THE ELLWOOD TRIO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 849, 22 June 1910, Page 8

THE ELLWOOD TRIO.

The Town Hall was fairly well filled last evening, when the Ellwood Trio, assisted by Miss Winnie Nixon and Mr. John Prouse, gave their farewell concert. Last evening's concert was in a. way a test as far as local opinion was concerned.' When first heard in Wellington, the children came fresh from their home in Christehurch, strung up to a high point of endeavour by the glowing accounts"-of their capacity to charm as instrumentalists. They came, were heard, and conquered—Wellington was quite satisfied that these children, who do not assume anything other than what nature and their simple hometraining has given them, were genuine prodigies, who deserved advancing. They dime back, to the Empire City after a somewhat tiresome tour of the North Island, and last evening played with the .same freshness, finish, and magnetism') which earned them ■ such golden opinions a few weeks ago. They are now to wing. their way to Europe to study in the atmosphere of the highest musical culture, and : learn something of the inspiring traditions of the music they already play with such intuitive grace and intelligent comprehension, and .they may 'rest assured that a great number of music-lovers in Wellington will watch their careers with iuterest, .feeling sure that they have that within them which will carry them far along the stony road to artistic success in tho great world beyond i'encarrow Head; At last evening's concert the. trio played the stalely first movement of Gado's "Trio" (Opus 4), producing a tonal ensemble of fine breadth and marked by some pretty shading. It was a number one would have- liked to hear in a smaller hall, as much of : tho delicate work. is lost in the vastness of the big Town Hall. Gounod's "Ave Maria" was played as a trio. It is doubtful if the setting. displays the melody to the best advantage in the' concerted passage, hut the opening violin solo was played by' Mr. Harry Ellwood with verve and reverence.. Schubert's eccentric "Musical "Moment" was delightfully interpreted. ■ Mr. Harry Ellwood's soli consisted of Vietixtemps' difficult" "Polonaise," played with fine abandon, and in tho best musicia'nly spirit. Ho was encored, but ho snapped a string in the second bar, causing him to retire. Later in the programmo he rollicked through' Oyide Mtisin's tricky "Mazurka'do Concert," making light of the. brilliant' staccato and plucked string passages, in which the composer was so skilled a specialist. When recalled, ho played Bierne's beautiful "Serenade with the correct measure of sentiment. . Georgo Ellwood, the little 'cellist, melted a cold audience into enthusiasm. His tone makes a direct appeal to the heart, as his technique does to the head, and even when alert for shortcomings one is amazed at the smoothness of his bowing and the degree of finish" he imparts. Georgo played Popper's entrancing "Rhapsodic Hongroise" admirably, and, as an encore, delighted the audience with a "Berceuse" by XSodard. He surprised his musical friends by his artistic reading_ and masterful technique in . the "Cantilena" from Goltermann's "Concerto in A Minor," which ho had the temerity to bracket with Squire's "Danse" Oiientale." ' Not contented with this feat, more was demanded, and Saint-Saens' "La Cygne" was played with the same tonal charm as at the last concert in Wellington. Miss Polly Ellwood accompanied skilfully. Miss AVinmo Nixon, whoso vocal methods are so refreshingly natural, is a favourite with Wellington audiences. She sang "L'Ete" (Chaminade), and as an encore, "1 Sing a Song to Suit the Day" (Eamshaw). In the second part her songs wore'" The Violin Player " (Home), and.for the recall "My Rosary" (Novin). Miss Nixon, who was in excellent voice, was assisted with a violin pbbligato in "The Violin Player." A welcome reappearance was made by Mr. John Prouse, whose resonant baritone rang as true as ever in Schubert's great song "The Wanderer," and, when recalled, that hearty ballad "The Queen of Conncmara.." Among those present were the Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. J. G. Findlav, the Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford. M.P.'), Archbishop Redwood, and Mdlle. Antonio Dolores. Messrs. Thompson Bros., Ltd., announce tho following unreserved auction sales:— To-morrow (Thursday), at 1 p.m., splendid selection of nursery slock, on behalf .My. A. .M'Millttn, to he wild at the Fruit Exchange, Blair Street; (Thursday), at i p.m., aceount'Mr. Poicy Davis, nt his residence, 31 .Adelaide Road, household fiirniturn and effects; Friday, at 1 p.m., at 5G Wellington lioad. on account Jli'B. F. Fairbairn, superior Spencer piano, and nearly new furniture and furnishings; Monday next, at. 11 a.m., Fruit Exchange, groceries, confectionery, furniture, etc., account lady giving up business; Wednesday next, at 1, Fruit Exchange, iiui'sorv stock, account Mr. A, M'Millau, Lower Hutt. An advertisement appears in This issue referring to the Onehunga drainage con.tract.