MALE CHOIR SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1917, Page 4

MALE CHOIR SOCIETY.

FIRST CONCERT. (

The recently-organised New jPlymouth Mala Choir, Society gave their first concert in the Good Templar Hall last uight, and received a welcome from music lovers such as must have realised their most sanguine hopes, and mor# than gratified their modest ambitions. If they had any doubt of their ability to favorably impress the public, their misgivings were rapidly dispelled, and with them disappeared even the faintest suspicion of shakiness. As item succeodtul item the complete success of the oonoert b»cam# more and more Msured, aid at its dose the unanimous verdict of the large audience—an audience that packed the hail to the very doors—was one of unqualified and even enthusiastie approbation.

Tlie choir is strong numerically as well as musically, consisting as it doe., of 50 vocalists. Of these S> are first tej>. ors, tO second twors, 14 first bases and 13 second bases, the whole being under »t» »>lo conduqtorship of i!r. F. W. (J. iWUod. Their contributions last night were the part songs "The Beleaguered" (Sullivan), "A Border Raid" (Rossini), '"To the Death" (Wheeler), "Comrades in Arms" (Adam), and "Evening" (Franz Abt), a range wide enough to fairly test their capabilities. In each item I U«j acquitted themselves admirably, th»ir voioes blending most harmoniously, and the general effect being particularly striking and artistic. ! The effects of careful and assiduous training were evident, and the choir must be heartily cou- : gi'atulatsd on the efficiency they hav» , already attained, which gTve« promise a.* ! ovpn eottw things on future occasioni. All that is nsaeseary to add is that every number was encored. Among those who assisted was Miss Rena Te Au, of Hawora, whose 'and melodious soprano voice was heard , to great .advantage in the of Spring" (Teresa del Riege), and "If you ' would lovti ius" (McDermid), as well ns tfer«o aacore ilernsv The Rev. N. ll,vPapakakura, silver tesor, sang "In Springtime," "Sylvelin," a selected solo and "Coming Home," the purity of his tone and the clearness of his enunciation being greatly admired,(and earn•xag for him an encore every time. Mr sA. B. Macdonald, Now Plymouth's popuBar bass vocalist, sang "Invictus" (Lohr) most slfectively, though an apology w«s .made for hijii not benig in the best of form, and in response to an imperative recall gave the dainty Irish ditty "The dear little girl." The Rev. Archibald iE. Hunt, of Wellington, provided an I elocutionary treat of no mean order, and hvas aqually gifecassful in humorous, bsr'Lesq.Bfi aluL dramatic selections. The mi*»B»aabljß»si» true played by Mrs. P. :TJrad*lo twd -Mr. ArnoU 6. Sturrock (L. Mus. T.C.L.), and csrUUl; formed one of the most attractive f»*A-. ures of a wholly delightful entertain <• meat.