Americans were realistic rather than idealistic, and that they were a nation of boasters. Here Dr Vaughan branched off to relate some rather extravagant American stories, which he concluded by saying, amidst loud laughter, "But we don't call that boasting." The Americans, he continued had their ideals, and added that the first ideal of democracy was the ideal of truth. The speaker went on to emphasise the importance of being progressive, and said that when a man tied himself up with the past he was a menace to himself and to human progress. Let people be openminded and willing to get a new idea. Dr Vaughan then went on to speak at length on equality, fraternity, service, freedom, and justice. Many entertaining and amusing anecdotes were related hy him during his address, and he was frequently applauded. The entertainment concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.