MALE CHOIR CONCERT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16455, 6 June 1919, Page 3

MALE CHOIR CONCERT.

SUCCESS OF MADAME JOHNSTONTOPLISS. The fina/concert of the second season of the New Plymouth Male Choir Society was given in the. Good Templar Hall Inst night, and will he repented to-night. The choir was somewhat short of its full strength, and certain little weaknesses were apparent, but an occasional variation in quality can only ho expected in such a body, and is no cause for despair. The choir was perhaps most appreciated when producing melody in which skilful variations of the voices were embodied, as in “The Three Chafers" (Truhn). For their singing of this the choir were recalled, and they offered “The Song of the Bow,” an old favourite. The other part songs given were “The Hardy Norseman” (Pearsall), “The Young Musicians” (Kucken), “The Martyrs of the Arena” (L. de Rille), “Men of Harlech” (Tilleard), and “The Red Sun is Sinking” (Leslie). As has been the 1 case on some previous occasions the contributions of assisting artists lent a decided charm to the concert, the star on this occasion being Madame Johnston-Tnpliss, of Sydney, who has recently filled engagements with marked success in many New Zealand centres. Madame Johnston-Top-liss provided a rare vocal treat for her listeners last night. Her soprano voice is of excellent quality and purity, and wide in range. Her singing is marked by the uttermost simplicity of manner or superb dramatic delivery, exactly as the subject requires. “Roberto otu che Adoro” (Meyerbeer), “A Dream of Delight” (Horatio Nichol), and “Voi lo Sapeto o mamma” (Santuzza’s song from “Cavalleria Rusticana”), were the singer’s programme numbers last night. To-night, “The Mad Scene” from “Lucia di Laramermoor” will probably replace “ADream of Delight;” it was not given on the first night owing to the need for more thorough preparation with the flute obligato than had Been possible then. Madame Johnston-Top-liss was recalled eight times in all, and was presented with a beautiful bouquet. Her encores were all charming, and their varying character revealed the versatility of the singer in treating dramatic, light and joyous subjects. The encores were “Invitation” (Owen), “Keep On Hoping,” “In an Old-fash-ioned Town” (Squire), “You, Dear, and I,” “My Hero” (Strauss), and Tosti’s “Good-bye,’ the last mentioned coming as a fitting climax to a period of delight.

Seven members of the choir—Messrs. Asher, Brooker, Allan Brooker. Bullin, H. and W. M'Ewen and J. Powell —made a decided success of a humorous item “Johnny Schmoker,’ and had to come back to give more. Mr. Fred. Asher sang “Mine Enemy” (Olga Rudd), with “I Dreamt of a Garden of Sunshine,” as an encore. Master R. Brian Horner played as a flute solo “Oavatino” (Raff) and, being encored, added “Saint d’Amour.” Messrs. PI. Voght, V. Rush, A. Handley and W. Haimes played admirably in an instrumental quartette, “O, Lovely Night” (C. Jenkins), and their encore number, a medley of airs, was equally acceptable. The ball was well filled last night and should bo in the same condition for the final performance this evening.