AEOLIAN CLUB.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17995, 4 November 1926, Page 7

AEOLIAN CLUB.

A PLEASING RECITAL. With each recital by the ,'Eolian Club, the musical organisation which operates under the control of Mr Ernest Einpson, it more firmly establishes itself in the musical world of Christchurch, and it has been amply shown that the club is here to stay. A further recital was given in the Choral Hall last/ evening, the attendance being satisfactory to all concerned. The latest concert was quite on a par in the matter of merit, from the point of view of music, with those previously given, and the audience was not slow to show appreciation of that. It would appear that the A3olian Club is going to do much In bringing out instrumental players and vocalists to their proper concert status. Mr Empson is doing a service to music in Christchurch, and his efforts and of those associated with him merit wide support. Not all who perform are in the first flight, but the touch of promise is clearly shown. Last night’s recital was opened by Miss Elsie Morrah, who played Brahms’s “ Rhapsody in B Minor ” with extreme delicacy in the softer passages, but also showed great power and dexterity of fingers. Her only defect was that she made the pauses between movements too short. Miss Judith Mathias, a youthful violinist was heard in a brace of violin solos, the first number being - Haydn’s “Minuet in F Major.” A little more freedom and concert experience would be beneficial, as the player is capable of producing a good tone. She showed that in an aria on the G string by Bach. A little more concentration on the spirit of the composition rather than on the actual arrangement of notes would make Miss Mathias a player well above the ordinary. Miss Sheila Tobin showed great dexterity, but was just a trifle mechanical, in her playing of Schumann's "Novelette in E Major,” but the effort was distinctly pleasing. The well-known “Ah Fors e Lui ” (Verdi) was charmingly sung by Miss Lillian Hanham, who has a very flexible, wellcontrolled voice, but is inclined to sacrifice trueness of tone to clear enunciation. The first part of the programme was admirably capped off by Mr Fred Page in a bracket on the piano, “ Reflections in Water ” and "La Plus que Lente,” both by Debussy. Mr Page is both graceful and finished in style, has great interpretative powers, and should be able to hold his own in very good concert platform company. The second part of the programme was just as enjoyable as the first. It began with Miss Bessie Pollard playing Grieg’s “ Concerto in A Minor,” a number which she treated charmingly, interpreting the various movements and moods with marked ability. Rachmaninoff was r-epresented on the programme by his "Valse in A Major,” and this intricate work received fine handling by Miss Violet Halliday. Miss Olive Cooper was the only other to give an item who did not appear in the first part, and in Chopin’s “ Scherzo in E Major ” she caught the delicacy and feeling which marks Chopin’s works. Miss Hanham • and Miss Mathias were also contributors

to the second part of the programme. Though encores were not to be given, according to_a_programmo notice, these were frequently asked for, ancUmany o? - the performers were the recipients of J boxes of chocolates.