STUDENTS’ CONCERT IN CHORAL HALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18013, 25 November 1926, Page 5

STUDENTS’ CONCERT IN CHORAL HALL.

VARIED ITEMS MADE UP A FULL PROGRAMME. Mr Harold Reck, in association with Miss Jessie Xing: and Miss Irene Morris, presented their advanced students in a vocal, orchestral and instrumental concert on Tuesday evening to a large audience at the Choral Hall. Mr Beck himself directed a capable string orchestra (mainly students) led by Miss Morris, in two suites by Purcell and Grieg (“Aus Holberg’s Zeit”). The Purcell composition was from the ” Dramatic Music ” of the great English composer, and consisted of “ Rondeau,” ‘‘Slow Air,” “Air,” “ Minuet” and “ Finale.” alt- delightfully characteristic. These numbers were acceptably played wtih careful attention to light and shade. The lengthy programme included other concerted instrumental music, including the introduction from Rossini's “ William Tell ” overture, played by seven cellists: Massenet’s entr’acte from “ Les Erinnves,” the "Tragcdic Antique” for violiii (Thelma Cusack) and orchestra, as well as the well-known Bach “ Air.” In the latter Miss Pearl Stringer was the satisfactory soloist, accompanied by a string quartet consisting of Misses Morris and May Draper, Messrs J. A. Mercer and Eric Lomas. . Mr Beck brought forward an artistic student in Mr Hamilton Dickson, who gave the very difficult and lengthy fifteen minutes “ Variations Svmphoniques ”of Boellmann. The composition is celebrated, and is associated with ’cellists of note. Mr Dickson has very excellent technique, sweet tone and noticeable good taste. He kept well the interest of his audience in the skilful intricacies of these inspired variations, and finely worked the finale up Miss Bessie Pollard gave capable assistance at the piano. Mr Dickson was very heartily applauded at the close. Another young ’cellist who played most commendably was Miss Yalmai Livingstone, who, with Mrs Vere Bates at the piano, gave the allegro of the Boellman Sonata for ’cello and piano. She has a fine tone, and plays with energy and spirit, and is undoubtedly promising. In both of these Boellman numbers the piano has an exacting part, and Mrs Bates did well. Miss

(Xellie Ellwood had orchestral accompaniment for her careful performance ( of Max Bruch’s famous ’cello solo, “ Kol Xidrei.” A pleasing feature of the programme was the singing of some part-songs and /olk-songs by a group of vocal students • under the direction of Miss Jessie King. The voices were young, fresh and sweet, and the girls sang with confidence. Miss i King accompanied. The part-songs J were by Alfred Wheeler f‘‘ As it Fell 1 upon a Day ”) and Richard Walthew (“ Serenade ”) and the folk-songs were “ Blow Away the Morning Dew ** and “Sweet Xightingale’.” Miss King brought forward a number of young solo singers, who gave a good account of themselves, and probably with absence of nervousness would do still better. Miss Vivienne Ralph, in songs of Schubert and Brahms, showed herself the possessor of a full, rich contralto of power. Mism Xellie Billcliff has a good liquid quality of voice, but there was a suspicion of roughness about it, probably nervousness. Miss Gladys Brooks has a good range and a certain facility in her singing, but in “ Caro Nome,” from Verdi’s “ Rigoletto,” she did not have complete confidence, and the voice therefore showed a lack, of tone. Her first trill was very neat. Miss Marie Brooks sang Martin Shau s “ The Cuckoo ” pleasantly. There were, as well, a number of ether items on the programme. Theda Bara, who attained fame, immediately in the first vampire role in the . annals of the photoplay, relinquished her enviable place among screen stars by voluntarily retiring from the film for about five years. Finally the thousands of letters from fans persuaded her to return to public life and she appeared in a feature picture, .“The L’nchastened Woman." Learning of Miss Bara’s return to tl>e silver sheet, Hal Roach conceived tbe idea that she could appear to distinct advantage in a two-reel comedy special. So he got the star’s signature to a contract. Miss Bara proved herself right at home in the making of the comedv for Pathe Exchange >: a Two blonde extra girls were sitting in the lobby of a hotel in They were discussing a certain casting director. Evidently the director had promised one of them a job. but managed to be out every time the blonde called to get it. “ You know.” said she. “ I have chased that liar all over Hollywood, and I haven’t been able to catch him. If there ever was a ‘ Vanishing American,' he’s the baby!”