"TOM JONES” COMIC OPERA

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1930, Page 9

"TOM JONES” COMIC OPERA

final CHORAL SOCIETY CONWT. FITTING conclusion to season: Founded on Feilding’s novel.of West Country life in the 18th century, Edward German’s comic opera, ‘‘Tom Jones,” with its vivid realism, its bold pastorals, and its fashionable vignettes, provided not only -a test but a triumph for the New Plymouth Choral Society jn its final concert of the season last night. To say that the Empire Theatre was crowded, that the audience was jeapomsive to every mood and appreciative of every success is only to repeat what has -become an accepted feature of these concerts, Gifted like Sir Arthur Sullivan with the ability to write light and intensely yivid music, but more musieianly than Sullivan, German made his compositions Sparkle with life, In his “Merrie England,” produced by the society., some time ago, New Plymouth was shown a glowing portrait from the reign of Eljgabetll. Last night the imagination journeyed not quite so far back but was just as subtly played upon when it was encouraged, indeed compelled, to Conjure with the Somersetshire of a bygone day. ' Was it the hunting field that German wished to call up? Then he made his music and the words represent the vigorous sounds of galloping hoofs—, “Gone away! Hard forward! The fox is found; Fly horse and hound. Was never a horse to cover the ground Like the old grey mare.”

Or was it th© confused hurry and bustle in the household to prepare for visitors? Then he saw to it that the medium by which he conveyed the idea was truly representative-?

“Hurry! Bustle! z Serving men and wenches, Plcar away the pewter pota, x Polish up th© benches. " House is full of gentlefolk,; Stahl© full of coaches. \ Hurry! Bustle! ' Quality approaches.” ,

One had-no difficulty in transporting oneself willingly and easily to those far-off hunting scenes,, or to visualise the perturbation of the squire’s retain-,, ers at the. unexpected. Invasion of theifl domains. .‘But that this was so was not entirely due to- the compelling force of German’s mu-fic, It was due just as much to tfio interpretation by the choir and orchestra’ ujider the batop of Mr, R. Laurie Cooper. The ladies set the standard with the well controlled volume and the lively tempo needed for “Dop’t you find the weather charming.” Thep the huntsmen followed with their wild, excited cries of “Tally-ho!” They did the song 'creditably, but in contrasting it with the immediately preceding female chorus one wished that the society had the services of a greater number of men’s voices. ■

However, there can he no doubt that the choir really triumphed last night, It was impossible pot. th like the delicate “Glass of Fashion” chorus sung to the plegapt time of a gavotte; the softly faffing notes of “Beguile, Beguile, With Music Sweet”; the poem about a soldier’s life, with the thrilling attack on that last line; ‘‘Then hey, for the life pf a soldier!” or the fuli-ftoupdipg resonance of “Hark! Hark! The Sound of Merry Wedding Bells,” and the lines that closed the opera, Nor qould one avoid being steeped in th? patent realism, the swirling sounds of fighting and- turmoil when the voices thundered—‘‘Here's a broil! What a coil? Terrible! Terrible! Why this turmoil ? - > What a eoill" The society waa again fortunate in obtaining the services of Miss Naomi Whalley, wfiose practised soprano delighted the audience jn the solos as Sophia, As. befitting the part of the shy, lovesick daughter of the -,quire, Miss Whalley’s songs were necessarily of a sentimental nature. They were touchingly rendered and earned several well-deserved encores. Miss VVhr Iley’s outstanding achievement was the waltz song. It was brilliant. High flights and difficult passages seemed to roll out so naturally. Miss Mary Brodie ma<le her debut as a soloist for the society. Though her work was not heavy, she filled two roles, those of Honour and Lady Bellaston, Her fresh, unstrained soprano pleased very much, especially in the pretty little solo, “Dream o’ Day Jill,” which she had to repeat, and in “The Green Ribbon,” with male chorus. Mrs. S, O, Jpnes, who sang from the choir ranks, was the other lady soloist. As the hostess .she was required to sing only a few brief interpolations, but were well done, Mr, Harold Ackroyd was the principal m#le -soloist, Ip the role of Honest Tom, the foundling, his full-toned buritope gave the necessary manly vigour to the sopgs of a youth who loved hunting and life in the open-air. Whenever fie, sang he pleased. He made an effective entry with “West Country Lad,” and was later encored fpr “If Love’s Content.'’ Mr. Ron, Gilbert sang the parte of Squire Western, Squire Allworthy, Blifil and an officer. After his first essay he succeeded in infusing into his songs the brusque vigour one associates with the characters he portrayed, and his “On a January Morning” earned him an encore. With the others he was

exceedingly effective in ’trios apd quartettes-

The orchestra, led by Mr. Frank Symes, was an important help towards the success ’ of the concert, while Mrs. R. L, Cooper played the pianoforte ae? oompailiments -with restraint and sympathy, ■ ; At the conclusion pf the perfonnftnee members of the choir and orchestra remained pn the stage while, pp their behalf, Mr, A, W. Morrison expressed thanks to the musical director, Mr, R. Laurie Copper, for his patient apd successful work ip developing the choir, and to Mr. J. H. Sheet, the secretary. To each of them he presented, a pedestal ash tray and requisites,. Then, tp Mesdames Coo’per (accompaniste) and Sheat and Miss Sole .(librarian) he handed bouquets, followed by framed pictures. In speaking of their worls- Mr.: Morrison said the society reebgpised jt had. fine of the best aeeompanistes in the fipPmipion in Mrs. Copper. Mrs. Sfiqat had always been willing at anjr [( ,tfipa tp throw her house opep.for sectjopal practices, apd had been 'a staunch .worker for the choir, thus supplementing and supporting the services of her ’ Jmgfiand. Miss Sole had made herself indispensable as librarian, and in addition tp.-Aer duties in that position had made herself responsible'for concert decoratipus... In the course of his reply, Mr. Copper said that he was grateful fpr ( whftt had been said about Ills work apd' Mrs. Cooper’s, but what pleased him more was that members recognised the good work of Mr. and Mrs. Sheat and Miss Sole. No ope realised inpre than he what the society owed them. After' brief replies by Mr.-Sheat ’and by Mr. Copper on behalf pf Mbs Sole, members of the society assembled' ip the Hygienic for supper,