HARMONIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 67, 13 December 1920, Page 6

HARMONIC SOCIETY

FINAL CONCERT OF THE YEAR.

Back in its proper habitat, the Concert Chamber, the Wellington Harmonic Society gave a most enjoyable concertthe final one of the year-to a thorough1t appreciate audience on Saturday n>ht. The choir is hardly so well balanced as it might be, the soprano, and contralto sections being over-dominant for the more restricted tenor and bass sections. Still, on the whole, harmonious effect was not lacking and, as usual, the choir sang with every care as to phrasing- < and enunciation—always a strong point with Mr. 11. Temple White, the society's conductor. The programme was practically a selection from the various concerts given by the society during tho past year, and naturally was most interesting. Walford' Davies's delightful part song. "When Summer's Marry Days Ccme In," with its happy spljrtt, thrown into clean relief by the doleful tenor of the third voico, proved an altogether charming number. "The Chough and Crow Have Gone, to Boost," familiar to all old choir singers, was also repeated with great success. It was heard to much better advantago than in the. bis Town Hall. The solos were once more taken by Mrs. Ik E. Orr, Mrs. T. N. Johnson, and Mr." C. W. Svcndson. number that pleased the artistic senso was Elgar's part song for ladies' voices, "The. Snow," which has parts for two violins and piano, very admirably played by Misses Avn. and Dorothy Mills and Mr Harold Whittle respectively. The ladies' voices aro the backbone o'f the Harmonic Society, and the good tone and quick responsiveness to interpretative accent made the number a 6heer delight. Other numbers of varying charm were Elgar's "Weary Wind Cf. the West" (a perfect cameo in part songs), the new setting of "Sweet and Low," by Gustav von Hoist (for ladies). "Spanis'a Serenade" (Elgar),- the 'samo composer's "My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land," and Maunder's "The Song of Thor." Elgar has ken the composer most favoured by the society during the year, and he well deserves that honour. Tho society was given valuable assistance by Miss Ava Symons, a graceful, sincere, and cultured, violinist who always satisfies. Sh£ played the ' (melodidusly appealing "Canto Amoroso" of Mischa Elman nicely, and showed her technical' deftness and spirit in Wieuiawski's ''Obertass." Her encoro was the ever-entrancing Beethoven "Minuet." In the second port Miss Symons played the brilliant Puguani-TCreisicr "Prelude and Allegro" with full-toned confidence and elan. The vocalist of the evening' was Mr. E, R. Orr. a baritone, who is just a little inclined to overdo the emotional element in his songs. Mr. Orr sail? that very 'iliffWult recitative .and aria, "I Engo, I Melt, I Burn," from Handel's pastorale. "Ac.is and Galatea." Hie number in which "the monster Polyphemus" sings lustily of Galatea's charms:

"Ripe as the melting cluster, No lily has 1 such lustre; Yet hank to tame as raging flame, And fierce as storms that bluster." Mr. Our snug the number carefully and well, but hardly caught the grotcsqns humour that lies in the giant's love for the beauteous sea nymph. As an encoro ho sang very well indeed Franz's "Marie." Later he 6aiig "The Poet's Life" (Elgar); as an encore, Mallinson's rhapsody "Gloriann." The Harmonio Quartet sang; a; poor sotting of "John Peel," "Tho Teacher and tho Tack," and "Rest, Dearest, Rest" (Kucken). Mr. Harold 'Whittle accompanied delightfully.