CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1926, Page 9

CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA

COMBINED CONCERT. Last evening the Male Choir and Orchestral Society combined their forces to present a programme in St. Mary’s Hall, which was comfortably filled by an interested audience, who at times expressed unmistakably their appreciation and approval of the various items that made up a programme of some sixteen numbers. The responsible promoters were very fortunate in securing Mrs. A. Seales, now recent in Hamilton, who will be well .within the memory of many of the resi dents here, who were very pleased to have the opportunity of noting the development of her very pleasing contralto voice, which she used with much success and charm. The selected ballades were well within her powers and proved quite acceptable to her audience, who marked their approval by repeated encores. Her range is quite extensive, and though her tone in the deeper portion of her voice is a little light, still the quality is even and blend well throughout her compass. Her enunciation too is generally definite and easily followed. She is altogether quite a pleas ing singer.

The choir were hardly up to the strength of their last programme, but as they were singing in a smaller hall than the Opera House, their tone was ample for the building. To maintain a purely male voice choir of good musical ability and well balanced proportions is a most difficult undertaking for a committee, and the society are to be commended for their praiseworthy efforts to keep the organisation intact. There were present several faces who had not been seen amongst them before, which indicates a serious endeavour to maintain the strength of the body; hut this reacts on the general ensemble and combination of the whole effect, which cannot be built up without the support of singers of tried and proved experience But amidst all their difficulties they should carry on, and by dint of hard work and close study, both in and out of the practice room, make themselves into a compact and workable body of singers. ■ Variety in the first part of the programme, for which the choir was responsible, was obtained by a song by Mrs. Seales, and by a duet for Flute (Mr. Bosworth) and Saxophone (Mr. George). The second part of the programme comprised songs by Mrs. Seales and several worjfs for orchestra, which was conducted by Mr. F. W. G. McLeod. Mrs. H. C. Morgan played all the accompaniments for the vocal works, both choir and solo, with her accustomed care and neatness; and while never obtrusive, always gave just the support required. Mr. W. L. Hay conducted the members of the choir. This evening the concert will be repeated in the same hall, when several changes will be made in the programme, which promises to be equally successful and pleasing as that submitted last evening.