"THE GOLDEN LEGEND."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1467, 15 June 1912, Page 6

"THE GOLDEN LEGEND."

The Wellington public bestirred itself last evening to honour Mr. Kobert Parker, t!he doyen, of Wellington's conductors and preceptors in music, and did it well. The big IWn Hall .was quite full by 8 o'clock, and. by 'the time the first notes of tho Strasbiirg Cathedral's •. bells rang out in tho striking prelude to tho late Sir Arthur Sullivan's magnificent cantata, "The Golden Legend," the public were edging into the few remaining vacant seats above the choir. Such n vast assemblage—it must havo numbered 2800—was a fine tribute to Mr. Parker, in whoso honour the performance was given by the Wellington lUisical Union, ns also were the salvos of applause with which he was greeted on his appearance. "The Golden Legend" has beeni sung in Wellington half a dozen times, mid, truth to tell, it has been sung a great deal bettor than was the case last evening. This may Jiave been caused by the disconcerting fact that Mr. Hamilton Hodges, who was entrusted with the important role of Lucifer, failed completely. After his voice had broken three or 'four .times, he was forced to give up altogether in the middle of the famous "Pitt' nnd Paif" solo. This could not but mar the whole performance—it assuredly played havoc with several of tho numbers, and must have tested the musical nervo of many of those engaged . iii orchestra and chorus. The chorus, considering all things, did fairly well (though the tenor section was weak), and earned applause for. the manner in vhich tliey san;,' the beautiful unaccompanied chorales, "0, Gladsome -Light" and "0, Pure in Heart." The choral epilogue was also heartily sung , . The redeeming feature of the performance was the outstanding brilliance, vocal- and interpretive, ot Miss Eosina Buckman, who sang Elsie's music. Shn gave what was the nnost exposition of the role yet heard in Wellington. Her clear, flawless voice, beautifully produced, delighted the ear, whilst the glowing intelligence which characterised her interpretation thoroughly satisfied tho critical mind. She sang tlie fine aria, "My Redeemer and My lord," most reverently, and there was the spirit of fervent adoration in tho succeeding solo, "My Life is Little." In the "Onward and Onward" duet with Mr. E. J. Hill (Prince Henry), tenderness and confidence were most artistically conveyed, though here and there the orchestra was inclined to drag, and the final duet with tho Prince found her again convincingly appealing. Wellington should welcome Mrs. Nellie Reldhouse, a new contralto, who sang the part of Ursula. Mrs. 1-ield-houso has a sweet, well-cultivated, - but not over-strong contralto, and jiing her music with intelligence and charm. She was at l«r best in the sole, ''Virgin Who Lovest tho Poor and Lowly. Mr. ]■,_. J. Hill was plainly overweighted as Princo Henry, and the strain- of the liign-pitched music became very apparent towards the end, when the tenor was inclined to be Hal, and his tono lost its ling. "The Golden Legend" was preceded by a short concert programme, 'lhe orchestra played Mendelssohn's charming °™rhu'e, "Heimkehr aus der Fremde ; the cho r sang C. Villicrs Stanford s art wur, "Corvdou, Arise," and the epilogue from "King Olaf" (Elgar), in which Mrs. B. Wilson and Messrs. J. Seiirle and U Clarkson sang the trio; and Mrs. Fieldhoasesang! «My Heart, is.Weary,' • irom ,veVff> r , Shannon, A..D.C. '