WING WHISPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3899, 4 December 1928, Page 70

WING WHISPERS.

By

Peter Pan.

WELLINGTON, November 29. Dear “ Pasquin,”—One of the outstanding events in Wellington's musical work' was a recital this week by Mr George Ellwood, the popular ’cellist, and Mr Gordon Short, one of our best-known pianists. It was a superb recital, and both players were accorded ovations. Handel’s “ Sonata in G minor,” Boellmann’s “Variations Symphoniques,” Grieg’s “ Sonata in A minor,” and Max Bruch’s “ Koi Nidrei ” were only a few of the selections p!ayed, and there were on the programme such names as Faure, Tartini, Kreisler, Popper, and Cui. The recital provided an evening that will remain long in memory for its exquisiteness. Such powers as Mr Ellwood has are given only to a few Already the Wellington Symphony Orchestra has 100 subscribing members. Mr Leon de Alauny has been unanimously, elected musical director and conductor of the society, with Mr W. P. Pringle as lion, secretary. 2x provisional executive has been appointed, and everything points to the orchestra filling a long-felt want, fostering orchestral music and encouraging the study of orchestral playing- - * The League of Notions still continues to pack the Fuller House, for Mike Ccm-d ” or ®’ Queenie Paul, and inimitable Syd.’ Leek are warm favourites, not io mention the neat stepping ballet and the other principals. Saturday evening saw an innovation in tiie programme of the Royal Wellington Choral Union. Coleridge Taylor’s “Tale of Old Japan” was supplemented by a Wagnerian overture and the Dvorak New World” symphony, and a crowded audience in the Town Hall was delighted and surprised with the beauty of the evening s work. Mr John Bishop deserves the heartiest congratulations for giving purely orchestral work, as well as choral. The attempt was most praiseworthy, a~d though there shortenmings in the orchestral section neverthet 33 L C P er^rman ce was a brilliant one. In the Coleridge-Taylor work there was an •admirable balance of chorus and orchestra, and the principals were all in excellent form. Miss Naomi Whalley, of Palmerston North, essayed the soprano solos with lyric charm, her notes being crj-stal clear. Mrs Wilfrid Andrews showed a warmth of contralto tone and genuine appreciation. Mr Len Barnes was in fine baritone voice, his phrasing nicely rounded. Air Roy Hill sang in a sweet tenor, but his voice was scarcely strong enough. The entertainment opened with the overture to Wagner’s ' Meistersingers.” Mr Bishop was accorded an ovation at the end. The union's presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” is set down for December 15. The soprano will be Miss Christina Ormiston, of Auckland; Miss Mina Caldow will be the contralto, Mr Hubert Carter the tenor, and Air William Watters the baritone.. An orchestra of some 70 instruments and a choir of some 500 voices is making the national pageant -at the Winter Show a thing of rare beauty musically. Mr John Bishop is conducting, and the music is a treat to hear. Folk songs are featured, and the final chorus is Handel s “ Hallelujah Chorus ” from the “ Messiah.” John Galsworthy’s play, “The Pigeon,” by the Repertory Theatre Society, gave ’a chance to Air E. S. Baldwin to show his acting talents in the title role, and a meritorious performance it proved to be. As Christopher AVellwyn. preyed upon bv men and women, he gave a sterling performance, with able assistance from an adequate cast, including Miss Thyra Baldwin, Aliss Alary Coo’ey, and Messrs R. E. Pope, AV. S. Wauchop, O. N. Gillespie, Allan Hebb, J. T. APCaw. AL Rogers. H N. Burns. Jaspci Baldwin, Maurice James, and Harison Cook (who is also producer for the society). The presentation must rank among the best works of the society.