WING WHISPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 60

WING WHISPERS.

Py Peter Pan. WELLINGTON, June 25. Dear “ Pasquin,"—Wellington has said" farewell to Alischa Levitzki and is shortly to greet Alark Hamboufg and Peter Dawson, whose Wellington season commences on Saturday July 4, next. Air Hugo Larsen, the Danish-Australian entrepreneur, is in town preparing for. the New Zealand tour, and proves .to be a youthful enthusiast in the cause of good music. Mr Larsen intends to bring out other fiuiious people, among them John Al’Cormack, Alischa Elman, Alfred Cortot, Guilherminia Suggia, and Yehudi Alenuhin. The forthcoming visit of Hambourg and Dawson (who, it is anticipated, will be accompanied by their wives) is causing quite a stir in musical circles here; of late we have had a number of famous stars, but apparently the demand for good music is here, judging by the interest’in the association of the two eminent people to appear here, so soon after Levitzki. Saturday night marks the first presentation in the Capital City of the Williamson' play, “The First Airs Fraser,” which is to be followed by “ Hay .Fever,” Noel Coward’s successful comedy. Ethel Morrison, Wellington’s own actress, is certain of a hearty welcome. The National Repertory Theatre Society commences its sixth season with the production, “ The Pelican,” which will introduce Aliss Alary Plimmer, a Wellington amateur who has won encomiums on the London stage, in the best role of her career, probably. Aliss Plimmer is then leaving on her return Home to continue her dramatic career. Air W. S. Wauchop has a fine cast to handle the different parts. The season opens on Tuesday night next. Clement Alay and Airs Wilfred Andrews, with Aliss Madge Thomas assisting, and Air Harold Brusey at the piano, kept a large audience enthralled in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday evening with a delightful programme that was a blending of sketches, songs, and pianoforte. Air Alay’s elocutionary and histrionic ability are too well known -to require elaboration; assisted by Aliss Thomas he interpreted Walter de la Alare, Don Blanding, Alaseficld, Dickens, Shakespeare, Kipling, A. A. Milne, 0. Henry, Leacock, and Dennis, some of the acts being in costume. It is a far call from “ The Sentimental Bloke ” to the murder scene from “Macbeth,” but Air Alay and Aliss Thomas switched - over with ease and provided interludes that were interesting, amusing, dramatic, and informative. Airs Andrews sang beautifully, her selections ranging from Gounod to Liszt; from Saint-Saens to Foote, and Barratt to Youllallen. Air Brusey is an efficient pianist, accompanist, and soloist in one; his tango by Albeniz was wonderfully well done, and he romped through a York Bowen number. The Orpheus Musical Society struck an atrocious night for its first concert last week in the Y.W.C.A. Hall, but notwithstanding there was a flatteringly- large attendance to listen to a delightful programme. -The two choral numbers were “ The May Queen,” written by H. F. Chorley to music by Sir W. Sterndale Bennett; and “ England Expects,” from H. de Vere Stacpoole’s “ Poems and Ballads,” set to music by Herbert Bath. Aliss Kathleen Ferris essayed the part of the queen, and in her duets with Air Sam

Duncan (in the tenor lover’s part) was a sheer joy. Aliss Christina Young was contralto, and the bass part of Robin Hood was in the capable hands of Mr G. H. Gray. The nautical conception, based on Trafalgar, was very popular, the chorus work being excellent, and Mr Gray was a complete success in the only "solo work in the piece. Aliss Ava Symons played “ Larghetto,” from Barbella’s Second Sonata and Kreisler’s Viennese caprice; Air Ernest Jenner w-as a perfect accompanist. Air Harison Cook’s «conductorship was masterly, and resulted in a polished performance. The ’Varsity Dramatic Club has assembled a fine cast for its presentation of “ The Dark Angel ” in the Y.WIC.A. Hall to-night. This play is entirely new to New Zealand. Aliss Alary Cooley will combine the parts of producer and Kitty Fahnestock, whose unconventional night with Hilary Trent (played by R. Hogg) is the basis of the story. It is a wartime yarn, in which the fervour of a maid leads her to spend the last night of Trent’s leave at a wayside inn. Reported killed in action, she cherishes his memory. But Trent is not dead: he is blind and in hiding. Kitty has fallen in love with Gerald Shannon, (played by Carl Watson), and both visit Hilary. The playthen moves to a powerful end. In the cast are Alessrs A. D. Priestley (as Sir Evelyn Fahnestock), R. B. Chadwick (Lord Francis Beaumont). H. C. Aliddlebrook (Alowett), and Alisses Al. Alurrey, F. Eccles, D. Tossman, K. APCaul, and T. Lambourne. Air F. Cormack will play’ Tom Townbridge. The Apollo Singers are to give their first concert on Thursday next, July 2, when Air H. Temple White will conduct a programme of part songs and choruses, many of them new. Soloists will be Airs Thomas Watson, contralto; Aliss Alyra Sawyer, soprano; the Aeolian Quartet, and Alessrs George Wilson, Robert Orr, and Denis Sheard (formerly' of the Humphrey Bishop Company), with Mr Ernest .Jenner as accompanist. It is interesting to record that a Women’s Auxiliary has been formed to assist the Apollo Singers. A meeting was recently held, at which L. D. Webster, secretary, and Airs _E. Pamplin assistant. Airs 11. Temple White presided. Air Trevor Fisher, who is leaving Wellington for Vienna on July 9, to continue his pianoforte studies, has announced a recital for Tuesday next, June 30. Air Fisher will be missed from the Repertory Theatre Society, the Commercial Travellers’ Choir, the Society of Alusicians, and from the Philharmonic Orchestra, in all of which he has done splendid work as accompanist and secretary. Aliss Imelda Fama, the talented Wellington pianist, who went abroad on the advice of Benno Aloiseiwitsch to perfecther studies, has returned to the city. We hope to hear her shortly in a recital. The first concert of the Juvenile Con-

cert League, held this week, attracted a crowd of interested young folk’ who listened with rapt attention to the special programme arranged and conducted by Air John Bishop. It is estimated some 2000 children and adults attended, and it is anticipated that the second concert will attract many more. The Rakoczy March was particularly enjoyed; also the Brahms Hungarian Dances, Berlioz’s Hungarian March, Soldiers’ Chorus from Faust by, the choir, and the violin and ’cello solo’s of Aliss Ava Symons and Air George Ellwood respectively. The concert started at 6.30 and lasted till 7.45 p.m., and was delightfully informal, Air Bishop gathering all into his enthusiasm, and infecting all with his sense of humour. The orchestra numbers 65, and includes all kinds of instruments, which Air Bishop explains lucidly and happily, as he did the pieces played. Aliss Symons was very popular with her violin, and Air Ellwool (’cello), and Air Harison Cook (sea shanties) gave delight.