FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Issue 3941, 8 July 1918, Page 2

FISK JUBILEE SINGERS.

A RARE MUSICAL TREAT,

There was a good attendance, but not so good as the entertainment warranted, at the Criterion Theatre last Friday night when the Fisk Jubilee Singers reappeared after an absence of many years.

Paeroa has not been favoured with such a high-class musical treat for a very long time and it is a pity that this company came here so soon upon the ending of the big drain on *»© monetary resources of the people of Paeroa, otherwise we are sure that there would not have been standing room in the theatre. The opening chorus "Steal Away" was an example of a perfect of magnificent voices. All the choruses were equally well given and were^ received by an intensely appreciative audience. "Hear Dem Bells" and a "Medley cf Popular Airs" perhaps deserving special mention. The second half of the programme was devoted to solo work in which the company fully sustained the reputation it had gained.

Miss Leila Wyburd, the soprano gave a splendid rendering of "For the sake of the Past," and as on encore "The Dear little Shamix>ck."

Miss Clair Solly, the contralto, was especially well received with "Coming Home" and "Mother Machree." Mr Sid Haynes, the tenor soloist, charmed the audience with that old favourite "Take a pair of SparklingEyes." Mr Huntly Spencer, tenor, received vigorous applause for his beautiful rendering of "The Sunshine of your Smile," but the well-known "Swanee River" was even better received. His voice seemed to bring out all the natural pathos of the old favourite.

Mr Marshall Palmer, the baritone singer, so pleased the audience with his splendid voice that it would not allow him to retire until he had given four songs. "On the Shores of the Aegean Sea," A Son of the Desert am I," "Mother," and "Anzacs," were his solos. His singing was indeed a treat.

Mr Harold Wilson, is the possessor of a splendid bass voice which showed to advantage in "Massa's in de Cold Cold Ground."

Professor C. A. White who presided at the piano and organ was one of the original Pisks, and his' musical ability helped largely to the excellence of a remarkably good programme.