ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 3147, 6 December 1923, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS SATURDAY'S CONCERT. By special arrangement Mr Edward Branscombe has endeavoured to have the leave of the members of the Westminster Glee Singers extended by the authorities of the London College of Choristers and- the various Cathedrals to which they belong, and in consequence a farewell concert will be given in the Town Hall on Saturday night. Three new boy sopranos have lately arrived from England. The gentlemen members are: Mr Donald Reid, and Mr William Lowry, male altos; Mr Edward Branscombe, Mr Ellis Vizard and Mr George Pownall, tenors; basses, Mr John Andrews and Mr Alfred Cunningham. With the additional voices Mr Branscombe has now included many excerpts froiu Grand Opera in the extensive repertoire, and the programme to be presented will -be entirely new, and will include solos, duets, quartettes, madrigals, glees, 'anthems and Old English Folk Songs. The tour of the Commonwealth which recently concluded was an unprecedented success. Thir-ty-two concerts were given in Sydney, and even in Brisbane with unusually hot weather eighteen concerts were given. The musical critic of the Sydney Daily Telegraph wrote of them: — "The programme was made of music—serious, light and gay—all excellent and with unwonted cleverness in the humorous items. On the solo side 'the soul's delight' no doubt was the singing of the boy soprano, Edmund Walter. He sang "Orpheus with His" Lute" (Sullivan) and a double encore, Gounod's "Serenade" (superbly sung) and Arnc's "When Daisies Died." The boy's pure, perfectly-trained voice exercised a spell upon the audience. The old glees and part songs took greatly. Mr .John Andrews is a magnificent bass. Mr Donald Reid, the' male alto, scored a great success. Mr Alfred Cunningham's gorgeous baritone was accorded a double encore; his magnificent rendering of the "Toreador" song from "Carmen" roused the emotion* of the audience." The box plan is at Congalton's, and intending patrons are advised to book their seats and so avoid disappoint-, ment. TOWN HALL PICTURES. TO-MORROW NIGHT. Holding one through sheer force of story and acting "The Shock," which comes to the Town Hall to-morrow night, is said by metropolitan critics to be one of the most unusual picturesproduced in months. The principal male role is played by Lon Chancy and the feminine lead by beautiful Virginia Valli. These two stars are supported by an excellent cast including such well-known players as Christine Mayo, Walter Long, Jack Mower, Henry Barrows, and James Wong.

A CHRISTMAS CONCERT. MR. GLADSTONE HILL AND PARTY. A preliminary advertisement, appears in this issue, advising that Mr Gladstone Hill and party will give a Christ' mas Concert in the Town Hall, Cambridge, on Thursday next, December 13th. Mr Gladstone Hill is well-known throughout the Dominion, and in the Waikato as conductor of the Hamilton Choral Society. At the Wellington Competitions held in September of this year the Hamilton Choral Choir and Choral Male Choir scored two wins and two seconds. The Harmonic Four wonIhe male quartette competition', and* ean thus! be regarded as perhaps the premier quartette of the Dominion. Patrons arc advised to book their scats at once. Prices arc 2/ (plus "tax]" fe : served, and 1/ door sales. Watch future issues for further details. ■; : j