ST. CECILIA LADIES' CHOIR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 21 October 1927, Page 2

ST. CECILIA LADIES' CHOIR.

SUCCESSFUL CONCERT. The St. Cecilia Ladies' Choir, under the very able tutelage and.direction of Mr Sidney Williamson, gave a highly successful concert in- the. Art Gallery last night, and the large audience enjoyed the charm of hearing the combined melody of many sweet, girlish voices. The leading feature of the programme was the cantata "The Sleeping Beauty," poetry by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, music by Henry Lahee. This was" a most interesting composition, and gave full opportunity to the ladies to demonstrate their powers ; in chorus work, solos, duets, and recitatives. The choruses were well done, and a nice sense of intelligent interpretation was maintained. Judging by the approbation of the listeners, the chorus were at their best in the charming number, "She Sleeps," in which Miss Phyllis Coombs had a soprano solo part, and in the revival chorus "A Touch, a Kiss.'' Miss Anita Graham's cultivated and confident contralto voice was heard in the solo, "Year After Year," and Mrs A. West sang another contralto solo, "And Last of AH." Mrs A. McGillivray and Miss. Phyllis. Coombs, sopranos, sang the duet, "All Precious Things," and Miss Ella Thurlow (soprano) joined with Miss Anita Graham in the duet "I'd Sleep Another Hundred Years." The chorus work was, however, the main enjoyment of the cantata. Air John Hall, a deep baritone, opened the second part with "The King's Minstrel" and "Trade Winds," the latter undoubtedly being the more successful, and he also obliged with a third song, one of the Old English rustic type. Miss Anita Graham sang her best item \[y Ships" and was heartily encored. The part songs by the choir, which otherwise made up the second part,, proved more enchanting than anything heard before. • These comprised "Out in the Sunshine" (Pinsuti). "Eveninsr Song" (Abt), "0, Hush Thee" (Sullivan), "Barcarolle" (Brahms), "Hymn of the Homeland" (Sullivan), and "Sleighing" /Li Denza). Almost without .exception the part songs were given with an easy precision and finish. Miss Mable Eaglesome was-the: accompanist on the piano, and Miss A. H. SearelJ performed a like service on the organ for the cantata