Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

AMUSEMENTS.
Liedertafcl Concert.
'The Royal Victorian Liedertafel gave n
concert ill tlie Auditorium last night. Tho
society is a long-established institution
(this was the Ulth concert), but it iB also
progressive. There inny bo important
works for tiio malo chorus that yet re
main to lie produced, "but on the whole
tiie selections are reasonably varied, and
sometimes new. The . Liedertafel steers
clear of two opposite tendencies observable
in solo vocalists mid choral societies- It
eschews the "simple and unpretentious,"
ns well as. tlio very ambitious works be
longing to the order known as sublime,
Tlie vital numbers last night wero Mal-
lirison's Battle of the Baltic, Grieg's Lan-
dorkciinuiig. Mallinson's descriptive but
inconsequent ballud, in which Mr. A. Stan
ley Orelinrd acceptably sang tlio solo
verso, found the choir in excellent form.
Tlio Grieg ballad created a very good im
pression, though its stronger sections lost
brilliance. Mr. Orchard wns again a cap
able soloist. 'The vigor of tlie opening
ballad may have been responsible for
roughness of tone in Morley's Canzonet
Gruel, You Full Away Too Soon Your
Lips. ' Fure tone returned unruilled in
Every Rustling Tree, of Kulilon. Schu
bert's Gondolier's Serenade, Flumpton's
Serenade and Bantock's Tiie King's Mes
senger were all admirably treated. In
works such us these tlie choir siiowcd
those vocal qualities which long ago es
tablished its reputation as a choral body
trained in the essentials of technique, nnd
alive to tlie effects which endow a work
with charm, and constitute it an artistic
delight.
Miss Molly J. Maekay, an attractive
soprano with u beautiful voice and expres
sive style, gave the two Schumann liedor
Ho, of All True Men, tlie Noblest, nnd
Moonlight; with Seliubert's Gretclien at
the Spinning Wheel. While promising
well and suggesting nil accurate phrasing,
the singer lias yet to acquire further
emotional fervor and voice control to do
justice to tlie most choice and exacting
Liedor. Her selections were admirable,
and her praiseworthy singing wns well re
ceived. Tlie old-fashioned arrangement
of the Carnival of Venice, by Benedict,
witli its florid jiassnges, was graced with
an easy vocalisation. Tlio ornamental
figures, runs nnd trills were remarkably
clear and even.
The ' selections of Mr. Walter Kirliy
wero from sacred and operatic sources.
His splendid tones illuminated the phrases
with a joyous natural light. Mr. Kirby
can bo intense in his dramatic expression,
though minute shading between the ex
treme degrees is less well marked. Ifage-
mnn's Christ Went Up Into tho Hills, a
song not highly valuable as music, was
followed by the Tmjiroviso di Chenicr, of
Qiordnno, and Beethoven's aria Against
Thee, O God,, by Rachmaninoff's Le Reve
de des Gricux Manon. The 'tenor's popu
larity required him to add extra number.
His high notes wero particularly clear and
musical.
Mr. Edouard Lambert is a violinist, wlio
never appears without giving his niuli-
ence a feast of good tilings. His genuine
art is immediately recognised, for he
readily offers the fullest artistic satisfac
tion. Beauty of tone and finish of stvlo
accompany all his work. Bach's 4th String
Air was a superb exhibition of glorious
cnntnbile. 'Tlio Rnmeait Gavotte and
Mozart Minuet, were consistently graceful.
Binding's- _ Romance '.and Wieniawski's
1 olonnise in D displayed the artist's bril
liant execution. His solos were enthusi
astically applauded.
Mr. Mansley . Greer, in directing the
choir, designed appropriate tempi, secured
characteristic moods, aiid a fair uni
formity of expression that might have be
come still more intiniate.niid detailed. Mr.
William Bitrrell accompanied tlie artists
and the chorus with unfailing taste.
$