THE LEIDERTAFEL CONCERT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 265, 16 December 1909, Page 3

THE LEIDERTAFEL CONCERT

A DISTINCT SUCCESS. It has frequently been urged against New Plymouth that it its not a musical town, and the remark has met with general credence, possibly because public appearances of our best local amateurs have been few and far between, ami concerted vocal work, so far as the concert hall was concerned,, has been until recently even rarer still. Now, however, the vocalists of New Fly mom li aave bauded themselves together for mutual 'benefit and for the'pruductiou of choral work, and the results as placed before the public from the stage have been fat beyond expectations. We are fortunate

in possessing professional men of un doubtedly high attainments, and for proof of this there is no necessity to go I farther than last night's initial concert of the New .Plymouth Liedertafel. The Liedertafel is a new institution, having been only a few months in existent'.-?, and having held onTy thirteen practices. To attempt a concert under these circumstances showed the great confidence ■reposed by the members in their conductor, and clearly demonstrated that Mr. Anderson recognised that there were singers under his charge who were no novices. The highest hopes entertained of the per'ormance must have been fulfilled last night. There was a crowded house, every seat in the dress circle being filled long before the time of opening, and the stalls crowded. The audience was in an appreciative but obviously critical, mood, and was undoubtedly surprised at the excellence of this the opening concert, some of the items of which would have taxed the capabilities of almost any combination of voices in the Dominion. The Society was fortunate in having secured two first-class lady soloists, Miss Rosalie Handley. soprano, and Mrs. E. C. Robinson, contralto, whose singing was far above the average.

The concert opened with the orchestral overture "Zarapa" (Herold). This was rather a difficult piece for an orchestra of comparatively recent formation, but the various instrumentalists emerged creditably from the ordeal. The opening bars were a trifle thin, and at times the bass was ragged," but the violins were a very strong feature; on the whole, it was a creditable performance. For the interlude the orchestra to;)k Frank Cellar's "Valse de Concert," less ambitious music, and rendered in «ood time and tunc. The first item by°rhe Liedertafel was "The Toast" (Zol'lner), in which Messrs Crawford, Guy, Reid and Metcalfe took the solos, 'in this there_ were traces of nervousness, ii.it the item was very fairly rendered, though with certain'lack of expression. A distinct improvement was noticeable m the part, song, "May" (Muller), and an encore was insisted upon. But the best of _ their numbers was "The Two Roses," in the first part, the voices being splendidly balanced, and the effect very even. The crßsccndos, if anvthing ware a trifle forced. "The War' Song" was rather lacking in military spirit, but this was a feature in passages of "Com. rades in Arms" (A. Adam). In this number the crescendos and diminuendos were well noted, and the staccato passages excellent. Th* number was deservedly popular, and vigorously reca.lei. "Stars of the Summer NMit," the last part son? by the full strength of the Liedertafel, was nicelv hafanro-.1. and was well received bv the audience Miss Rosalie Handley was the first soloist. He r ffrst selection was Gounod's "Ave Maria," with violin obligate by Mr. H. Spencer Salt. Her choice of an opening number was ambitious and the ave drew largely upon the remarkable flexibility of her voice. The audience was quick to recognise the undoubted freshness and clearness of a fine soprano voice, and" Miss' Handley wag recalled, responding with "Dawn," which gave a complete change of style, and was also loudly applauded. Her scot'd number, and perhaps the best, was the 'Serenade" (Gounod), a lighter and brighter setting in which the young singer showed very considerable talent, and for which she was recalled, responding with "When the B«e Sucks." Mrs. E. C. Robinson, of Stratford, was quickly installed as a prime favorite with a New Plymouth audience "Break, Break, Break" (Lewis CnroU gave the audience a taste of the full quality of he r rich contralto voice, with good range, fine dramatic power, and perfect enunciation. To loud calls for a second sona she resnonded with tile delightful balmo", The Little' Silver Ring," most sympathetically suns. Tm ■the second part of the programme =|ie selected "Still as the Night" (f.irl ■Bohm), which gave ample opportunity for showing her complete control of the ■lower register. The applause showed undoubted appreciation of the audience, which clamored for an encore very earnestly. In response she san<r "Summer Rain," which pleased her hearers st'll more, and another song was enthusiastically demanded, the result being the renderinj of "Vainka's Song" undouli--edly the, gem of the concert and a distinct treat. The runs were exceedingly clear and artistically modulated, tnieVo time, and sun<r well throughout. The audience still displayed Oliver Twist ten dencfes. but asked too much, and Mr'. Robinson fiowcr her acknowledgments. The programme included several quartettes and a trio. "The Sabbath Call." given hy "Messrs. F. Hooker'and G. Tf. White (tenors) O. F. Broilic and R. Lee (Bass) was perhaps hardly a good selection for new voices, but the singers acquitted themselves well, ttie tenor of Mr. Hooker finding especial favor, as good tenors always do. There was also ft fine quartette in the part song, "The Chapel," Mcssts. A. Vcale (first tenor), W. Ainbury (second tenor), G. F. [Brodie (first bass), and W. P. Crawford I (second bass) taking the parts. " BanI ish, 0 Maiden," Avas one of the most effective of the concerted items, being a 'double quartette by Messrs. Hooker, Veale, Ambury, and W. G. Reid (tenors), M. Rudd, T. C. Sohnackenberg, Lee, Crawford. In this the various voices

blended well, and there was a finish j about it. The singers were very care-1 fill in noting expression marks, which i gave the piece an added charm. The' only trio was a very spirited and popu-1 lar theme, "Hark, 'tis the Indian Drum" (Fir H. R. Bishop), with a fetching drum obligate from the wings. The vocalists were Messrs. E. Clarke, W. E. M. Guy, and H. W. .Jennings. The trio was well given and had to be repeated. Finally came the solo quartette, "God Save fie King," by Miss Handley, Mrs. Robinson, Messrs. Veale and Brodie, with grand chorus and orchestra arranged by the conductor. Miss Warren played' Mrs. Robinson's various accompaniments, an.l Mr. G. Metcalfe played the remainder. The accompaniments were al] skilfully played, notably those of Miss Warren.

The first concert of the Liedcrttifcl must be described as a pleasing success, and promises better things in future. The greatest credit is due to both the. conductor and the members for the degree of proficiency attained.