THE MALE CHOIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1922, Page 5

THE MALE CHOIR.

LAST NIGHT’S CONCERT. There was a large and appreciative audience at the Workers’ Social Hall last night when the New Plymouth Male Choir gave a rery successful concert. The opening item, a part song by the Choir, “They cannot kill the Soul,” was well rendered, though in one portion it gave evidence that further study would have been beneficial. The Choir’s second item, “The Barefoot Trail,’’ gripped the audience, as did its next, “Old Man Moses.” For the encore demanded the choir gave the eve.r popular “Border” ballad, and gave it with a spirit which thoroughly aroused enthusiasm. The “Vintage Song” was well done, but the “Soldier’© Farewell ** wa© undoubtedly the most appreciated of the choir’s efforts, and for it and for the stirring “Song of the Bow” a repetition was demanded. In Miss Natalie McCallum as soprano soloist the choir were very fortunate. Miss McCallum possesses a voice which for sweetness, range, and expression is such that it is rarely the good fortune of a New Plymouth audience to listen to. To choose ©ongs so dissimilar as “St. Nicholas Day in the Morning” and “Songs My Mother ♦Taught Me,” as Miss McCallum did for her opening items, showed the scope of her powers. Her next item was a duet (With Master Frank Poore a© flutist) and for this the early Victorian “Lo, Hear the Gentle Lark’ was chosen. Both artists showed a true appreciation of the composer’* ideals, and the audience show»?d its appreciation by insisting upon a double encore. It i© nearly a generation since Puccini’s “La Boheme” established hi» fame, but Miss McCallum’s interpretation of “Mussetta’s Walk” from that opera showed that “time cannot wither nor custom ©tale” the work of true genius. She greatly delighted her audience by giving as an encore to this the ever welcome “Annie Laurie.” A further encore was vociferously demanded, but Mis© McCallum laughingly reminded the audience that she will 'be singing again to-night! Master Frank Pooro’a flute playing wa© delightful, both in the duet with Miss McCallum and in the more florid “Aire Varie,” which he gave as a solo, and for which the audience insisted upon recalling him twice. Mr. C. M. Tehey sang Sch'uman’s somewhat difficult '“Two Grenadiers” with ease and spirit, and he was equally happy in the very different song “For the Green, which he gave as an encore. The success of the concert depended, of course, in no small degree upon th© conductor, Mr. F. W. McLeod. He showed, as ever, that “keen sense of time, rhythm, and color” which Richter said every good conductor must possess, end it must have been very gratifying to him anfl to the choir that their efforts were so appreciated. The concert will be repeated tonight.