‘TALE OF OLD JAPAN"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 125, 30 May 1932, Page 8

‘TALE OF OLD JAPAN"

CHORAL SOCIETY WORK SATURDAY NIGHT’S SUCCESS Although all such bodies as the Wanganui Choral Society are now finding difficulty in carrying on, their continued life means the preservation in the community of love of choral work and the keeping awake of the appreciation of their efforts. Saturday night’> audience at the Opera Home for the thirteenth grand contort of the Wanganui Choral Society was a large one, and both attentive and appreciative. Tho first half of the programme was pleasingly varied, and served to introduce principals in tho cantata, “A Tale of Old Japan,’’ which occupied tho second portion of the concert. The musical director, Mr Jj\ Wentworth Slater, A.R.C.O. (London), had tho choir in fine form, and their work was marked with precision and closo attention to one who understood th? full meaning of the score. Assisting artists were: Miss Hilda Crysell, Sparano, Wanganui; Mrs Wilfred Andrews, contralto, Wellington; Miss Dorothy Hughes-Johnson, violinist, Wanganui: Mr W. Roy Hill, tenor, Wellington; Air Chas. Haar, baritone, Wanganui. Having a voice which she could use to effect in tne number, and assurance on the stage, Airs Wilfred Andrews led off with “Autumn Storms” (Grieg) and had a good reception. As a recall number, Mrs Andrews sang “Trees” (Carl Hahn). The second was more popular with the audience than the first, and it was treated with a touch of restraint and purity that had appeal.

Two violin solos followed, Alias Hughes-Johnson showing in “Hymn to the Sun’’ (Rimsky-Korsakoff-Frankc) a warm richness of tone. The second number “Chanson Arabe” (Rimsky-Korsakoff-Kreisler) was the more appreciated, its prettiness bein'* daintily treated.

In “The Bedouin Love Song,” Mr Haar did not seem to feel at home. He has been heard (o netter advantage, but redeemed himself with his treatment of

“So Fair a Flower” (Lohr). “She Sleeps” (composed by the conductor), a part song, was well done. Tho number is of a lullaby nature, and it was so treated. The audience was fully appreciative of the beauty of the piece, and requested a repetition, but wanting to keep within schedule, the stage manager could not comply. “Sing Little Bird o’ the Dawn” (Hemcry), gave Aliss Crysell ample scope for her clear and golden soprano. The number proved very popular, and sho returned to delight the audience with “Within a Milo of Edinburgh.’’ “The Sea,” a lyric written by Aliss Sybil Williams, of the Wanganui Girls’ College, has been set to music by Nir. Slater, and was sung by tho choir in a fully descriptive manner. The words themselves, and tho whole tone of the poem, have an air of intimate appreciation, and their value has not been lessened by the setting of the piece to music. Miss Williams was introduced to the audience. She received just applause. Air Roy Hill showed, singing Herrick’s “To Julia” cycle (R. Quilter) that he has a tenor voice which inclines to the robust rather than to the lyrical. The numbers in the cycle arc “Tho Bracelet,” “The Alaiden’s Blush,” “Julia’s Ha r” and “ To Daisies. ” The singer gave the audience more than tho music of the pieces. He interpreted them in song. One of the finest of S. ColeridgeTaylor’s works, “A Tale of Old Japan,” was very well done by the choir. From, the opening number of their portion of the (-veiing : s entertain me nt it could bo seen that tho conductor had his choir under perfect control. •It could be doubted whether the choir has been heard to better effect in recent years. At all times the entries were clean, and there was a preciseness of attack that made the singing thoroughly enjoyable. The choir is called upon to provide that background of mysticism so necessary to carry effectively the heavier colouring of the work of the principals to build a fitting musical picture. The pianissimo work was delightful. The whole abounds in difficult intervals, both for singers and orchestra. It has sudden changes of mood, and is both grave and gay. One feature of the work on Saturday night was tho blending of the quartet, Aliss Hilda Crysell, Airs Wilfred Andrews, Mr Roy Hill and Nir Chas. Haar. It is seldom that the soloists blend so well, but Saturday night’s performance v.as a striking instance of excellent combination.

As Kimi, Aliss Crysell carried off the part with honours. She showed that her voice was admirably suited the demands of the part, and she sang exceedingly well. Her part being of a character that could be easily overdone, restraint was due from Mrs Andrews, and the singer gave an understanding interpretation. Her voice was always under perfect control, and her personality on tho stage had its effect.

Vigorous and passionate singing was the basis of Nir Hill’s part as a principal. He entered into the spirit of his part and imbued it with life. Mr. Hair had a voice well suited to his part, liis light baritone fitting it well. His section, called also for vigour of treatment, and his dynamic utterances lost nothing because of his splendid diction. In passing it might bo mentioned that througgh the whole, either from the stage or from a short precis on tho programme, which offered ample space, was there any indication given of the story told by Alfred Noyes in the poem. Choir work especially provides great difficulty in clear enunciation, and in tho performance of “A Tale of Old Japan.” such a precis, spoken and written would have been appreciated.

In more than nine out. of every ton of such performances the orchestra is liable to take charge, but on Saturday night, under the leadership of Nliss Hughes-Johnson, the orchestra, by eliminating itself, really brought itself much the more before tho audience. At, no time through the whole did the orchestra in any way drown either principals or choir, and their playing was in no small measure responsible for the enjoyment of tho evening. In some passages their work is delicate, and in that the playing both daintv and artistic. It was a pity, although piiavoidable, that clarionet and oboe parts could not be obtained. Miss Wyvhcrley, of Palmerston North, was the ’cello player. Mr Herat io’Nelson, A.T.C.L., L.T.C.L. played with his usual excellence, his delicate touch, and fine understanding aiding both soloists in the first half

and principals in the second in no small degree. laken as a whole, the members of the Wanganui Choral Society might well set their performance of “A Tale of Old Japan” as a standard, and aim •it the improvement of the standard they have set themselves by their performance on Saturday night. Should they improve on that, then that convert will be musical entertainment indeed