MADAME ALPAR’S CONCERT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 79, 24 June 1927, Page 15

MADAME ALPAR’S CONCERT

SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINMENT With the best local talent generously coming forward for the occasion, the valedictory concert to Madame Gitta Alpar at the Town Hall last evening proved a complete success. The number of artists available ensured excellent variety, instrumental, vocal, elocutionary and dance items in a wellarranged programme constituting a very pleasing offering. The programme was opened by the Lyric Four, Messrs. Ripley, Richards, McElwain and Thomas, who provided a pleasing interpretation of Calkin’s “Night Winds Blow.” Miss Margaret Stoddart’s rendering of Kreisler’s violin solo, “Liebesfreud,” proved a very/acceptable number, as did Mr. Barry Coney’s treatment of the vocal number lago’s “Credo,” from Verdi’s “Othello.” Additional variation in the vocal section was provided by Mr. Ripley with a pleasing tenor solo, “I Pitch My Lonely Caravan” (Coates), Mr. Ernest Snell’s “Toreador’s Song,” from “Carmen,” and Miss Dorothy Youd’s “The Awakening” (Kramer). Madame Gitta Alpar, clad in the picturesque Hungarian costume, made a decided hit in her three numbers, “Gipsy Prime,” “By Brown Boy,” and “Hungarian Folk Song.” At the close of the concert Madame Alpar also gave a very pleasing interpretation of Sullivan’s “Orpheus With His Lute,” in addition to several encores, which were enthusiastically demanded. A Shakespearian recitation by Miss Raie Robinson, “The Sleep Walking Scene,” was effectively rendered, while in humorous vein Mr. Alan McElwain proved very acceptable. The instrumental items included a nicely-played harp solo, “La Harpe Eolienne,” by Miss Mavis Grevatt, and an instrumental trio, “Valse des Fleurs” (Tschaikowsky), very effectively contributed by Miss Margaret Stoddart (violin), Lai la Hemus (’cello), and Mr. Eric Waters (piano). A classical ballet by eight of Miss Daphne Knight’s pupils, headed by Miss Gladys Steele, r.s solo dancer, also proved very acceptable. The accompaniments were in the very capable hands of Mesdames A. Ripley, H. Steward and Messrs. Cyril Towsey, Barry Coney and Eric Waters.