DUNEDIN CHORAE SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2771, 24 April 1907, Page 61

DUNEDIN CHORA E SOCIETY.

" Makitana "

It might seem almost in the nature of an omission to refer to " Maritjna ' otherwise than 5a Wallace's evergreen ballud optra. so mucn is precedent n.eruoraVt? Opera without tihe glamour of footlights, unstaged and unacted, may 'avour of " Humlet." if not without \he Prince at ieist with that gent.cman without his pab'es , butniusic lonunately glands ou it? own merits, and if it 13 good is never anything les° The aiu&ic of t*ie opera mentioned certainly remains icmarkab'y vordant, and the fact that it ha 1 - riot in its entirety been Lcard 111 Duuedm for v considerable tnue now rerid?ra it 3 production the cure welcome Tr.e Duncdm Ch">ra' Society did fte'l in deciding to be heard 111 the " Mantana " muoic, mid the interpretation of it listened 10 by a very laxge audience at His Mdjetty'? Theatre 011 the 17th, marked a highly interesting and successful performance. A society such a= the Choral Society has to cater to a certain extern',, to the popular taste despite its misbion of edu-atiog thdi. tast-e, mud an occasional production on its part of music in which tho pubhc particu'alry deugh-is is a suep quite in the right direction The opera in question in this 111= tan co is so well known that to dilate on tlvc many chtums of its musvc w-eie fcitperfSucus. In la<-"t eveiang's puduction a standard of niern was attuned that evoked highly com^ciidatory expresbions of j-ppro/al, and tl-3 audience was markedly appreciative and pleased at the result achieved. The chorus work was naturally a strong point of the perfoimaiKe and one 111 vhioh it probably g-eined 111 a comparison with a corcpletaly staged production as any opportunity of healing suoh here hab Lcen afforded The choir of ovpt JOJ voices sang with an evenness lcle'h^ence, urid Vigour, and then work was certainly a ve'-y p!e;w=mg feituie cif ti.o entire contribution 'lhe pubhc 19 a trifle disposed to overlook perhaps the solid work done b/ the members of the chorus on such occasions, and give all its approbation to tho soloists. However, doubtless members accept ttaeir own reward in the thought tfciat without them lixe society cou'.d uut ezj&i. I3ut in

'" Mantana." above, o^her operas, the vecal eoloifi/s have exceptional opportunities, and at last night's concert there were some notab.e solo contributions from the principals. It is not saying a whit too much to single cut the singing of Mr F Graham in the role of Don Cesar de Bazan as the feature cf the production, for this alone would have redeemed almost any shortcorxurgs en _ts part, and was worii a pilgrimage to listen to. lir Graha.n's actual performance exceeded in merit what ouo had expeci-ed from a vocalist even of his reputation. Enthusiasm might well be pardoned in respect to the. quality of his remarkably fine tenor voice and in re-speet \,o his methods, which are characterised by all the eass and finish of the experienced artist It is, in fact, many a loc^ day since as fine a tenor v.-as heard in Dunedin, and the public should on no account neglect the opportunity of a liberal education in the vocal art v/hich Ills participation in the Choral Society's concerts at present affords All Mr Graham's solos were gocd, and raised the audience to demonstraiiveness. For " Let me like a soldier fall " he was vehemently encore J aJid constrained to repeat the nunib?r. "' Tn-ere is a flower that blocmeth " was, however, a still betier contribution perhaps, and a revelation as to what may be achieved in the way of artistic and effective interpretation. In the duets and other conceited numbers in which lie tcok part Mr Graham was moreover heard to exceptional advantage, ar.d the success attending tho charming treatment of the duet " O Maritana." m which he took part with Miss Murphy. migh J . well be particularly emphasised. The =oc.ety is to be congratulated altogether on having secured Mr Graham's servicea for these operatic conceits. The other soloi=ts, however, all sang effectively, and received +beir meed of appreciation. Mass Amy Murphy as Maritana was in excellent voice, and did herself amp'.e justice Her vocal work was at all times thoroughly efficient and artistic. In " Scenes that are brightest" she sang with a sympathy rare in a dramatic soprano, and " The harp in the air" and the other taxing numbers allotted to her were eminently pleasurable to listen to, and very artistic and capable efforts, as the audience was quick to recognise. The music of the part of Lazarillo was acceptably sung by Mrs Forbes-Williams, who made a success of her principal solo. " Alas, those chimes." and gave a conscientious interpretation of all her parts in various numbers. Mr Jame3 Jago as Don Jose sang with vigour and effect, especially in his solo items. His best contribution was perhaps the stirring aria. "Now my courage fast regaining," but "In happy moments" was also well rendered, and the duet " Of faiiy wand," m which he took part with Miss Murphy, deserves to be singled out for commendation. Mr J. P. Blackmann's rendering of the music of the part of the King of Spain was consistently meritorious. His solo, " Hear me. gentle Maritana," was a really artistic ar.d admirable effort, and the duet, " I am thinking of Spain, in which he and Mr Graham took part, was a stimulating item. Mr S. Thomson sang the small amount of music allotted to the Captain of the Guard, paving the way to Mr Graham's fine delivery of the exordium beginning '" Farewell, my gallant captain." Some oi the choral numbers, such as (he

" Angehis" and " Pretty Gitana," were exceedingly effective, and the finales to the first an-d second acts were vigorously rendered. In the concerted numbers, in which the principals took parr, there was, in some instances, a lack of complete ruutuai understanding, which may be expected to disappear on a future occasion. A fairly strong orchestra participated in the production, and did good service on the whole, though its playing was at times ragged and occasionally too obtrusive. As usual, Mr Paget Gale wielded the conductor's baton ; Mr J. Coombs led tht orchestra, and Mrs H. C. Campbell acted as pianist. All things considered, " Maritana," as produced by the Dunedin Choral Society, is a musical event which the pubhc should make a point of not missing, and successive productions should be even more successful than the first. This evening there will be a second performance of the opera, the opportunity to attend which will be extended to the general public, it being the subscribers who constituted for the most part lait evening's audience.