COMPETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 9

COMPETITIONS

AN INTERESTING DAY

SACRED SOLOS AND SOME PKOMISING TENORS

Tlio competitions were continued throughout yesterday at the Town Hall and Concert Chamber, tho attendances and tho interest shown in. hip various sections being highly satisfactory. Tho sections taken during the day included ono for sacred eotos for sopranos and niozzos, and some exceedingly good singing resulted. The tenor section, usually a poor one, was quite good, and all three gentlemen who we.ro recalled were well well worth hearing. There was also a character ireita'i class for ladies, which tho judge (Mr. John Hopkins) pronounced most, disappointing. His idea of a character recital was something moro than n recital in costume, as most of tho competitors appeared to take it to he on their choice in the sectional work. To him a character recital should be ono in which the perfoiinier is given a chance of acting, and. in so doin<r, «inlcs his or her personality or inviduality in the character they are endeavouring to pourtray. Owing to the indisposition of Mr.*. Kothenbw-p. tho commit tcp called on tho services of Miss Helen Gnrn"n a r. of^ Dimedin, who officiated sat'sfactorily in two classes (hmm the afternoon, and in tho finals lost evening.

THE RESULTS. The restf'.ts were as follow:— Operatic Solo, contralto. Open class. Own selection. ' iTirst prize, trophy, £i 25.; second, 10s. Recalls-Miss Olga Wacked, Christchurch; Mrs. Edward Cameron, Dunedin, "Ah- se tu dormi, Sveglatt" (Vaccai'a "Romeo and Juliet"). . Final yet to be decided. Operatic Dance (polka'time), under 12 ■ years. First prize, 10s.; second, ss. Recalls—Sinclair Breen, ■ Wellington 1 Phyllis Colwoll, Wellington; Clara Nichols, Hataitai. Final—Sinclair Breen, 96 points, 1; Phyllis Colwell,' 82 points, 2; Clara Nichnlls, 77 points, ■3. ■ . Toe Dance, 12 and under 16 years. First ■ pri7,e, Ifls.; second, 15s. Recalls—lris Inglesby, Wellington, Mavis King, Wellington; Roma Bitossi, Wellington; Thelma M'Kenzie. Final—Thelina Mlvenzie, 03 points, lj Iris Inglesby and: Mavis King, 92 points, 2; Roma Bitossi, 90' points, 3. Character Recital, Indies. Open class. Own .selection. First prize,, trophy, ,£3 35.; second, .-fil Is. Recalls—Miss Fanny Kutner, Wellington, sleep-walking scene from "Macbeth"; Miss Mabel Galliphan, Mercutio's speech from "Romeo and Juliet"; Miss Bessie Thomson, "Galatea." Final—Miss Fanny Kutner, 79 points,. 1; Miss Bessie Thomson, 75 points, 2Shakespearean Recitation, lady or gentleman, under 21. Own selection. First prize, £1 Is.; second, ss. ■Recalls—Miss Hazel Jeffrey,, Hataitai;, Miss Fanny Kutner, Wellington; Miss Bessie Thomson, Dunedin. Final yet to be decided. Recitation, ladies (who have not won a first prize at any competition), "Birth of tho Opal" (Ella Wilcox). Recalls—JUss Mnisie Burt, Lower Hutt; Miss.Amy Apted, Petone; Miss Drucy Turner, Christchurch. Final—Miss Dnicy Turner, Christchurch, 75 points, 1; Miss Mnisio Burt, Hutt, 73 points, 2; Miss Amy Apted, Petone, 72 points, 3. Tenor • Solo, "Lolita" (Bitzzi-Peccia). • First prize, £1; second, 10s. Recalls—Harry E. Lobb, Wellington; Montague Gijnore, Khandallah; J. Percival Dodds, Dannevirke. ' Kinal-.T. P. Dodds, 112 points, 1: Henry Lobb, 130 points, 2; Montague Gilmore, 124 points, 3. Sacred Solo, soprano or mezzo-soprano. Own selection. First prize, £1; 6eoond, 10s. Recalls-Miss M. H. B. Jones, Wellington, "Salve-Maria"; Mrs. R. J. Wildish, G'sbome, "There is a Green Hill"; Mrs. Edward .Cameron, Dunedin, "0 .Divine Redeemer." Final-Mrs. Wfidish, Gisborne, 149 points, 1; Miss M. n. Jones, Wellington, 147 pqints, 2; Mrs. Cameron, Dunedin, 146 points, 3. • Piano Solo, reading at s'ght. Test niecn to be selected 'by tho judge.. First prize, ,C 1 Is.; second, 10s. Result—Mrs. Dorothy Talbot, Kelbtirn, 136 points, 1; Miss Eileen Horner, Patea, 134 points, 2; Mr. Clifford Kemp, 126 points, 3. Violin Solo (tinder 12). Second prize only. Final-Hope Raws, 122 points; W. Watkins. 120 points. Pinno Duet (open). Final—Second prize only, Misse3 R. Clapp and M'lCion, "From Foreign Parts," 117 points. Recitation, for boys.under 9 years. "A Voyage in an Arm-chair." First prize, 10s.;' second, ss. Final—Lawrence Searlc, Hataitai, 1; Raymond Whitehead, Lyall Bay, 2; Har-. old Mount, Wellington, Jack Darroch, Wellington, and George Power (equal), 3.

EVENING PERFORMANCE. A fairly largo-audience enjoyed the. capital performance given by tho contestants m tho big Town Hall last, evening. Tho curtain rose on the children's musical play, "The Wooden Shoe," in which a dozen children appeared attractivoly in Dutch dress. A largo number cf people who were shut out at the doors whilst tho play was in progress realised too late that the evening entertainments begin at 7.45 o'clock sharp. The chairman of the executiro (Mr, P. G. Cray) romindiid the audience of'tho fact boforo the concert part of the progrumirio commenced laa-t evening. ' Two tiny girls, W. Watkins and Hope Flaws, contributed violin solos'(in competition), and considering-.their age and inches bowed with tho greatest confidence. An acceptable novelty *-js the dancing of three email girls, who essayed what tho programme defined as ah "operatic dance," whatever that, may be-., a stipulation being that it must be danced to polka time, ihe exponents were Misses Sinclair Breen (a'very attractive child of decided promise), Phyllis C'olwell, and 01am Nichols. Tho recalled ladies in tho sacred solo section for sopranos or mezzos Bang very beautiliuly. uie love.y voice of Miss M. 1-1. B. Jones, of "Wellington, was heard once more m "Salve Maria," which was properly sung in Latin. This Binder has a particularly strong soprano voice, under perfect control, remaritabjn for its lo_nal purity and security, anil time. Miss Jones probably has no peer in Wellington, and should be jn eager demand for the future. Mrs. Wildish (of Gisborne) selected "Thero is a Green Hill Far Away," which was very feelingly and artistically rendered. Mrs. Edward Cameron, of Dunedin, who sans "O Divine , Redeemer," exhibits a good' deal of fervour, but is .inclined to pinch, her tone bv throwing her head well back as she sings, an action Unit naturally closes tho throat. "The Birth of tin, Opal (by the late Ella Wi.eler Wilms) was capitally recited bv Miss Maisie Burl, of the Hutt, Miss Amy Apted, of letnne; nnd Miss Druccy Turner, of Christchurch. Another bow of 'little dancers showed their dainty paces as too dancers. The lenor section were given that charming .ballad "Lolita." (Buzzi-I'eccia), which Capelli popularised in Wellington. Mr. Marry Lobb, of Wellington, gave a very aUvaetiog reading of the ballad, sing.ng with nice expression and feeling. Mr. Montague W. Gilmore, a tenor of -ond finality, gavo more attention to the rhythm of the song. An even more stylish tenor was Mr. J. Percival Dodds, of Dannevirke, who sans the Italian love lilt with much chnrm. In the character recitation Miss Fanny Kutner gave a well-studied reading of Lady Macbeth's sleep-walkinsr scene from Macbeth," which was marked by oyerdeliberation. Still her dramatic sense was good-she was able to hold the audience. Miss P,n=-.sie Thomson gave Gaintea's speech (from "Pyijnialion and Galatea") on awaking from cold marble to warm life. There wore only two entrants for the pianoforte duct competition, and only one pair of dnettists appeared, Misses R. Claon and M'Kinn, who played a movement from Mnskowski's "From Foreign Parts." Thn programme also included a humorous storv without words, entitled "A Nizht at "the Pictures." and the comedietta "The Best Cure."