Untitled

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1579, 29 July 1920, Page 34

Miss Bathie Stuart’s genius as an interpreter of Maori songs revealed itself to Auckland audiences in the four nights’ season of this versatile entertainer at. the Concert Chamber. Her gift is unique and her artistry rare. In expressing the rhythm of the Maori music she so completely absorbs the atmosphere that she visualises as well the traditional temperament and mood of the native race. A Maori recruiting song written by the Hon. A. T. Ngata, a lament given her by a Maori prin-

cess, a love ditty entitled “Pokarekare,” and two styles of hakas were comprised in her offerings, the audience each night showing their recognition in storms of applause and demands for more. It was a new vista of entertainment that Miss Stuart opened up, and, knowing the Maori, they were quick -to appreciate the remarkable fidelity of the impersonations. Close study and application of New Zealand folk-lore inspired her to give it public expression, and an inherent sense of mimicry made it an easy task. During her local season Miss Stuart was assisted by Miss Clarice Wood, whose accompanying was faultless. Miss Dorothy Baker, violinist, Miss lima Page, soprano, and Miss Liane Le Fevre, classical dancer, added to the interest of the entertainment. A note of pleasing variety was struck by the inclusion of the Hawaiian trio. Mr. George Greig was vociferously encored for his guitar solo, rendered with exceeding taste and feeling, and he made a material difference to the ensemble work in this section. At the final performance on Saturday amongst the many tributes sent up to Miss Stuart was a Maori patu, carved and inlaid with kawa shell, from “The Vagabonds.”

With his tour of the Cesaroni Concert Party, Mr. John Hopkins puts another notch in the list of high-class musical combinations with which his name has been associated for so many years. A musician of no small calibre himself, he has an unerring sense of the quality that constitutes an artist in this direction, and consequently the public take with faith his attractions and know it is something out of the ordinary rut when he comes along. The company were at Rotorua for the week-end.

John McCormack, the great tenor, who has just given his first concert in Sydney to an immense and enthusiastic audience, under the J. and N. Tait management, is now commencing a world tour which will keep him away from America until the end of 1921. After Australia and New Zealand he goes to London, where he will establish a remarkable precedent by giving a series of song recitals at the classic home of opera, Covent Garden.

“Bran Pie” is having a successful run at the Tivoli, Sydney. * * * * In the June issue of the Sydney “Green Room” appears a facsimile of a cable received from Dorothy Brunton: “Please contradict marriage.” $ * * * Mr. Hubert Carter has received an engagement with the Auckland Choral Society to sing the tenor solos m their presentation of “The Martyr of Antioch” on August 19. The Gisborne Orpheus Society have also secured his services for “The Songs of Trafalgar” and programmed items as well on August 26. ♦ * * * The Rev. Frank Gorman, the “singing parson,” will preach at the Pitt Street Methodist Church next Sunday. “What is Christianity?” will be his subject. * * * * Mdlle. Irma Caron, a daughter of M. Leon Caron, who was conductor of the J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company for a number of years, is to visit New Zealand shortly, giving an entertainment that will embrace excerpts from grand, light, and comic opera in costume.