Music and Drama.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XXIII, 7 December 1901, Page 1093

Music and Drama.

The perfonnance of Coleridge Taylor’s ‘’Hiawatha” by the Auckland Choral Society last week has been overwhelmed with favourable criticism. Given ia response to. a general desire to hear the whole of a work that on the occasion of the performance of the first portion of it by the Society at their last concert created So favourable an impression, ‘’Hiawatha" has proved the success of the year. The music is of a kind that, evokes response from all classes of listeners fresh, vigorous, and full of .flowing harmony. There is not a tiresome line in the whole piece, which is more than one can say of more pretentious compositions. The same qualities which commended it to the audience seem to have won the ihearts of the performers. Never before has the Society's orchestra or chorus done such splendid work. Singers and instrumentalists entered into the spirit of the music and gave of their best. The lady soloist, Mrs Hamilton Hodges, was more attractive than we have ever seen her, singing with much vivacity and discrimination, while the tenor of the evening, Mr W. B. Harkin, was good. The Society announces the performance of ‘’The Messiah" on Tuesday, the 17th of this month.

The double bass playing of Mr Blitz at the Auckland Choral Society’s' concert last week, was most favourably commented- on. -Mr- Blitz is a new and valuable 1 accession to the Society's orchestra.

The Auckland Liedertafel gave their third concert of the season in the Chfcival Hall last Friday. There was a good attendance on the occasion, and an excellent programme, which might have been a little more varied, however, was rehearsed. 'Among the items calling for special notice were Hard's “Night and 'Day.” “Integer Vitae." and Klieken's “To the Stars.” Mrs McConnell sang “The Dream of Home” and “Queen of the Angels”, with good effect, while Mr I*. Hockley was successful in “A Soldier's Song" and “Love, Could I onlv Tell Thee.”

To-morrow (Thursday) -three, weeks is the date announced for the opening of the- Brough season in ■Auckland. The occasion is being looked forward to with much interest by all playgoers, who recognise in the Broughs and their company the most finished exponents of highclass drama who visit these shores, Mr Chas. Arnold has had such immense success with “Hans the Boatman” in his recent. Queensland tour that he has decided to play the piece in Sydney for his Christmas attraction. Miss Ada Reeve will be in Australia shortly under engagement to Mr J. C. Williamson; She is booked to appear in London next spring in a new play, entitled “The Fascinating Miss Ford,” The Theatre Royal. Christchurch, is to be sold by auction on the 17th of January next. Mr Arthur Hahn is organising a concert and variety company to tour New Zealand.

The Pollards completed a calendar month of their Auckland season on Friday last, and are still going on —• the best proof of their popularity. Saturday saw the ever charming "Belle of New York,” while Monday and yesterday devoted to “La Poupee.” To-night (Wednesday) and during the rest of the week “La Perichole” will be played. As the piece is practically new to Auckland, and exceedingly pretty, it should be well patronised. Next week there will be a revival of “ Ftoradora,” and the season will conclude on the Saturday.

The concert given by the Harmonic Society in the School of Music Hall, Nelson last Thursday week was in every way a great success. There was a large and appreciative audience and the chorus benches were well filled, though it would have been an advantage if there had been more male voices. There were only twe selections by chorus and orchesti-a—-“Chorus of Pilgrims,” from “I Lombardi” (Verdi), and “At Dawn of Day,” from Cowan’s “Sleeping Beauty.” Both were given with precision and telling effect, so much so that the former had to be repeated. The orchestra, which shows steady improvement, played several selections, which were much appreciated. Miss Clarice Hunt as usual had a very hearty reception. She was in splendid voice and sang exceedingly well “A Song of Thanksgiving” (Allitson), and “Che Jaro Senza Euridices” (Gluck). She was recalled for each. Miss Ruby Hanby, a young vocalist, who has the promise of a remarkably fine voice, sang Beethoven's “In Questa Tomba,” which so delighted her hearers that they were not content with a mere acknowledgment, but re-demanded the song, which was repeated. Mr H. Kidson’s rendering of Schubert’s “The Wanderer” was charming. Miss A. Stevens played a pianoforte solo (adagio and il moto perpetuo) First Grand Sonata (Weber) in brilliajit style and was re-call-ed. Miss Nina Moore played the accompaniments with sympathy and taste, and Herr Lemmer conducted with his usual proficiency.

'Miss Henrietta Watson, well known in New Zealand and Australia, has joined the Kendals in London, and will play in their season at St. James’ Theatre.

Mr Howard Chambers, the well known Auckland baritone, who has been with Mr Harry Rickards for the past three years, talks of paying a visit to America.

The number of candidates who entered for the local examinations of Trinity College, London, at colonial centres during the present year is the largest ever recorded, and exceeds 8700. This figure is made up of 5431 candidates in musical knowledge (paper work examinations) and 3290 in practical music (pianoforte, organ, violin and singing), and in addition 62 colonial candidates entered for the college higher certificates in practical music. All the examinations held in the colonies are identical in requirements and in standard with those taking place throughout the United Kingdom, and the numbers of successful candidates in the colonies are as high, and in some cases higher, than at Home. The colonics in which the examinations are held arc Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Africa, India, Ceylon, and Canada. The grand total of candidates who have entered for the examinations of Trinity College. London, since their inception in 1877, is now considerably over a quarter of a million.

Last Thursday Mr W. H. Webbe, of the Auckland School of Music, gave his 101st musical evening. There were many visitors present, and an excellent programme was rehearsed, iu which Misses M. Anderson, N. Sib-

bald, D. Nicol, G. and E. Spooner, M. Webbe, M. Mitchell. D. Miller, A. Smith, E. Cole, E. Rosser, L. Burns, W. Lambourne. It. Beehan, F. Fuller, L. Buchanan, .1. Foubister. A. Stone, and F. Morton took part, .Mr Horace Stebbing contributed two songs, and Herr Kreutzer two violin solos, while Messrs F. Morton and It. F. Croker played an organ and piano duet.

Mr Hudson, who managed Musgrove’s Grand Opera Company through the colony, writes that the Company is now “scattered to the four winds of Heaven.” Indeed, of all the artists from England and the Continent, who so delighted us, Herr and Madame Slapoffski alone remain behind in Sydney. Herr Slapoffski has been engaged for the prod net ion of the burlesque “Aladdin” at the Princess Theatre at Christmas. Mme. Slapoffski. who is resting, was announced to sing in aid of the Dramatic Fund last week. Mme. Agnes Jansen, Miss Lilian Coomber. Mr Chas. Tilbury, and Mr Lempriere Pringle sailed for London by the India a fortnight back. Herr Berthaid and Mr Lawrence Mooney took ship to Sau Francisco on their way to New York. Signor Salvi and Miss Lorraine departed by the Cuzco from Melbourne last week; and Miss Enriqueta Crichton, who has an engagement at the Mannheim Opera House, Mr Gilbert. King (stage manager), and Herr Max Eugene sailed by the German liner Rhein on Wednesday. Herr Eugene is booked for Naples only, ami is probably making his way to Germany, as his mother, to whom he is greatly devoted, resides at Heidelberg. Herr Eugene, it will be remembered, is the son of the famous basso, Carl Stepan, who was for several seasons a notable figure at Covent. Garden in the days of Mme. Tietjens, and was afterwards for many years attached to the Mannheim Opera House, Germany.