ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 137, 5 December 1911, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

PUPILS' CONCERT. Every scat in St. Mary's Hall was filled last evening by a very appreciative audience, the occasion being a concert given by the pupils of Mr. E. Neville Renaud.. It was the first time that some of the performers had faced an audience,' and, naturally enough, were sonjewhat nervous, which was probably the cause of a luck of neatness in pedalling. Air. E. Armstrong's piano solo, Prelude in C Sharp Minor (Rachmaninoff) was a good item, but a little more freedom in time would have bten an improvement. Mr. C. H; Weston's singing was splendid. He was encored for "Up in the Saddle, Lads" (W. Wallace), and responded with "Eyes that used to gaze in mine." He was equally successful in "Devon, 0 Devon, in wind rain" (C. V. Stanford), and then contributed "Believe me, if all those endearing." Miss Meston made her first appearance in public, playing a piano solo, "Impromptu in A Flat" (Schubert), which was nicely performed. Miss C. Bayly sang "Ave Maria," "Otello" (Verdi), with a fine sense of appreciation, and for an encore was beautifully heard in "0 fair and sweet" (Rubinstein). In ,a piano solo, "Ballade in G Minor" (Greig) Miss Honor had some difficult work, which was well done. Mrs. G. H. Stubbs gavo a good illustration of a heavy voice m her reading of '"Death and the Maiden" (Schubert), for which she was deservedly encored, and responded with "Carro mi"o ben." The same talented lady, who has shown improvement since last vear, also sang "Could I," Yovel (Tosti"). Miss Armstrong exhibited clean execution in the sonata in C Major, op. 3, first movement (Beethoven), but it was perhaps a little hurried. Por an encore she played "Carillons." In the "Fautasic Impromptu'* (Chopin) she showed brilliance in the scale passages, and was encored. Miss Bayly's singing of "Deh! per questo," Clemenza di Tito (Mozart), was most creditable, her articulation being splendid throughout, despite a shaking tendency at tho commencement. Miss Ilirst played magnificently the Mozurt "Concento in D Minor," romanzo and presto. It was beautifully shaded in tone, the big passages being splendidly handled. With equal ability she played for an encore "Online., Etude" (Rubinstein). Mr. Renaud has every reason to be satisfied with the result of such a successful exhibition of his minds' abilities.