OPENING CONCERT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20283, 18 April 1934, Page 4

OPENING CONCERT.

Liedertafel Gives First “At Home.” The "At Homes” of the Liedertafel are always populur functions with its members, mainly because they enable their women friends to hear and see them at work and determine whether the nignts they spend away from home practising are worth while. Generally tne standard of the choir is very high, but last night’s concert did not reach that standard. The attacks were in some cases weak and uneven, and in most cases there was an absence oi that detail of expression that has been noticeable in the past. The choice of programme also was hardly up to previous “At Home ” standards. A feature of the evening was the singing of Mr H. J. Francis, who received a double encore lor his tenor songs. “ Toast ” (Mohring), which opened the concert, is a bright and rollicking composition, which was given with vigour and clarity of tone, tiiough some of the attacks were a little uneven. However, the members soon came under the conductor’s baton, and the following “ Come, Clara, as the Lily Fair ” (Spolforth) saw a wealth of light and shade work excellently administered, besides an even tone corning over. Julius Harrison’s composition, “ Viking Song,” proved to be one of the best efforts of the choir, this being proven by the popular reception it received. The vocal contrasts were well marked, the tonal quality evenly sustained throughout, and tne enunciation clear and distinct. Another charmingly sung part-song was " There Be None of Beauty's Daughters ” (Aicockj, while the spiritual. “ 1 Got Shoes,” sung for the hrst time, received refined treatment and had to be enoored. A splendid part-song that received careful treatment was " What Care 1 How Fair She Be?” which had to be encored. It was followed by ”In Maytime,” replacing- " The Drowsy Woods.” "One VViio Has Yearned Alone ” (Tseliaikowsky), arranged by Kiegger, sung by the choir, was not r Lreated in the right manner, lacking expression. The cnorus from Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance,” “With Cat-like Tread,” was full of vigour, and received robust treatment. The soloists chosen were among the best in the choir, and their numbers were amply appreciated. Mr P. Hockley, one of the choir’s oldest stalwarts, demonstrated that hs is capable of singing an old ballad such as “ Love's Victory,” with a fair amount of expression. Messrs R. Allison and J. H. Cocks, always popular at the Liedertafel concerts, wnether it be in songs or duets, gave a spirited version of “ Flow Gently, Deva ” (Parry), the many ertects being nicely done. Bor a well-deserved encore the well-known words of the hymn, “Day is Dying in the West,” sei as a duet, were tastefully sung. Mr j. L. Morgan, a new member, was hardly equal to tne demands of his solo, “ Onaway, Awake. Beloved” (CoweilJ, but he fared better in his encore, " Sea Fever ” (Clarke). He was loudly applauded. Mr P. Caithness’s robust and dramatic baritone voice was well suited in “ The Lute Player” (Aliitsen) and “Trees.” The tinal soloist was Mr llarry Francis, in excellent voice, who gave a delightful rendering of “ The Spirit Flower ” (Tipton) and “Birds’ Songs at Eventide ' (Coates). He received a double encore, responding with Roger’s “The Star,” his top notes ringing out with a clear Dr T. L. Crooke and Mr A. Worsley played ** Slavonic Dance ” (Dvorak) tastefully and with good technique.