PALMERSTON ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 66, 11 December 1919, Page 3

PALMERSTON ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

» The third concert of the Palmerston North Orchestral Society on Tuesday was onq of the most successful and enjoyable of these fixtures. The Opera House wa9 crowded to excess by a most enthusiastic and appreciative audience. The soloists on the present occasion are both wellknown in Palmerston North, but they have only recently returned from England, and met with a hearty reception. Mrs. A. C. Ashford, who sang hero some years ago as Miss Dorothy Strang, has a mezzo-soprano voice of great range and power. She sang with good effect RaintPaeiis' "Mon Coeur Souvre a ta Vols." l''or an encore she substituted fho plainlive "Nought. of Tears." Her othor number was Waddingtou Cooke's "Dream Ships," end for an encore slio sang "Homing." Mr. Ashford, who is making lii<; first appearance in Palmerston North, was at one lime a prominent boy bopraiio in England. He has a cultured light baritone, which ho used to tho best advantage. His fiist contributiij s were Ihreo Eastern songs (bracketed), ami' for ail encore two Irish songs, in which he was quite at home. His other number was Frank E. Toms's "Mother <>,' Mine," into which lie put the requisite p'nlhos. and for an encore the tricky "I Had My Love." Mr. and Mrs. AshI'cixl arc a decided acquisition to musical circles in Palmerston North. Mr. 0. G. Swallow, who i.s a flautist of no mean calibre, does credit to his teacher, Signor Amoden, under whom ho studied. His p cccio solo, Daiuare's "Le Hotclot," gave li'in an opportunity to display his mastery over the instrument, tlic florid passages being tastefully rendered, and i.is d ruble toiuruing oxtremely well executed, the orchestral accompaniment being iW.ulifi'.lly subdued. So far as the orchestral numbers were concerned, they were all enjovnble,. Under the baton of Mr. A. ,T.'Ciraham, the orchestra was under absolute control, and _ performed its work with a prcc : sion quito refreshinu', I',-ht and shade being well marked. The "Turkish Patrol" was givon with due expression, and the prelndo nnd 11 arch from Frederick lipase's "Merchant, of Venice" wa.s n particularly pleasing number, the martial passages being wdl brought out. whilo the attack in "The T)n»e s March" was very pronounced. Tli'e operatic selccl'on from "11.M.5. Pinafore," with which the performance cl'dsiv!. was a most popular and enjoyable number. Every item was mlemamled, and the society must be congratulated on a most successful entertainment.