THE COMPETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 123, 18 February 1919, Page 6

THE COMPETITIONS

SONGS, SHAKESPEARE AND TSfHAIKOVSKY

YESTERDAY'S RECITALS

Summer weather continues to favour tho Wellington Competitions Society, at present conducting music and elocution: ary competitions at the Town Hall. Yesterday's classes were extremely interesting both in the realm of song and recitation. There were, for instance, two Shakespearean tests (one tho noble soliloquy of Wolsey after his fall from grace; die other being left to the competitor's sense of what suited his or her own personality and ability). In the'"own selection" (Shakespeare) the standard of ability was remarkably high. The competitors as a rule selected .excerpts from tho bard's works which suited them, and the uniform intelligence with which the lines were spoken showed that a great deal of care and research must have been bestowed in the preparation of the recitations. The operatic song class for men disclosed surprising lack of ability 'to determine one's individual capacity. As the result, the judge (Mr. Harold Gregson) only recalled two competitors, who were easily the only two that could Iμ recalled. In the English song class for girls, the one outstanding singer was Miss Cicely Audibert, who sang with airy Brace and refinement that pretty ballad 'The Pipes of Pan." Miss Audibert is a mezzo-soprano, of a lovely velvet quality, with 'a slight huskiness which lends a load of sympathy to the lone. Miss Mabel Dyer, another young singer from Christcliurch, has a singularly pure aud beautiful mezzo, and Mrs. Myrtle Hayward is .another talented mezzo-contralto of whom more should be heard. The results of yesterday's classes are as.follow :—

Recitation for Ladies, "The Chambered Nautilus" (Holfiies).—Eecalls: Misses Hfizel Jcffery (Hataitai), Fanny Kutner L. C. Adams (Christchurch). Specially mentioned: Misses Doris Stevens (Wellington),' Flo Omv (Hataitai), Florance Churchill (Wellington), Lima Gray (Hafnitai), Norah Lea (Hataitai), and Airini Stnbhs (Dunedin). . Shakespearean Recitation. (lady or gentleman, under 21). Own selection.—Eecalls : Miss Hazel F. Jeffery (Hataitai), "Lady Constance"; Miss Doris Stevens (Wellington), "Queen Margaret's -Mockery"; Miss vFanny Kutner (Wellington), Potion Scene from "Borneo and .Tuliet." Commended: Misses' Florence Churchill (Wellington) and Alice Jacobson ■ (Wellington). ■ ' :

Sacred Solo, Soprano or Mezzo-Soprano. Own selection.—Recalls. Miss Cicely Audibert (Christchurch), ."Cry of Rachel"; Miss Dorothy Ward (Wellington), "Fac ut Portene"; Mrs. Edith AT. Patterson (Wellington), "Angels Ever Bright and Fair." , t

Operatic Solo (for gentlemen). Open Class.—Recalls: William B. Brittenden (Christchureh) and Air; Harry Phipps (Wellington). ■

' Final:- Mr. Harry Phipps, "Eily Mavourneer," 131 points, 1; Mr. W. B. Brittenden, "Ever Bravest Heart," 120, 2; Mr. George Howfc, 119, 3.

English Song (ladies). Own Selection. —Recalls: Misses Mabel Dyer (Christ church), . Cicely .Audibprt .(Christchurch), Ida Snelling (Wellington), and Mrs. Myrtle Hayward (Wellington).

Recitation (girls, 12 nnd- under 1G), "Hundreds of Years Ajbjo."—Final: Mary Cooley, 151 points. 1; Leah Hyman, 150, 2; Pearl Jacobs; US, 3. ■

Classic Dance (12 and under IG).— Final: Miss .Toyco Coiizcns. G5 points, 1; Miss Mavis King, 60, 2. (The jiidgo in this class was Miss Polly' M'Laren.). Girls' Song (under l(l)/' ! Wnil" (D'Hardelot).—Recalls: 'Misses Ntrairc Coster (Wellington)., 'Eileen Maoartby .(Wellington), and Nellie Amies (Wellington). Final: Nellio Amies, 152 noints, I; Nsaire Coster, 150, 2; Eileen M'Carthy, 131,3. . J

Sacred. Solo (tenor). Own. Selection - Final: Mr. Harry Phipps, 131 points, 1: Mr..Pe-rciv,il Martin, .120, 2. Shakespearian Recitation (crentlemen) "Wolsey's Fall."—Recalls: Messrs F Hargreaves: K. S. Dillon and J. E. F. Perry. Commended: '-Messrs. Lionel Inch and L. H. ,T. Power.

Final: Mr. 1. Hanrreave*. 143 points, l;Mr. Iv. S.Dillon, Ml, 2;. Mr. J E F Pony. 139, 3.

Bpytf Son? (under 16), Own Selection. —Jnnal: Thomas George, 132 points 1Esmond Eeid, 131, 2; John Waiters!

Patriotic. Sone (for lndies).-Mi S s- Mona n!asß.-In this glass no'few «,nn 28 competitors onnie forward. What the J««lRB (Mr. ,T. F. Montague) thought nf them Tras unaseerta-inable. as the re: c.fmgof"M.vWill",va S onlyparfof a test. . ivo announcement was made.

• IHE EVENING PERFORMANCE. A large audience attended afthe evening performance, which ' commenced at i.45 o clock (the commencing time for the remainder of the season). The entertain! Iv 4T m v nCed v lth tho children's Plnj, . Ihe Never Never Land," in which the performers were the pupils of Mr. and Mrs. Culford Bell. One must have an implicit faith m fairies to'be entirely convinced by this little play, and "2 etantial aid to that end was tho joy of the children, who romped through tho scenes with a zest that was quite delightful to witness. Some classical dances gave variety to tho programme. With costumes designed to harmonise with the temperature these young ladies ambled gracefully enough through rhythmic measures purporting to have come down through the ages from tliaS days when the world was young. The performers wore Miss Eem Johnson, Miss Jovco Couzens, and Miss Mavis King. The first prize went to Miss Couzens and the second to Miss King. Clever treatment was given 'to .Fred Bootey's fanciful verses, "Hundreds of Years Ago." Tim best of the'performers were Leah Hynian and Mary Cooley, both.highly expressive reciters. Guy d'Hardelot's charmni" Miic "Wait" was prettily sung by three little girls, including one, Miss Nellie Amies, who possesses a surprising voice, a full-bodied mezzo, steady in tone and vibrant with sympathy. There is the making .of a fine contralto in this girl, who. was an easy winner of tho class Only two singers emerged from the 'operatic solo test for men—Mr. Harry l'hipps, a veteran campaigner in competitions, who sang "Eily Mavourneen," from Benedict's sadly neglected by ntreraely beautiful opera, "The Lily of -Killarney," and Mr. W. B. Brittenden, of Christchurch, who sang "Ever Bravest Heart," from Gounod's "Faust." It is always delightful to hear boys' voices, and the singing of Masters Esmond Beid, of Wanganui, and Thomas George, ot .Wellington, was uncommonly good. The lalter's sweet, flute-like quality was singularly suited to the difficult song, selfselected, "The Last Glimpse of Erin." Miss Doris Stevens and Mr. Vryn Evans caused amusement in the story without words entitled "Matrimonial Bliss." Fewladies can sing patriotic songs with the right spirit. The [competitions have not added any to the list. One of the most interesting classes was that devoted to tiio recital of the famous Shakespearean speech known as "Wolsey's Fall." Several gentlemen gave scholarly interpre-' tations of the great speech, none better than Mr. F. Hargreayes, who infused a fair measure of dignity and pathos into the noble- lines. The performance concluded with the comedietta, "Tho Lady," brightly played by Misses Fanny Kutner, Doris Stevens, and Mr. V. Evans.

Tbe gold medal presented to the Competitions Society wasalmded to (he winner of the Highland fling class on Saturday. A special prize of XI was donated to tho winner of the sailors' hornpipe on Saturday. Master Willie Brown was the winner of both.prizes.

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME, To-day's programme will 'include tho fallowing classes:—l'iiino solo (reading at sight); Irish song (ladies); encred solo (baritone or bass); piano «010 (Bristol scholarship); mezzo sopwino solo; character'dance; N./i. tost'recital for ladies; action recitation, and ' character recitation.