ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 484, 17 April 1909, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

[ / MR. HAMILTON. HODGES'S FAREWELL ir- ; .;.;■.; CONCERTS. - I "* "When Mr. Hamilton Hodges, . the well- "■ known Auckland. baritone, takes l his depar:e turo from. New Zealand next week, the musi- >» cal community, "will suffer a; distinct' loss; '? Ah' established favourite on New Zealand J- concert platforms, Mr. Hodges. has 'cbritrtt ° buted materially to.tho elevation of tho pub--s lie taste in. music. As a singer, ho probably '°. excels in oratorio and in;songs of the bra- „ T«ra type, although he,has at various times •y delighted his audiences with-his renditions '■ a of .'more delicate compositions.- Last'evenf ing, .assisted, by' Mrs- Hotiges (soprano), » Mrs. limest H. Quereo (pianist), Miss Arlme.Thcckeray (violiimt). Mr. Frank John- , stono ('cellist)/and Mr. Eric Raters (organist) Mr. Hodges gavo the first of. two fare- , well; song recitals in the Concert Room of sk tho : Town Hall,, befp'ro a fairlv large audib- encc. It had originally been intended that A one cqncer.t only would be givon, but Mr, id Hodges's arrangements will permit of. a 10 second; recital, to he given in the Concert b- Room on Wednesday afternoon next, cr . Tlio ccnccrt last evening was distinctly to good. The programme was a generous one—■ e- with tho encore numbers added it,was too il- generous. One can have a surfeit, even of r, good things, and with the exception of a t, demonstrative _ section at the back of the rl hall," the audience- porceptibly tired before r," tho end. Mr. Hodges selected as- his cona, tributions an admirablo series, of which sr special mention must bo made of the fine er aria, "It Is Enough" (Mendelssohn's 10 "Elijah"), with 'cello, piano, and organ a- accompaniment, "Ja du. bist eland" (Von :1s Fielitii), the rollicking " Largo al Factoid turn" (Rossini's "II Barbiqre"), and the t>, '"Freebooter" song'"-<e;clo. (Wallace). In ii- theso Mr. Hodges was thoroughly. at homo, vo and .very enjoyable. A littlo exaggeration of of ■ expression at times detracts from .the w effect of-hie rendition, aud ho still botraye, a tendonoy. to "shout.". . -.. ■

Of Mrs.. Hodges's Eoug3, a bracket of three—" Should ono of us remember," "Tho First Farewell," and " Nightfall" (Cowan) —Faure's " Sancta Mariaj".-with violin, piano)' and organ accompaniment', wore per? Imp's tho,, most-',commendable ' Her voice, is rather forced in the upper 1 notes, convoying a suggestion of stridency in tone. Her singing method is, characterised by.caro and finish. " ' ■ ' " ■ -Miss Arlino Thackeray's violin numbers —Hubay's "Priero," and-Schubert's "Tho Bee "—wero charmingly played, and an cncoro .was demanded and giyeii. Of Mi\ Frank Johnstono's 'cello, numbers—Popper's ". Herbstblumo" and a " Humoresko of Dvorak's —it may bo said that care, intelligent treatment, and successful' renditions wero achieved;, in the ','Herbstblumo "■ this was particularly the case. Jlrs. Ernest Queree played a Chopin bracket—"Berceuse V' and " Waltz in A Flat Major "— tastefully and expressively. Tho accompaniments, wore played by Mrs. Queree. ''.'■" "THE MERRY WIDOW." : Tho enchantments of "Tlio Merry Widow" aro exerting a subtle influence over tho playgoing publio of .Wellington. Not since that lively lady made her first appearance in the Opera House on Saturday last—a week ago now—has there been a Vacant seat, nor is thorelikely to bo, judging by the box plan. So omphatio has the success of the opera been in Wellington that tho management has decided to keep it on until Wednesday evening next, when, including two matinees, twelve performances in all .will, have 'been given .of Frank Lohar's 'sparkling, work. What one would like particularly to emphasise in connection with "The.Morry, Widow" is the surpassing excellence and delightful unconventionality: of the' orchestration throughout, which is done full justice to by Mr. Howard Oarr, whoso control over the band is all that it should bo.: A matinee performance of tho opera is. to bo given on Wednesday, next. THEATRE ROYAL./ A change: of bill will bo made at tho Theatro Royai this evening by the Edwin Geach Dramatic Company, who; will stage for the first timo in Wellington. the' latest melodrama, "Lured to London." In. this play a real water effect will be introduced in tho representation of Regent's Canal. Mr. •Robert Inman and Miss Ethel Buckley will ;be entrusted with prominent roles. , ',-"•. WEST'S PICTURES. ' . .' Another largo audience took pleasure in West's Pictures at the Town Hall last ovening. The present kinematographic 'proRrammo is full of merit, and includes that fine dramatic picturo, ■"Tho Red Hand," that introduces the Apaches' dance, which has beccme quite a vogue in the London music The charm of tho entertainment is 'greatly enhanced by the excellent music discoursed by Do Green's orchestra. N ;. ~ ROYAL PICTURES. :'■":■' A fine programme: is being presented at His Theatre; this week, none of tho 1 pictures having-been seen-in Wellington prior to the proseht week. It includes a particularly attractive film entitled "Dancing Throughout the' World," in which the national dances of many nations are shown —Sudanese, Chinese, Japanese, Caucasian, Spanish,, French. The Russian and Swedish; military pictures are also of absorbing interest. The usual matineo,will be held this afternoon- :.(■.,. ..■..'.. ■"'■'• .•. WELLINGTON'SOUTH CARNIVAL,:, Tho bazaar which is, being held , at, tlio Skating Rink was well attended last evening,' Sir ;Josoph Ward and Lady Ward 'being amongst tho' visitors.- ; - Tlio various stalls did good business, as did: the side ■,- shows.' A special matinee is to be held this afternoon, at which tho usual fancy dances and maypole will take, place. ... ■ ,:.,.■■■.•.-..■: ■■ :'■ '-.: MADAME MELBA. .' ;; '. • : "Mri! Lemmone, ,tho 'eminent flutist, telegraphed from Dunodin yesterday regarding Melba's first concert:—"Great succese hero .last night; 'Melba in magnificent: voice." .This is in a6cord with, thp; criticisms'of "the two Molbourno daily newspapers 'regarding tho recent season there.- The Argus" stated that "no. words could'convey any adequate idea' of tho tender; sympathy; with; which Mqlba : sang'the' 'Avo'Maria.'; ; It was the' perfection, of singing'.' Tho magnificence of the bravura ;passagos literally , raised , the audience to its feet, a 1 mass of shouting,' oheering humanity." ■•, -The' "Age,"; referring to tho same concert, said:— ,r Melba's matchless singing was electric. It was a revelation as a_ specimen of the'; heights te which Vocalism and all the best that it implies can attain." A-'.new •' advertisement; regarding Melba's Wellington concerts on April 27 and 29 appears in another column. The plan for half-guinea seats will be available on 'Monday next. , .... ■ ' -.-■■:• ■:'.-: ..-■;.■■ ■-.., «.-:.-• ■.-■'. ' ' " '' ' ' : ' ' ' ' ■'■ ' ' '