THE CANTATA "ESTHER."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81844, 10 September 1906, Page 2

THE CANTATA "ESTHER."

ihe Whiteh'y Hall was crowded on I-ridav night, when the Whiteley Memorial Church choir rendered the cantata, ''Esther, the Beautiful Queen," A solo by Mr Brake, "The Landlord's Daughter'' (Jude), and another by Miss Ainsworth, "After the Harvest" (Hamilton Gray), were well rendered prior to the opening- of the cantata, and made a pleasingcurtain raiser. Tlie vocal quartette, "Do 1 Wake, or Am 1 Dreaming?" an unaccompanied item, was one of the most pleasing in the whole evening's entertainment. The first soloist was Mr Furlong, who sang "Belli 'd Ihis, Mcrdecai," an item that was not treated nearly as we,l as his second solo, "There is a Certain People. ' He was still better in his duet, "A Song of Joy," with Mr Aslier. Miss Blancheti's fine con tralto voice was well suited in "Lo, oer the Wicked." • Mr Jenkinson sang, "Woe is Me," with hummingaccompaniment, followed by Miss Buckmann in "Israel, 0 Israel," the treatment leaving little to be desired. These, with Mr Aslier, were the principals, and the parts were, it was seon evident, very wisely allotted. A very effective duet by Miss Buckmann and Mr Jenkinson, "Go Thou L'nto the King" was an item that has tried the capacity of many singers severely, but both acquitted themselves splendidly, Miss Buckmann showing her soprano voice at its best. Mr Asher's dramatic denunciation of I [anion was particularly fine. Mrs Pikett handled ihe contralto solos well, especially "Thy Galling- Defeat," and Miss Ainswortli treated the oMigato pails in 'God.is the Refuge ' and "Thou Wilt Keep Him" in most excessive style. The choruses were all good, time and enunciation excellent:. One of the gems was the chorus , "He That Gocth l-'orth and Weepetb." The final chorus was the melody of the "Old Hundretrlh,'' jriven to ihe lunoru in sustained notes, the other parts forming an effective accompaniment. Mr G. H. White, the conductor, well deserves the greatest credit for the production of the piece. Misses Douglas and Cannell played excellent accompaniments, but the absence of an orchestra detracted from the general effects. The cast "was as follows—Queen Esther, Miss 0. Buckman; Zercsto, Mrs Pikett; Maid of Honour, Miss Ainsworth; King Ahasuerus Mr F. Aslier; Mordecai, Mr jenkinson; Hamon, Mr Furiong; tlegai, Mr L. Blanchett.