THE FOOTBALL TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 4080, 10 August 1883, Page 2

THE FOOTBALL TOUR.

Concert in Aid of Funds.

The concert projected for ihe purpose of raising funds wherewith to assist in defray* ing the expenses of the Auckland Football Team in their Southern tour took place latf night in the Theatre Koyal, and was very satisfactorily carried oat. Mr Gordon Gooch ■was the conductor, and the attractiveness of the programme attests his good judgment, It was of a thoroughly popular character, and, as an almost inevitable result, every one of the solo selections was encored. Oi these, the best were undoubtedly the coquettish little song " No, Sir," very effectively sung by Mrs Revitt, and Mr Gordon Gooch's fine, dramatic rendering ol the descriptive song, "The Desert." 'ilia" lady, in response to an encore, gavo " Comin1 Thro' the Itye," but not with tha same effect, while Mr Gooch, in answer to his recall, contributed, in iirst-clasi style, " ihe Mid-hip mite," to the great delight of the "gods," who volunteered n " heel and toe" accompaniment to the refrain. Mies Annie Hnri»ravc gave with conaideraW taste and archness of expression the pretty little song " Who's that Tapping," and Mm Stophen»on stDg with much sweetness Pontet's "Tit for Tat," while Mr flatus contributed Balfe's " Good Night, Beloved, '\ with feeling and taste, and Mr Burnham, " The Gallants of England." Misa Tapper • and Mr iinnua executed tha duet, "Serenade" (V. Gabriel), «o well as to merit a cordial recal and the old favourite, "Beware, Take Care," arranged as a part« song, was capitally sung by the company, They also gave tbe part-song, "Awake, iliolian Lyre." The best of tbe concerted pieces, however, was the quintette, "Blow, Gentle Gales," in which Mrs Gooch'a rare contralto voice was heard to especial advantage, Madame I'oolcy was to have sung a song and taken part in a duet, but she was indisposed, and an apology was therefore tendered on her bckalf. Tha second part of the programme included "The Army and Navy" duet, spiritedly rendered by Mr Gooch and Mr Hanna, tbe operatic scena, "Vieni la Mia Vendetta," well sang by Mr S. Keesinsj, and a cantata by Thombs entitled "The Picnic," which was performed very credit* ably by the Deyonport Moiical Society, Mr G>ioch conducting. It is a tparkling little composition, abounding with melody of a light and taking character, and presenting no great difficulties in the way of effective interpretation, «isß Duder had the principal share of the solo singing to do, and she acquitted herself very ratisfactorUy, while Mr Gooch m»d» such a palpable "hit" in "The Laughing Song" tbat he was fain to repeat the last verse. The choruses, with the exception of tbe fourth, which was marked by some unsteadiness, went very well, the concluding one, "Good Fight," being really admirably sung. Mr A. B»rtloy accompanied the singers upon the piano. For the preceding portion of the, concert, Mr Slater acted as accompanist.