AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 13, 15 January 1914, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

WIELAERT-PECHOTSCH CONCERT COMBINATION.

Seldom lias Stratidrd had the privilege oi' hearing such iine artists as those comprising the Wielaert-Pechot-sch Concert Combination, who appeared last night at the Town Hall. But the audience was nowise commensurate with tiie merit of the performance, and the impression. may be gathered by the company that Stratford is deficient in appreciation of good music, which, of course, is not the case. It was a pity, therefore, that more citizens were not present. It is necessary to state, however, that those who were present were hearty in their appreciation of the artists' line efforts.

H'orr Pechotsch, the violinist of the Company, displayed ' complete mastery of his instrument,, and snowed that he was possessed of the correct violin temperament. In Wieniawski's "Souvenir, of Moscow" lie proved himself quito at home with the intricacies with which Wie.iiaivski delights to embellish his compositions. He was also delightful in Leonard's fantasie brilliant on the Austrian X-ational Hymn, the portion where two melodies are kept going being an especially good effort. Ernst's "Carnival de Venise" also served to show off Hen* Pechtosch's powers to advantage. He received a double encore on each appearance, and received a very flattering reception generally. It is safe to say that a dramatic operatic soprano of the calibre of Madame Wielaert has never previously been heard in Stratford. She has a voice of immense power, which is produced in an artistic fashion. She was heard to advantage in "A May Morning," "II Bacio" and "My Ain Folk," and in a number of encore items. Miss Mabel Seecbmbe has a pleasing contralto voice, which she produces in a natural manner that goes a long way towards making her items popular; Her best item las,t night was "Violets Bring Thoughts of You," composed by Hen; t'eehotscji, who also played a violin obligate. Miss'Seccumbe afso created a favorable impression with "A Perfect Day" and "Somewhere a Yoico is Calling:" With Madame Wielaert she ■ sang "Nocturne" and Blumenthal's "Venetian Boat Song," the voices blending splendidly. Mr Thomas Harris, the elocutionist of the company, is an artistic performer. His rendering of "The Yellow God" was excellent from a dramatic point of view, and he was no less successful in a number of humorous stories and in the humorous song, "A Deaf Man's Blunders." Excellent accompaniments were played by Madame Pechotsch and Harr Wielaert- who also contributed two piano solos in good style. BERNARD'S PICTURES. ,> A fairly large audience witnessed last night's new series of pictures, when the programme submitted prov-. ed to be a first-class one. The star item, entitled, "Good for Evil," from Lubin's well-known studio, was splendid. To-morrow evening (Friday 1 ), the much-talked-of colored drama, "From Circus to Racecourse," -1000 feet of rare excitement, will be screened. The play opens at the Tissual Circus. Comto des Xozells, lessee of the circus, is in love with Estello, - equilibrist, though she does not love him. Bobert, a circus rider, also loves her. In a tight-rope act, Estelle falls to the ground and is injured. Nursed , by her lover, Etstello recovers. The Comte becomes jealous, and dismisses Robert, who obtains work in the stables of a well-known English trainer. The trauier has a horse, Voltigeur, enteiTO for the Grand Prix, and Bobert learns he i$ to have the honor of riding for the Blue Riband, of the French turf. The Comte, who has heavily hacked another horse, swears that'Robert shall not live to finish the race. He locks Estelle in a room, but she escapes by means of a telegraph wire, and tracks the Comte to the course. As he crouches behind a fence revolver- in hand, just as the field, headed by Voltigeur, round the bend, Estelle is upon him, and holds him until a policeman arrives and shakes all the fight out of him. As 'Robert, after riding a winning race, comes back into tTio paddock, ho meets Estelle and learns what she has done to save his life and the race.