WANGANUI LIEDERTAFEL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 4 September 1908, Page 5

WANGANUI LIEDERTAFEL.

The thirtieth concert of the Wanganui Liedertafel marks the tenth yeai since it was instituted", and of the original members. there are still a few, veterans, although in course of time there have been many changes of conductors and members. That'it6 popularity under its present condudtetvis as great as it ever has been was.amply demonstrated by the large,.-and| enthusiastic audience in the OperajSouse on Wednesday night. The prbgrariSftlJ was varied and introduced 6everal L%«V&ft4es, and its performance, a few^lkfo&gties notwithstanding, was a decided success. The chorus was well balanced and ably conducted by Mr Arthur Towsey. The opening song was "The; Frontier Line" (by Reisiger), and was received with considerable favour by the audience. The second part song, '< Breeze of the Night" (by Lamothe), -was interpreted with great delicacy and finish -and the enthusiastic encore was'"merited " The. " Viking's Farewell" (Knowlee) and

Sea lught" (Foxwcll) are descriptive part songs, and the former was embellished by a flute obligate by Mr VV. A. Roach. Both were pleasino-jy given and showed evidence of careful preparation. "Laughing" (by Abt) is an amusing trifle and was probably encored more for its humour and quaintness than for any musical value it may possess. The concluding part sono- by Gornsheim, entitled "Salamis," was also very capably interpreted. The Liedertaicl were fortunate in securing tho services of 'Miss Edith Pinches as ono of their soloists. She has a sweet, well-trained soprano voice and imparts great reeling. and expression to her songs, whilst her enunciation might be copied with advantage by many singers oi greater fame.. Her first song, "The Dream of Home" (by Arditi), was taken more slowly than is usual; there should nave been more fire and vigour imparted, but it served well to display the beauty and flexibility of the voice. Miss Pinches was greeted with round after round of applause, to which she responded with "When I Awake" (YY right). In the second part Miss Pinches quite charmed tho audience by her pathetic rendering of "Tatters" (by Gerald Lane), her sympathetic voice being heard to the best advantage. In response to the inevitable encore she sang Alfred Hill's " Waiata Poi." Mr F. W. Atkinson is a- bass singer who kindly came from Auckland at very short notice instead of Mr Manning. Ho was encored for both his songs, the second time giving in response "Rocked m tho Cradle of the Deep." Mr W. A. Roach is a flute player of ability, his tono being good and his execution facile. Both his solos were much enjoyed and heartily encored. After the first encore for "Graceful Dance" he played a selection from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana," and for his second " Songs Without W^ords." He played as an encore a pretty little composition by Verani. (Mr Stewart Austin, the honorary pianist of the Liedertafel, played all the accompaniments, and discharged his responsible dirties satisfactorily. Mr Towsey is to be congratulated on the success of the Lieder tafel under his baton.