MUSICAL EVENING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 64, 7 June 1927, Page 4

MUSICAL EVENING

AT LYCEUM CLUB A delightful open evening was held by the Alusical Circle of the Lyceum Club last evening, taking the form of a concert with an interesting address by Dr. S. Kenneth Phillips on the subject of “Alusic of To-day. Dr. Phillips dealt first with operatic music, and showed that through recent years there had been but little change in this form of music. Pride of place in the realm of operatic music he gave to the later Wagnerian compositions, those of Verdi and the works of Boito. “Xerone.” by Boito. was presented at the La Scala Opera House, Alilan, in 1924. The performance was outstanding in merit and from every point of view. It was also intensely spectacular. At one time there were as many as 1,100 performers on the stage and the orchestra numbered 140. The three greatest opera houses in the world were Co vent Garden, London, in the season, La Scala, Alilan. afid the Atetropolitan Opera House. New A. ork. In London there were extremely fine orchestras, among which might be ; mentioned the Symphony Orchestra j and the Philharmonic and Queen's Hall orchestras, and there was also a very fine ladies’ orchestra. Foremost among conductors was Sir Henry Wood. Church music in England was not taking the place to-day that it did formerly, although there were still some very fine church choirs, in particular that of the Temple Church, London. With regard to Albert Hall in London Dr. Phillips said immense accommodation was rather a disadvantage to a singer, who necessarily found it a severe ordeal to make the voice fill the hall. He thought the ideal hall for a singer was one that seated about 500, and it was remarkable that musicians and singers both engaged the Town Hall here rather than the concert chamber when it was more usual in England for them to use a smaller hall. At tlie present time in England a great preference was shown for chamber music and the popularity of the ballet was decidedly increasing. Among composers the works that seemed to be most enjoyed were those of Bach, Handel and Pimcell. There was also a noted revival in the performance of Alozart’s works. The popularity of the negro spirituals, which had such a : vogue, was rather on the wane. Among ; the great pianists Paderewski still i held the foremost place, and as a composer Elgar was in the very first rank. Among others of note mentioned by Dr. Phillips were Vaughan Williams. Quilter and Gustav Holst. During the evening modern English songs were sung by Airs. Basil King and Air. Arthur Thompson. The former was heard in “Charming Chloe” (Edward German), “A Lament” (Coleridge Taylor), and “Apple Blossom” (Alallinson).) Air. Thompson sang “La Belle Dame Sans Amerce” (Stanford), “Cloths of Heaven” (Dunhill) and “Come into the Garden, Alaud” (A. Sommervell). A dainty supper and an interval spent in informal intercourse concluded a charming evening.

LYCEUM CLUB DATES

An open evening of the Gardening Circle will be held on Wednesday, June 8, at 8 p.m., when Air. Johnston will read a paper on “Rose and Shrub Cultivation and Pruning.” A luncheon talk will be given on Thursday, June 9, when Aliss Whitelaw, M.A., will deliver an address on “The New Africa.” The Bridge Circle will hold an open evening on Friday, June 10. Members intending to be present are requested to notify the secretary of the club before this evening (Tuesday), as only a limited number of tables are available. The annual meeting will be held in the club rooms on Tuesday, June 24, at 7.30 p.m.

A new kind of dress ornament has been invented, which is intended to supersede imitation pearls. This is the cuff bracelet, which clasps the wrist, in rows of four or five, over the sleeve and, like it, is v a plaited metal chain which serves as a collar. Another new fashion is a satin collar, which rolls back like a shawl, and is a continuation of the coat lining.