AN INTERESTING RECITAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12619, 2 December 1926, Page 9

AN INTERESTING RECITAL

MR TEMPLE WHITE’S PUPILS. Evidently there are few Wellington teachers who possess a more varied array of pupils than Mr Temple White. The students’ concert last evening by the well-known conductor of the Choral Union, disclosed that quite a number of familiar names are on his roll. And if the numbers are there the quality is not lacking. All the performers at the Concert Chamber were cf good average platform ability. It was something of a pity that they had been permitted to choose so many operatic numbers to air their voices for operatio numbers, as Mr Roland Foster are never tired of saying, are for the world's Dess voices. Sung by anything less than a first-class performer they may attract by their intelligence but scarcely thrill by their tone. And tone is the main thing. The singers last evening were further handicapped by havifig to give such songs as “Che faro” and “Salut demeure” in English which increased their difficulties and sometimes made the singing laboured. But their work always showed evidence of thought and careful schooling. An example of the best type was Miss Myra Sawyer, easily the most brilliant singer of the evening. Her final number (“The Wren”) was splendidly sung, while she was troubled by the ungainly translation of the “Jewel Song,” and scarcely interested in two Granville Bantock numbers which she gave. A pleasant singer was Mr Charles Hidkmott, who is much at home with the drawing-room ballad. His “Sea Fever” (John Ireland) was not free from errors in phrasing, but the effect was good, and so was liis delivery of a Dorothy Forster ballad as an encore, and hit singing with Miss Amies in Goring Thomas’s “Summer Night.” Miss Nellie Amies gave “Che Faro” with great attention to detail, was practically inaudible in “How Sleeps the Crimson Petal,” but sang two encore numbers very well indeed. These were “The Blacksmith” and “Tho Bailiff’s Daughter,” in which every word was clear as crystal. Mr Frank Bryant attempted too much . in “All Hail Thous Dwelling,” and was much better iu “Ships of Aroady” (Michael Head). Mr Len Daniell Waß pleasant in “O Star of Eve” and “The Banjo Song.” Mrs Elenor Hampton’s “Lo Here the Gentle Lark” was a epurageous effort. Mrs W. J. Coventry sang Bantock’s ‘‘lnvocation to the Nile” and “The Woodpecker,” and Mr Samuel Duncan “A Spirit Flower” (Thomas) and “Macushla.” Also the “Rigoletto” quartette was given by Mesdames Hempton and Brady, Messrs Duncan and Daniell, and the “Lucia” sextette by Miss Myra Sawyer, Mrs Coventry, Messrs Bryant, Duncan, Hiokmott, and Danidll. Both were rather gingerly sung, but the latter perked up a lot on repetition. Mr C. W. Svenson was unable to perform. Air Claude Tucker showed his usual artisty in a flute obligato, and Mr Temple White was the accompanist.