OPERA HOUSE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12648, 8 November 1905, Page 5

OPERA HOUSE.

WESTMINSTER GLEE AND CON-

CEORT PARTY,

Mr Edward ißransoom.be and his Westminster Glee and Concert- Party madetheir reappearance •in Wariganui last evening, when a delighted audience assembled in the Opera-House. ..Numerically the audience was not so good as the programme deserved, but it was enthusiastically appreciative. As was only,to be expected from such a celebrated organisation a rare musical treat was provided. The personnel of th^ party is somewhat different to that which visited New Zealand last year, 'but it still contains (Madame Marie. Hooton, and, Messrs Bi">anscoanbe, Coward, and Causton. The otiher men of the .party are iMessrs Fraser, Nelson, (Llewellyn, and Sterndale Bennett, while the boye are Masters Edgley, Ludlow, Travis, Bates, and Marzioani. The party is an ex^ ceptionally. fine one, and their partsinging was at- ■one and the same time a pleasure and an education. Especially ] in the pianissimo passages were the singers heard to advantage, the voices being under perfect control and blending as one. The programme was a varied one, and gave the party opportunity" to demonstrate their undoubted . artistic ability. Two anthems, "God is a Spirit" and "From the Hieing of the Sun," were sung splendidly, and were an object lesson to many large choirs. The part song, " The Dance," by the gentlemen of the party, was nicely sung; as also was the Glee Party's rendition of " Down by a River Straying" and " I saw Lonely Phyllis." In response to an encore a quartette was sung. "Sigh no More, Ladies," was another lovely item, the voices of the party blending beautifully. "Norwegian Bridal Song" -was a capital vocal march, which was enthusiastically received ana re-demanded, "Come Join in the Dance" being given dn response. The-boys-of the party sang "The Mermaids," and in (response to an" undeniable encore gave "Nursery Rhymes.,". "In England, Merry England," was the 1 concluding item of the programme, an for this the party were loudly applaud-' cd. Mr Percy Coward, the male ajto/] was heard to advantage in •" The Banks of Allan Water1," and as an encore sang in., capital style, the old favourite, "Sally In Our Alley." Madame-Hoo-ton was in fine voice, and was encored" for both her numbers. Her first contribution was "An Irish Lullaby" (encore, ''Come Lassies and Lads");' and the second was "Green Groom" (encore, "I'm Ower Young"). Master Marzicani won the hearts of the audionco by his singing of "When : the Heart is Young," and in response to an unmistakeable encore, he sang "Cherry Ripe." Mr. Branscombe, gave, a fine rendering of "The Irish Immigrant," which so delighted the audience that he had to respond with "Because I had Nothing Else to Do." Mr. Sterndale Bennett, who is the possessor of a very fine bass voice, scored a, distinct success, and received a double encore. His first item was "King Henry's Song," and his encore numbers were "The Dear Little Girl" and "If You wero Seven and-I were Ten." Br. Dudley Causton was very-amusing in his humorous sketch, and was compelled to reappear. Taken altogether, the doncert was -a, distinct success, and the audience, were given a musical treat ' such as is seldom afforded. The Party will make their last appearance here to-night^ when a com- ; i pleto change of progranfm^ :be' given.' We would advise-aU-music "lovers not to miss the concert. j