FOR SAILORS' WIDOWS AND CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 14

FOR SAILORS' WIDOWS AND CHILDREN

NAVY LEAGUE CONCERT. Thai there could be only me way of regarding the cause lor winch last evening's Navy League concert was organised was very plainly shown by the very largo audience that had gathered in the Town Hall to attend it. That in New Zealand owe everything to tho.'Hasy and to tlie men who havo goiio dowit\. lighting lor that safety and ireedom is' 11 fact that cannot be too widely realised, and that we owe a debt that can never be repaid to those they have kit • behind them is yet another fact to face. For that reason it was a very gratifying sight to see tho big chamber uf the 'loivn Hull so well filled, both upstairs and downstairs. The Navy was still moro emphasised by tho 'preseuco of tho Ainokura boys, who had formed a' guard of honour to Their Excellencies ihe Governor and the Countess of Liverpool, and as they marched up the hall afterwards to take their places in 'the organ, loft they met with rounds of clapping, rather to their embarrassed surprise. The Co.mtoss of Glasgow, who had organised the concert 011 behalf of the s.avy League for the benefit of the Fuud for Sailors Families was' very fortunate in securing the assistanco of Mr. Paul Dufault and some of Wellington's most favourably known performers, both vocal and instrumental. The overture, "Nautical" (Edward St. Qiientin), was contributed by leading'orchestral musicians, under Jur. J. I'. Woodward, and later a selection was given from (he "Bohemian uirl." ■ Following, came Jiiss Mina l/aldow, whose line contralto was heard to advantage in .the stirring "Land of Hope and Glory" (Elgar), and yet even more expressively in her encore number. Miss Kene Queree contributed a delightful bracket of three gems from tho alliums of Chopin, Debussy, and Grondahl—her choice falling upou "Valse 4b (a)," "Arabesque No. 2 (b)," and "Caprice (c)." Mr. Sigurd Lestrup choae for his first contribution, "The Calf of Gold" (Faust), and later 011 in Hie programme gave a trio of songs—"(a) Serenade" (Svendsen), and two Grieg •songs, "I Love Thee" and "Fair Vision." Madame Anderson is somewhat uf a newcomer to Wellington, and one would have liked to have heard her Ticli contralto in .something more calculated .to display its quality tuan "Caller Herrin'," popular though it may be. Her second contribution to the programme was "Three Fishers," always a great favourite with an. audience when well sung, and for which she .was .encored.. Miss Mina Caldow's second contribution, "I Hear You Calling Me," was sung delightfully. Mr. Paul Dufault'was doivn for two items upou the programme, his first being the aria, "Sound an Alarm," from "Judas Maccabeus" (Handel), Mr. Whittle being at the: piano, and 3lr, Pago at the organ; As is the case with all that Mr. Dufault sings, this' famous aria was perfectly/given, and, in answer to a double encore, he gave the stirring '"Au Pays" and a: tiny gem; "Inter Nos." Later, he. snug the . "Trumpeter," Mr. ['ago at tho organ catching np . tin trumpet-call and ending with resound' . ing triumph. It was a splendid performance, and Mr. Dufault had to come [back- again. Greatly to the-.delight, of everyone he sung the "Marseillaise." Tho National Anthem pi wed on the organ concluded a most exc^ent.concert. The accompanists of the evening were Miss Phyllis Haunify, Mr.. Whittle, and Air. George Whittle. Among those who were present during the'evening were in addition to Their Excellencies the Governor and the Conn, less of (Liverpool, the Countess of Glasgow, Mrs. W. F. Massey, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and.Mrs. Luke, and SurgeonCioneral Henderson, also Mr. Harcourt, representing the. Navy eLague.