CHAUTAUQUA.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1919, Page 6

CHAUTAUQUA.

OPENING TO-DAY. This afternoon the much discussed Chautauqua will be introduced to New Plymouth. A formal welcome wiil be given in the large tent which is being erected on the vacant land opposite the railway station, and after a brief jespnnse by the. Chautauqua representative the Apollo Concert Company will furnish the rest of «the afternoon's entertainment, introducing the apollophone. In the evening the Apollo Concert Company will cotribute the wiltole programme. The Dominion's report of the opening concerts is as follows: The concert company was headed by Mr. A»« thur Wells, and included also Miss Florence Hooper, Mrs. Arthur Wells, Mr Sinclair Francis, and Mr. .T. P. Latimer. The members of the company opened their programme with "Tho StarSpangled Banner," played on the apollophone, an instrument designed by Mr. Wells, and uniting, he explained, the batter qualities of the xylophone, the marimbaplione, and other instruments It resembled a greatly enlarged xylophone, and in the hands of the fivo players it proved an instritment of sweet, sonorous tone and wide range Mr. Wells and his party played several selections on the apollophone, including "The Buffalo March," ''Keep the Home Fires Burning," and "■Sweet and Low." Four members of the company formed a saxophone quartette. They played selections from "Faust" in very e-njoyable fashion, and in response to a recall gave a swing ing ragtime number Miss Hooper, who Ims a pleasant contralto voice, sana 1 "Love, Here : s My Heart," and she also told some stoiies entertainingly Mr Wells, whose playing of all the in=truments he handled was a feature of the programme, contributed also some Verygood, banjo solos, including P-ecthoven's Minuet in G for the violin, and the familiar "Poor Old Joe." The evening programme was fimikr to that of the afternoon, the members of the company substituting new numbers. There was a large audience on each occasion, and the players wore given a thoroughly appreciative reception. Mr. Wells added to tli« Merest of the programme by some explanatory remarks regarding the instiMmonts he and his companions were using Both Wellington and Miisterton, where the Chautauqua seasons have ended, have arranged for return visits next year.