ST. ANDREW’S NIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1941, Page 7

ST. ANDREW’S NIGHT

CONCERT IN OPERA HOUSE EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT. SOME NOTABLE CONTRIBUTORS. Though the Opera House was not so crowded on Saturday evening as it usually has been for the Saint . Andrew Society’s concerts, the considerable audience had every reason to congratulate itself on not having missed a thoroughly enjoyable entertainment. The Society set a high standard at its first concert four years ago, and that standard has ever since been fully maintained or excelled. The programme presented on Saturday evening was probably the most enjoyable to date, and was. in addition, artistically satisfying. The hall was tastefully and appropriately decorated, and the stage setting and lighting effects were exceptionally tasteful and a credit to the stage-manager. While the entertainment provided was almost exclusively Scottish, nevertheless there was no part of it that would not appeal to any Sassenach of musical and artistic tastes. As usual, the society went outside Masterton to find talent of the highest quality, and no mistake was made in the selection of such vocalists as Mrs Wilfred Andrews and Mr Ray Trewern, both of whom were liberal in their contributions to the programme. Mrs Andrews’s fine contralto voice was heard to advantage in “Jessie’s Dream,’ “Hush-a-bye Birdie,” “There Grows a Bonnie Brier Bush,” ‘‘Caller Herrin , “We’d Better Bide a Wee,” and “My Luve is like a Red, Red Rose.” In such songs as “MacGregor,’s Gathering,” “Border Ballad,” and “Lord Randall,” Mr Trewern sang with great dramatic effect, and his sweet tenor was heard to advantage also in “Mary,” “Afton Water,” and “Bonnie Mary of Argyle.” These two singers received an ovation for every item. The Saint Andrew Ladies’ Choir has made tremendous progress since it was first heard, .and the six new items that it submitted on this occasion were an artistic triumph. The plaintive “Aye Waukin’ 0” captivated the audience, while “The Wee Cooper o’ Fife” supplied lightsome humour, and “What’s a’ the Steer, Kimmer” and “The Campbells are Cornin’ ” martial ardour. Persistent encores required repetition of the last-mentioned item, a compliment well deserved both by the choir and by its conductor, Mr William C. Mann. As to Miss Edna Corlett’s dancing, no more appropriate comment can be made than the quotation from Hector Macneil appearing under her name in the programme: “Nane dances sae lichtly, sae gracefu’, sae hichtly.” She charmed the audience. The Ninesome Reel, performed by a Saint Andrew dance team, was a Scottish Country Dance of the vigorous and intricate type. Two teams danced a foursome Reel. Both these dances were performed with skill and grpee and delighted the audience. Chieftamess Mrs Robert Miller pleased her hearers with recitations both grave and gay. She was received with the acclamation that she invariably arouses, and was obliged to respond to encores. Mr Hubert Filer’s mastery of the pianoforte was well displayed in Scots solos by Hamish MacGunn, and subsequently, with Miss Freda Masters, he presented as duets Listz’s Rhapsody No. 2 and (in response to an insistent demand foi more) a Chopin Polonaise. The Saint Andrew Pipe Band, under Pipe-Major Hounslow and Drum-Ma-jor Stanton, was in excellent form, and gave great pleasure with its well-pei-formed selections, besides performing in the streets before the concert. Mrs H. M. Morton, in her usual accomplished style, played the pianoforte accompaniments for all singing items, and Chief’s Piper Pickett .played for the dancing. The Chief’s Piper also piped-in the Chief at the latter s formal entrance, in traditional style. At suitable breaks in the programme, bouquets, were presented to Mrs Wilfred Andrews and Mrs H. M. Morton, and a spray to Mrs Mackenzie Douglas, wife of the Chief. The Chief said a few words of welcome to the audience, and read a telegram, signed “The Dickels,” in which the senders wished the society ‘ a guid nicht”and the best of luck. At the close of the performance, all performers gathered on the stage when “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem were sung. The concert had opened with the singing of the Scots National Anthem, “Scots Wha Ha’e.”