WELLINGTON HARMONIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2945, 4 December 1916, Page 3

WELLINGTON HARMONIC SOCIETY

The concerts .of the' Wellington Harmonic Society are always interesting, always 01 a standard, both'in programme anu performance, that 01.10 can appreciate without'being jarred by tho v mciusiou of poor matter and less conscientious effort. Air. >i. U.'empio White is a conductor who establishes an ascendancy over tlioso einglug wider him, and being 11 musician 01 tasto with an appreciation 01 tho spirit of the lyrics his choir sing, he is aulo to get reasonably near tnc correct idea. Tho choir, sings with- confidence— it is sure of itself and sure of its conductor, and the reiatiousnip is productive of highly meritorious chorus work. The part songs selected lor Saturday evening, when the Concert Chamber was crowded, included "When Merry Summer's Hays Como In" (Davies), "Purple Ulow the Forest Mountains" (Do Pearsail), "When Flo Wry Meadows,'' by Palestrina (a real gem irom mediaeval limes), "Out of die Silence" (Jenkins) "An Eriskay Love Lilt" (Robertson), ami finally the Jlambuoyant chorale, "Por Empire and lor King" (Percy Fletcher), sung by the society at a previous concert. Tho society had the services of Miss Agnes Segriei, who always sings with artistic intelligence. ' For her first number she'selected n romiinza by Donizetti entitled "Convien Partir," wiiich, apart from its proper setting, had little to commend it as a concert number. Miss Segrief. sang the now somewhat hackneyed ballad, "Coming Home/' very sweetly indeed. In the second half she sang two songs by Laudou Ronald "Prelude" (from his "Cycle of Life"), and "Pick This Little Flower," both fragrant littlo numbers, very charmingly, sung. Mr. S. Laslett Extou, who appeared 111 khaki, brought his effective light tenor to bear on "'Kathleen" (Ellis)/ and sang "If You Would Lovo Me" (MacDermid) very well indeed. Mr. Exton was heard once more in "Come Into tho Garden, Maud" (Balfe), which he sings with commendable grace. Ho was accompanied by Mr. Geo. Holloway, who also appeared in His Majesty's uniform. 'Miss Phyllis Hanii'y played a "Concert-Allegro" by Chopin, with insight A very pleasing and novel item was the singing of Schubert's "Serenade" by Miss Segrief, with a chorus of female voices. It was a reversal of tho romantic order' of things somewhat, but the effect was distinctly pleasing. Mr. White deserves credit for tho whole tone of the society's concerts.