POLISHED

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1930, Page 11

POLISHED

MISS LEATHAM GIVES CONCERT.

EXCELLENT PROGRAMME. HEARD.

Musical talent, polished, bright and shining, is the quality which has made the concerts arranged in New Plymouth by Miss Constance Leathani so distinctive. The audience filled St. Mary’s hall last evening to hear her latest concert. No musical bodies in New Plymouth have fat purses and, probably on the principle that “it’s the poor what helps the poor,” the funds from the concert were in aid of the Orchestral Society and the Choral Society. The concerts arranged by Miss Leatham run as a rule with a serene order, but last night, owing to a mishap, some of the instrumental music was lost. In such, a state of affairs it might reasonably have been thought that the evening would limp here and there, but the versatility of the performers saved even the remotest sense of disappointment and at the shortest notice the gaps in the programme were filled with other items. The soft, caressing notes of “Duo Movements I. and HI., from Fourth Suite,” by Arensky, played by Misses M. Fearn and Mary Coleman, opened the program nle. A clear, minor treble was scattered over a slow moving bass. The movement drifted into a ringing fortissimo passage and then out of deep, quiet chords crept the melody of the theme. The finale drummed deep and solemn. Later in the evening the two played the “Tschaikowsky Waltz,” a flowing waltz with a prettily embroidered theme, but it lacked the flexity of the first. “The Disappointed Serenader” was sung prettily in a duet by Miss Irene Gilbert and Mr. R. Gilbert, but the words were unfortunately lost in the hall, which is not a good building for music. Later Mr. Gilbert sang “Lorraine, Lorraine, Loree.” He was very fine in the vigorous passages, showing a gift of dramatising.' There is - nothing, vague and indefinite about the playing of Mr, J. Dobson. His precision and surety of touch made a fine, stirring thing out of Rachmaninoff’s “Cossack Prelude.” And then he played such a light, delicate piece just as well. A part song “The Snow”, and a unison song “Whither” were sung by a septette. Mcsdames Church and Sheat and Misses Fearn, Wise, Coleman, -Nicholson and Gilbert. But, although the voices were well modulated, the singers lacked a little irt confidence. Two songs, “Last Night I had a Dream” and “Alike at Morn and Eventide” were given by Miss Winifred Wise The slow, melancholy notes suited her rich contralto. There was a time not long ago when people stalked in drawing-rooms and on the stage giving out heavy, declamatory passages ari<i calling .it .recitatiOß. The art naturally fell low but it -is performers like Miss Beth Hadden who are showing what can really be done with it.' She was very good in “A Visit to the Academy” in gesture and Intonation, but she was excellent in "The Goblins Will Get You.'” Everyone was very pleased when one of the gaps in the programme was filled by violin solos by Miss Evelyn Dowling. First she played a "Movement From Grieg,” with a fascinating theme, a theme that was frank, genial and kindly wise. Temperament of player and composer so well agreed. The second piece, a "Movement from Cesar Franck, was rich and strong. . Very sweet singing was heard in Once a Little Fawn Was Straying” and. .Schubert’s "Bliss,” sung by,Miss Frances Nicholson. Her voice was perfectly modulated and she has the rare gift for capturing a mood. . i Two Viennese dances by Friedman Gartner were played by Miss Constance Leathani. The first was quiet with light, airy runs which seemed to be running away almost to silence until you heard the last soft note quite distinct. Each note was carefully weighed and each had its special value. In the second piece there were leaping chords among calm harmonies. The third piece was pure, lovely melody. An ' instrumental quartette, Mendelssohn’s “Gondelicb,” was played as the final item by Misses E. Dowling and Vinnie Ross (violins), Miss Mary Coleman (’cello) and Miss Constance Ix?atham (piano). It was a fitting.end to a thoughtfully artistic programme. Mr. R. Laurie Cooper thanked the performers, on behalf of the orchestral and choral societies, fo- their help. It was most encouraging, he said, when those who had the ability to help in music also had the inclination.