MUSICAL RECITAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 165, 27 May 1940, Page 5

MUSICAL RECITAL

PRESENTATION IN AID OF RED CROSS LARGE AND APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE A large and appreciative audience ! attended the Recital of Classical Music which was given in Knox Hall, Whakatane, on Tuesday afternoon, May 21st. The contributing artists were Mrs F. J. Appleby, Mrs Ernest Armstrong, Mrs R. H. Larmer and Mrs J. H. B. Warner (who kindly deputised for Mrs T. W. James). Well known as a brilliant pianiste, Mrs Appleby's performance as soloist and accompanist, was outstanding. Her difficult selections, including Chopin's "Military Polonaise," "Nocturne" No. 5, "Raindrop Prelude" arid Beethoven's "Pathetique Sonata" (First Movement-) were given with temperamental appreciation and masterly technique. In response to spontaneous applause Mrs. Appleby gave contrasting dainty little encores. Mrs Warner's sweet lyrical voice was heard to advantage in the rippling waltz song "April Morn" and for an encore delighted her audience with "Little Brown Owl." Later Mrs Warner sang Gounodls "Ave Maria," and responded with Schubert's "Hark! Hark the Lark.*' A violinist of high attainment, Mrs Larmer's playing was a sheer delight to listen to. Her artistic rendering of .Wieniwski's "Romance" and the very exacting "Hejre Kati" by Jeno Hubay, brought prolonged applause. The encores were equally enjoyable. The versatile elocutionist, Mrs E. Armstrong, excelled herself. She is equally at home in pathos as in light comedy, and her Irish broque is most captivating. This artist recited a most appropriate "Tribute to our King," at the commencement j of the programme. A recitation! "The Caretaker" and a sketch "Willie goes out to Lunch" were both warmly encored. The whole recital was most enjoyable from beginning to end, and when Mrs James announced that similar afternoon concerts for local Red Cross Funds would be given about every six weeks, the audience was very enthusiastic. The door takings amounted to £4 ss, which will augment the funds of the Red Cross.