ROYAL MUSICAL SOCIETY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17215, 5 December 1923, Page 11

ROYAL MUSICAL SOCIETY

MISCELLANEOUS CONCERT. Tho Royal Christchurch Musical Societv gave the third subscription concert of its season in the Choral Hall last night- The concert was a success beyond all question, and it is a long time since the society has staged a bettor one. Tho only choral item on the programme was Stanford’s ‘‘ The Revenge,” which is Tennyson’s poem set to music. The poem itself is a spirited thing, and it tells of the famous last fight of Sir Richard Grenville. There is no doubt that this story of heroism is a fine musical theme and one which gives plenty of scope for colour-work and detail. There is the battle scene, the defiance and bravery of tho English sailors and their captain, and the death of Grenville; all these things are true musical subjects in the hands of a composer of sufficient imagination. C. V. Stanford did manage to catch the epic spirit of the poenx which he set to music, and the result is a fine choral composition. There is thunder in it, and at the 6ame time" periods of quietness and pathos. It is a work which makes many demands upon the singers. The chorus, which was fairly well balanced, did good work, but the principal weakness was in the baritones and tenors. They

were neither numerous enough nor assertive enough, and when the theme was left to them it did not carry on

at all well. The women were quite satisfactory, and the orchestra, although weak on some bars, got through well.

“Flora’s Holiday,” a cycle of Old English melodies by H. Lane-Wilson, provided the finest part of the programme. The songs were composed for four voices, tenoi\ baritone, contralto and soprano. The men’s parts were taken by Messrs Chas. Clarkson and 11. Prescott, and those for the ladies by Madame Gower Burns and Miss Marion Woodhouse. The quartette numbers, “ Come, All Ye Lads and Lassies,” “ Gentle Dawn,” “ Country Dance ” and “ The Commotion of Love,” were all brilliantly done. The voices seemed to blend faultlessly, and a good balance was preserved. Mr Prescott sang but one solo, “ Tell Me, Charming Creature,” but it was enough to show the excellent quality of his voice. If he only had a little more fire he would be a really fine singer. Madame Gower Burns in her solo “Love’s Greeting” gave an illustration of what musical artistry really is. The most popular number was “ Sound Argument,” which fell to Air Clarkson. It was a humorous song, and besides having a rich and beautiful baritone voice Mr Clarkson has a keen sense of humour, and that made the song the success of the evening. Another popular number was a pretty catch, 7 ‘ The Pedlar,” and her'e again Mr Clarkson provided the humour. Madame Gower Burns contributed a beautiful solo which consisted of a scene and aria from “ Herodias,” “ He is Good. He is Kind.” The number was well sung- Mr Sydney Butler, besides conducting the orchestra, sang “ Haste, Ye Shepherds,” from the Christmas Oratorio (J. S. Bach), in his usual polished manner. .Mr Angus Gunter, well known as an artistic violinist. played the following numbers: “Air” ' (Goldmark), “Nocturne” (Flubay), and “ Laendler ” (Straesser). In addition he played Nordini’s concerto in E minor.