ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 68, 13 December 1919, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS

WILLIAMSON GRAND OPERA. Starting on Monday, December 22, the Williamson Brand opera season will afford music-lovers of Wellington an opportunity of hearing a group of renowned singers during the first week. On tho owning night Amy Castles will appear as Marguerite in "Faust,' with Walter W'heatley as Faust, and Alfredo Valenti as Mcpliistophcles. On Tuesday night "Tains of Hoffman" will be played for the first ftjtio in New Zealand. J. ho new opera Has been immensely popular on tho Continent for a number of years. It has al6o been produced with great success at tho Opera Comique, Paris, and in England it proved one of (he most successful operas in tho repertory of the Quinlan Grand Opera Company, which wns tho first organisation to present it in Australia. Poetic and fanciful, the story of Hoffman's three loves is said to form ono of the most fantastic contributions lo the grand opera stage. It will have a brilliant; cast, including Eileen Casta, Ralph Errolle, Url Foimes, Fred Collier, Elsy Treweek, Pnttti Russell, Tom Minoguo. "La Boheine" will bo given ou Wednesday. Iho full forcw of tho organisation will be combined to give a classical concert on Christmas niglit, Thursday. On Indav "II T'.rovatore" will 1» played, and "Madame Butterfly" will be sung on Satuiday night. By this arrangement the filnrs imported from the great operahouses of tho old world V..11 practically all he heard in the first six performances. As will bo seen, five first nights -are given in succession. The applications for seate are roported to be flowing into the Bristol by every mail. Those are confined until to-day to orders for series of seats embracing each of the twelve ouenw. Box pl«ins for tho nrsfc *woek o* the season open at the Bristol ou Tuesday morning. • TO-NIGHT'S ORGAN RECITAL. Mr Bernard F. Page (City Organist) will givo an organ recital at the Town Hall to-night—tho last this year. Tho programme consists of tho following, tho second half being devoted to the of Cesar Franck: "Suite Gothique (Boelln ann) i Andante (from String Quartet), by Debussv; Seronado (No. 5) (Gouvy) ; Wagner's Prelude (Act 1), Tristan tuid Isolde (by request), and Cesar Franck s Prelude, Fugue, and Variation (Op. 18); (a Lento, b. Andantino in E Flat) (by request), and Choral (No. 2 in B Minor). CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT. On Thursday evening anotlior of the series of children's ooncerts whie\i have hec-n inaugurated by the To.Aro School Committee ■in aid of school recreation funds took placo at St. Peter's sohoolroom. The performance was n great success, and was much enjoyed by tho audience. The concert was directed by Mrs. J. S. Johnson. Kvory item waa good, and the wholo affair wns a great success. ■ Items were given by MiMes M'Conuell, IlnglosbjV Wylio, ' Bradloy, King, Potter, Hvmans (2), White, M MilInn, M'Kenzio (2), Coiwoll, Bitossi, JohnSon, Wolfgang, Nicholls, and Master and th£ Misses C'ooley. "THE MESSIAH." The Choral Union's final concert for the 1919 season will be given in tho fown Hall on .Saturday evening, December 20, when Handel's masterpiece, "The Messiah." will l:e performed. The strongest vocal quartet to bo obtained in the. Dominion has been engaged for this occasion, viz., Miss Teresa M'Enroe, soprano; Mi'ss Matelle L. Esquilant, contralto: Mr.' Walter White, tenor, and Mr Frank C. Charles, bass. The performance will bo conductec) by Mr. fi. Temple White. The box plan will open at the Bristol on Monday, and as heavy tolling is anticipated, patrons are urged to secure their seals at the earliest possible moment. Members of the choir and orchestra are reminded that thero will bo a full rehearsal on Monday evening. AMATEUR TRTAtS. ■U tho Grand Opera House to-night there will be brought off another of tho popular Vernon-Spencer amateur competitions. The last held at this tlieatro was voted a decked success by both competitors and ''audience 1 . To-night's ?omjjetitoM include comedians, musicians, vaudeville- acts, balladists, acrobats, and specialities.'' The winners of the prizes offered by the Management are to be judged by the audience. There will also be a special attraction in the latest music provided by Wellington's original jar: orchestra. ' Intending patrons are advised to book their seats at tho Bristol' till ono o'clock and afterwards at Ned Perry's.