AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12053, 21 December 1906, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, ETC.

OPERA HOUSE BOOKINGS.

Dec. 26 to 29. — Carnival Committee. MARIE NARELLE. Pleasant and vivid recollections of Marie Nareile will remain with many Wanganui music lovers when other triumphs have been forgotten. Truly the fgifted singer who graced the local Opera House last evening was crowned with popular approval and if she is not the "Queen of Irish song' her compeer has yet to reach these shores. It was* a revelation to the large audience present as to what can be accomplished w^th the human voice, for the 6ongs she sang not only appealed to the musical sensibilities of her hearers, but went straight to the heart, and as one patron put it on hearing the concluding item "it made one feel good all over." Little can be added to this beyond saying that a charming 1 personality adorns the other gifts of this talented lady. We do not propose to give a resume of the programme submitted for under the circumstances it would be but a superfluity. It was mainly composed of well-known Irish and Scotch melodies each of which were sung as only Marie Nareile canoeing them and to say that the meed of appreciation was spontaneous and hearty is to put it mildly. The last item, "Home Sweet Home" sung in response to an enthusiastic encore aiid a shower of floral tributes, was a fitting finale to a musical evening the people of Wanganui are not likely to forget. Mr Chester Fen tress also favoured the audience with several items. Tuis gentleman possesses a rich cultured tenor voice, and his items were a treat to listen to. His best item was perhaps the bracketed number "Roseen Dhu" and "Oft on a Stilly Night," the latter, being especially fine. His voice though not powerful is very sweet and true whilst hie enunciation ie perfect. Mention should also be made of the pianiste, Miss Con6tance Brandon-Usher, whose solos and accompaniments were all that could be desired. In fact so pleased was the audience with her interpretation and execution in the second item "Tarantella" (Lisyt) that an encore was demanded and gracefully acceded to, which by the way is solid praise under the circumstances. Taken as a whole the concert was a rare musical treat. The piano used for the accompaniments was a fine Koch, lent by the Dresden Piano Co. The Castlecliff Railway Coy. Ltd., wish to remind readers that their special timetable for the holidays appears in another column of this, issue. The ordinary Sunday service will be observed on Christmas Day, while on Boxing Day a very convenient time-table will be run, trains running almost every hour throughout the day. Those wishing to spend a pleasant day could not do better than take the advantage of spending the holiday at Castlecliff.