THE CHORAL SOCIETY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18759, 16 July 1935, Page 3

THE CHORAL SOCIETY

SEASON'S FIRST CONCERT ’ FIRST, CLASS FARE $ . POPULAR SOLOISTS The Gisborne Choral Society held iG first concert of the season in the Cit> Hall last- night, when a v.ery enjoyable programme was submitted to an appreciative audience. Pleasing harmony was achieved by the choir of 50 voices under the baton’of Mr. Wilfrid; Kohn, who had admirable control, bringing out the light and shade in the desired maimer. Soloists engaged for the occasion also created remarkably good impressions. Une of the most popular was Mr Russell J. Laurenson, of Wellington, who provided some very line renderings, his baritone voice of great power provoking insistent demands for encores. He sang first the "Volga Boat Song” (ChaliapinKoenemanne), bracketed with ‘ Song ol the Flea” (Moussovsky). "Song ol the Plea” is a satire oil a Prussian noble being received into the Court of the Czar with great pomp and ceremony. Many honors were heaped upon him, much to the disgust of the Court. In this particular version of the song, the Prussian noble is characterised as a monstrous ilea, and the artist brought out his interpretation to fine elfect, particularly in the satirical laugh. Recalled. "ho sang “To-morrow.” He was trebly encored in the second half ol the programme when he sang “Edward (Loewe), a dramatic song of unusual construction in the form of question and answer, in which a mother’s questions to a son reveal a ghastly tragedy. This was followed by “The Pride of Tipperary,’’ “King Charles,” and “The Lute Player.” Local artists were also responsible foi some particularly fine work. Miss 1). Olsen, soprano, sang “Like tQ the Damask Rose” (Elgar) with good effect, her encore being “Indian Flute Song.” In the second portion of the programme she sang “In Seville’s Grove” (Martin Van Lennep), the encore demanded of her being “Someone.” She was further recalled to sing Elgar’s “Shepherd Song.” Miss D. Sharpe’s solo with chorus, “The Night is Calm and Cloudless’ (Sullivan), was sung with appreciative understanding. Mr. lv. AUott was again in fine form on his violin, with the Rev. T. A. Moresby at the piano, playing the first movement of Beethoven’s sonata for violin and pianoforte in F. This number was one of the most artistic in the programme, and the pair were brought back to play “Valsc Triste” (Sibelius). Prolonged applause recalled them to play a portion of the sonata. The Choral Society’s numbers were all well received. They were: Part songs, “Song of the Vikings” (Eaton Failing), “The Sun has Risen” (Bendall), “A Spring Song” (Pinsuti), “The Dream of Home" (ArditiL and “Grass of Parnassus” (Cranville-Bantoek); and “Night Whispers”; anthem, “How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings" (Bralnns). The last-mentioned number was perhaps the best of the choir’s performances during the evening. Although the choral work displayed a slight lack of balance, the renderings were always well controlled. The choir was accompanied on the piano by Mr. J. Corbett. Mr. Kohn played the accompaniments for the soloists. At tile conclusion of the concert, Mr. Kohn thanked the performers, particularly the soloists, for their pleasing renderings and also the audience for its patronage. He mentioned that before long the choir might appeal for subscribing members to help it in its work.