THE GREAT CHENEY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 20 June 1924, Page 8

THE GREAT CHENEY.

SPLENDID GRAMOPHONE RECITAL.

Last night the Wesley Hall was filled to the last seat by an interested, and, as it turned out, delighted audience, assembled at the invitation of Messrs Chas. Begg and Co., to hear a gramophone recital given on the celebrated Olieney gramophone, which is the chief agency held by the firm in this line. Mr Eric Begg, L.A.8., presented the programme, and opened the proceedings with some terse, well-placed remarks relative to gramophone music. He said that gramophone dubs were now tliei order of the day in the British Isles. These dubs met regularly to bear and appreciate gramophone music, and to discuss gramophone artists, both as regards their artistry and their suit ability for recreation. They also devoted* time to comparing the composers, and records, and last, but not least, the makes of the machines. Messrs Chas. Begg and Co. had recently instituted gramophone recitals in Dunedin. Two Had been given, each to audiences that had fully appreciated the programmes submitted, and it was felt that the movement should be extended to Timavu, as the capital of South Canterbury. He hoped they’would enjoy the recital that night, and he felt compelled to say that, judging by the largo attendance that seemed to fill every scat, his firm would be pleased to coneider further recitals in Timaru. (Applause.) The programme opened with the Grand March from “Zampa,” played by the band of H.M. Ist Life Guards, and it continued to eighteen items, giving a diversity of instrumental music, both in brass, wood, wind and string, as well as the human voice com bined. The artists drawn on ranged from Amelita Galli-Curci, in the vocal line, to Malcolm McEachcrn, the celebrated basso. Among the other leading artists • featured were Caruso, Perini, and that master of the piano, Serge Rachmaninoff, who is best known perhaps in the musical world by bis famous “Prelude.” In a double-sided record, four great vocalists were com-bined—Galli-Curci, Perini, De Luca, and Caruso, singing from “Rigoletto” (Verdi), and Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammennoor.” One of the prettiest items of the evening was the “Blue Danube” Waltz, given as a vocal item by the soprano, Evelyn Scotnev. Here tiie delicacy of tone that can be produced on the Cheney was made evident by the ceho r repeat accompaniments that were given as a kind of obligato effect against a melody sustained by the singer. The children were not forgotten, “Old King Cole’s” nursery rhymes being vocalised, and a numbei which is bound to ba a favourite was introduced to a Timaru audience' —a waltz “Marchcta.” . During the evening Mr Begg gave a thumb-nail outline of each number, adding greatly to the interest of the evening, "which was brought to a at 9.30 with the National Anthem.