The Jubilee Singers.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11715, 16 July 1901, Page 2

The Jubilee Singers.

The Jubilee Singers opened their short farewell season in the Theatre Royal on Monday night to a good house. The first part of the programme was chiefly ; devoted to the always delightful old plantation songs of worship, which seem to gain in quaint beauty and melody each time one hears them sung by the McAdoo Company. The opening chorus, " Prepare Me," and the sweetly rendered Lord's Prayer were followed by the vivacious " The Band of Gideon " and "I'm going to Serve God till I Die." Then Mr Eugene McAdoo's wonderful voice was heard in " A Hundred Fathoms Deep," a perfect atorm of applause recalling him to give another song. Indeed, we may say here that the Company .Was most generous in the matter of responding to recalls, the number of items on the programme being quite doubled. It is somewhat difficult to pick one's favourites from among these old melodies, but we think that "Hear dem Bells," '• Roll, Jordan Roll," and the Lord's Prayer must always stand out preeminent even from " Get you Ready," " BrotKer Michael," etc. In the first the wonderful effect of bells throbbing and dying throughithe.air, comes with afresh 'surprise of .pleasure each time. one hears the company. Miss Gibbons' powerful tenor voice was heard to good advantage in " The Holy City," and she was heartily and most deservedly encored. If a' fault could be found here, it was that Miss Gibbons' interpretation of her song was somewhat overdrawn. In the second part, Miss Underwood contributed Arditi's " Dream of Home," the song showing up the soprano's clear high notes very well. ' Miss Underwood also had to respond to a recall. Mr R. H. Collin3, al wayinrfttveurite with his audience, sang "My Lady Lou," and in response to a not-torbe denied recalls, two othei quaint little "coon " songs. To the regret of many, Mrs Webster was unable tc sing Denza's charming little song "MaJ Morning." In 'place of this item the olid favourite "Bingo " was substituted "Giuze.," a bduncing "mezzo soprano" in pinkj took possession of the stage anc evidently of the hearts of his audience too, for he. was recalled five times. The stirring march "Onward " by the company concluded a long "and much.appr6 ciate<l programme. Tha Company appear again to-night the last appearance in New Ply moqth^for some considerable time, as they crintempleto a long tour in the East It must be with re il regret .that, concert goers who have so often enjoyed th« MpAdooa' singing, learn that they will be absent, from the colony for a long period, and the Company are sure to have crowded houses for their farewell tour. .