CELEBRITY CONCERT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22331, 3 August 1934, Page 11

CELEBRITY CONCERT

ENTERTAINMENT IN TOWN HALL IN AID OF MAYOR'S RELIEF FUND. An excellent variety concert, which was deserving of much better public support than it received, was given under the auspices of the Broadcasting Board's station 4YA in the Town Hall last evening, the studio being in effect removed to the stage for the purpose. Organised for the purpose of augmenting the Mayor's Relief Fund, the entertain- - ment was a particularly enjoyable one, two distinguished visiting artists, as " well as several of Dunedin's more prominent musical societies and concert performers, participating in the concert. \ The principal attractions of the evening '. were undoubtedly the appearances of M. Senia Chiostakoff, the Russian tenor, who was at one time a member of the famous Don Cossack Choir, and who has already gained for himself wide popularity in New Zealand as a soloist, and the return to Dunedin of M. Paul Vinogradoff, the accomplished Russian pianist who delighted concert patrons in this city last year with his delightfully poetic and musicianly interpretations. M. • Chiostakoff's opening bracket of songs, in which he was accompanied by the Concert Orchestra, under M. de Rose, gave the audience an excellent insight '; into the flexibility and rich quality of his fine tenor voice, as well as his un- •', usual grasp of interpretative requirements. Puccini's lovely " E Lucevan le , Stelle," from " Tosca," was a. richly shaded and highly artistic number, a change to the' purely romantic heing ; made in Marshall's ''l Hear You Calling Me," in the presentation of which the singer's remarkable control, and the . beautiful quality of his head notes, were ' particularly impressive. The well : known "La Donna e Mobile," from Verdi's " Rigoletto," was sung in sprightly and colourful fashion, and in response to incessant demands for an encore, M. Chiostakoff • sang the ever-popular " funiculi, Funicula " in engaging style. 1 Later in the evening he was associated with the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Choir in exceedingly attractive perform--, ances of Toselli's " Serenade," " The - Song of the Volga Boatmen," and the beautiful Russian monastery song, " Oh, Evening Bell," being again required to give a recall number. M. Paul Vinogradoff's contribution to the programme was a polished and impressively artistic performance of Greig's Concerto in' A minor, a massive work in which he was accompanied hy the Concert Orchestra. Throughout the performance the pianist's delicacy of _ interpretative shading, and musicianly, accomplishments evoked expressions of the sincerest appreciation from the audience, while the work of the orches- s tra contributed in no small manner towards the success of the presentation, { excellent balance and cohesion being; maintained and the soloist always being allowed 'due prominence in the performance. The orchestral offerings during the evening were Lovalee's "The Bridal Rose" overture, and Herold's overture " Zampa," both of which were played in competent and spirited fashion, i Under the baton of Mr J. T. Leech, the Returned Soldiers' Choir sang Bullard's - " Sword of Ferrara," German's " 0 . Peaceful Night," and " Border Ballad" ■> hy Maunder, with its customary spirit and virility, and a group of Maori melodies was sung in attractive style j by Te Ara Nui and Retere Paraone, their numbers' including "Whakapapa Noa Mai," "E Pari Ra," "I Kimi Ahau," and "Titi Torea." Miss Ruth Perry's rich mezzuo voice and mature interpretative qualifications were given excellent expression in her numbers, . " Whither Must I Wander," by Vaughan Williams, "The Cloths of Heaven" (Dunhill), the "The Glory of the Sea" (Boosey), the last two songs heing pre- • sented with orchestral accompaniment, and an acceptable comedy interlude was provided hy the Broadcast Players in a diverting comedy sketch entitled "Mixed Reception." The Stokes Banjo Band gave vigorous and rhythmic performances of "The Kilties," a march by Grimshaw, the waltz "Magnolia," by Morley, the " lola " ballet by Weidt, and "The Peace Maker," by Lotter; the entertainment concluding with a community sing conducted by Mr H. P. Desnioulins, assisted by the Returned Soldiers' Choir, the pianoforte accom-" paniraents being played by Mr A. H. Pettitt. The accompanist to the soloists was Mrs Ernest Drake.