NEW PLYMOUTH MALE CHOIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1920, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH MALE CHOIR.

SUCCESSFUL CONCERT^ The New Plymouth Male Choir Society gave its eighth concert last night in the Workers' .Social Hall before a large and very appreciative audience. In point of numbers the choir was smaller than on some other occasions though the balance of the parts was fairly even, a noticeable weakness being in the second tenor part. Their prograriime opened with a spirited rendering of Fletcher's "British Grenadiers," and this was followed by an arrangement of "Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes" (I3utton), and "Come, Merry Comrades All," by Becker. For the latter they were encored and repeated the numberIn the second part they sang Maunder's "To Arms!", "The B.ells of St. Mary's" (by request), in which Mr. B. P. Bellringer was again the soloist, and which had to be repeated, and they concluded with Dard's "Nightfall." The choir's singing throughout was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. The introduction of Miss Mina Caldow to New Plymouth was an event for which the Choir deserves the thanks of the community of music lovers. Miss Caldow is easily the most popular contralto that the Dominion possesses at the present time, and it is not too much ] to say that she is the best that New Zealand has yet claimed for her own. Her singing last night left nothing to he desired—except more ,of it! She sings with ease and marked musical temperament and has a stage presence which brings licr on to good terms with her hearers from her first appearanceThe insistence upon double encores and the presentation of a beautiful bouquet testified to the pleasure her songs afforded the audience. Her first number last night was a beautiful interpretation of Charpcntier's "Depuis le Jour," and later she sang with equally good effect Homer's very touching ballad, "How's My Boy." Her rendering of Alfred Hill's "Waiata Poi," portrayed in a realistic manner the Native characteristics. For encores she gave "Prince Charming," "Happy Song," "Thank Cod for a Garden," and "Down Here the Lilacs Fade," the latter being a t-omc-wliat new song here though very popular at Home. Miss Caldow will sing entirely different songs" at to-night's concert. The other vocalist of the evening was Mr. Ashley B. Macdonald (bass), who sang Newton's "Desert Prayer," from "Chun Chin Chow," and for an encore "Come to the Fair." The Rev- Archibald E. Hunt (Wellington) was the elocutionist and delighted the audience as well in grave as in gay subjects. He gave a very convincing exposition of Alfred Noyes' "The Highwayman," and for an encore ho chose the monologue "Twenty Gallons of Sleep." Mr. Hunt also very cleverly pourtrayed the scene , from Dickens' "David Coppcriield," in which "Dan'l Peggotty" hears the news of '"little Emily's" misfortune. As an encore to this he gave the monologue, "His First Long Tum'sers." In his humorous selection he chose Hickory Wood's "The New ITat" and "'Only a Pin." Mr. Hunt is an elocutionist of high rank, possessing considerable histrionic ability, and his work last night won for him again the warm appreciation of the New Plymouth public. His'items to-night will be an entile change from those of lust (light. Mr. Arnold 0. Sturrocfc played the accompaniments, and Mr. F. W. 0. McLeod conducted.