AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 232, 1 October 1928, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

MARGARET BANNERMAN. There was a very large demand for seats for the Margaret Bannerman season, which Degins on Wednesday night next, when Anthony Priusep's London com* pany will be presented by the J. C. Willjamson, Ltd., management in the fiwt production here of '"Other Men's Wivee," ■which was specially written for Mjm Bannerman by Walter Hackett, th« author o: "Ambrose Applejohn's Adventure," ■which was successfully staged here some years ago. The fact that Mis* Bannerman achieved one of her most briluant triumphs in Sydney in "Other Men'a Wives,'' has naturally had the effect of mating playgoers keen to sec her in this production, and it is a pity teat a longer run of this play is not possible. The character Miss Bannerman portrays gives her scope to display her talents as a comedy and a dramatis artist, and during the three acts, it is said, she wears some beautirul frocks. Comedy and dramatic situations follow one another right up to the final tall oi the curtain, in all of which Miss Bannerman exhibits the genius which has won for her a great name on the English speaking stage to-day. The cast also includes Ellis Irving. Lily Titheridge, Louis Goodrich, G. Iv. Souper, Arthur Come, Herbert Millard and Geoffrey Millar. On Monday next and two following evenings. '"Our Betters'' will be staged, and it will be followed by three performances of "Sexes and Sevens,'" and two of "Diplomacy." TOWN HALL CONCERTS. On Saturday evening before an audiencs of about 200, the usual civic concert was given. The programme was made up of choral numbers, organ solos and vocal items. The Municipal Ciioir, of 60 singers, contributed in a capable manner several concerted pieces, which were highly appreciated. Mendelssohn's 9Sth Psalm was given with nice choral blend, and in an exultant style. Pearsall's eight-part madrigal was a commendable piece of concerted work, and tastefully rendered was ihe \\ elsh air. '"Dear Harp. Thy Country.'' Graphically treated was Elgar'a '"O VVild TV est Wind," and effectively delivered was the old English melody '"The Farmer's Daughters." Other tastefully interpreted items were Gardiner'• ''Evening -,n the \ illage."' Stanford's "Oh, for the Swords.'" and Morley's "It Was a Lover and His Law." Mr. Maughan Barnett directed the concerted items and successfully performed Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,' Handel-Martucci "Minuet," Chopm's "Xocturne," Vierne's "Chimes." and Bendel's "Dornroschen." Accompanied by Mr. Whittaker, Mr. K. Bryden was heard in songs by Trotere, Willeby, and the '"Devonshire Wedding." Mr. Ed gar Eandal acted as choir organist. The Municipal Band, conducted by Mr. Christopher Smith, gave an enjoyable perlormance last night, before ,a numerous audience. Wagner's overture to "Kienzi'* "as admirably performed, and a telling rendering was secured of Handel's "'Hallelujah Chorus," from the "Messiah." The musicians also gave admirable interpretations of excerpts from Sullivan'# '"Gondoliers" and Ewing""s "GaMea/* cornet and flute solos by Messrs. Bowes and H. C. McLennan were warmly received. "LOHENGRIN." '"Lohengrin." which will be played this , at St. James' Theatre, was the first., or Wagner's operas which won general acceptance, and remains the most popular. The story has both power and. picturesqueness. The story of Lohengrin, the son of Parsifal, upon which Wagner ! las based his drama, is taken from many sourc-es, the old Celtic legend of King Arthur, his Iniishts. and the Holv Grail, % being mixed with the legend of a knight who arrives in his boat drawn by a swan. The version used by Wagner is supposed to be told by Wolfram, the Minnesinger, , at one of contests, and is in substance as follows:—Henry 1., King of Germany, known as "The Fowler," arrives at Antwerp for the purpose of raising a force to help him expel the Hungarians, who were threatening his dominion*. ' finds Brabant in a condition of ■ anarchy. Gottfried, the young son of the i late Duke, has mysteriously disappeared, i and Telramund, the husband of Ortrud. ■ daughter of the Prince of Friesland, . claims the dukedom. The claimant openly i charges Elsa, sister of Gottfried, with I having him to obtain the i sovereignty, and she is summoned before the King to submit her cause to the ordeal _ of battle between Telramund and any knight whom she may name. She de©crii>€€ a champion whom she has seen in a vision, i and conjures him to appear on her behaif. ■ Alter a triple summons by the heralds, he is seen approaching in a boat drawn by i a swan. Before the combat, Lohengrin . betrothes himself to Elsa, naming only s the condition that she shall never question c him as to his name or race. She assents c and the combat results in Telrainund'e defeat. The second act shows Telramund and Ortrud, now in disgrace, plotting to undo Elsa and Lohengrin. Then comei the preparations for the wedding—the procession—its interruption by Ortrud, who sows the seeds of doubt in Elsa's mind, doubt about her unknown chamThe third act opens in the bridal chamber, which is a beautiful scene. The Vorspeil to the opera takes for its subject the descent of the Holy Grai'. the mysterious symbol of the Christian Faith, and the Grail motive is the key to the whole work. Its delicious harmonies are of celestial beauty. Of c-xtremo simplHtv - is the '"Dream" motive, which relates the 1 vision of the Knight who is to come to 5 Elsa's assistance. The Swan Son", of , delicate beauty, sunjr by Lohengrin, a strain of elepant charm, and very powerful in the ensemble, composed of sextet and chorus, which closes Act I. The second act opens upon a night scene near the palace, which is merry with the wedding festivities, while the discomfited Tol- ■ ramund and Ortrud are plotting their conspiracy without iu a long duet, which : introduces new motives of hatred and ■ revenge, as opposed to the Grail motive. . In the second seen* Elsa appears upon • balcony, and she her famous 1 l° V * S^ D? * - The third scene i* preiuded . v.uu descriptive sunrise music bv the > £ re ' 1p f tra . and thereafter we have th» , bridal procession music, as the tra : n . moves on . fr °m the palace to the cathedral ' accompanied by a stately march and" I 3 u d 3,1 the ar t«ic snr- • Tk ti fj OI a beailti: *»'- sUae pag-ant ' The ihird act opens in the bridal chamb^ ?' th the , lamous bridal >-ong bv Elsa's • filf ' r 1 "** rne,<M,K " I S strains ha,-, b % , u>ed at many weddinzs the w o ,",foof!v f- ! The !!!■ , WCne of , thi « ** «« a picturp o" > the mutual outpouring of lovp. The 1 i > ne introduce* n S on<-o mop { m<> adow on the Scheldt, where L-.W.~- > T PP Tif rS Ko ' orc t!l ° Kin- and his , In iherr presence he reveals "» Par.«ifa?. wherein Orr' v _ - fully extended. This « tnil-V-d 'Sc fArctvp l - '"O F'i-. "* , a melody of wondrous ch.i'-n and l W ' r f T deon:i*m«n: n'T.v haiie?,--. an.l Ivohenjrriri .- -i lc 'jment of the Gr.iil motive.