PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4192, 23 November 1883, Page 2

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The Philharmonic Society's Concert in tho Choral Hall was largely attended, and passed oft' very satisfactorily. A progi'iimmo was presented consisting in the Brst part of selected solos and choruses from ilandol's "Messiah," and in the second part of miscellaneous tnorceaux of a socular character. The manner in which they were pcrformod would not havo discredited more pretonsious organisations. It will bo romembercd that the Society was formed about two years ngo by Professor Cailliau out of rather crude material, nnd that he worked it up to a very fair degree of efficiency, and eince thon Mr Chadwick (tho present conductor) has faithfully carried on tho good work so judiciously bogun. Tho Society is still in the developmental stages, and criticism must bo tempered by a due allowance for theso facts. The orchestra numbers about a score of instruments—nearly all stringed ones—and although thcro is obvious room for improvement in their playing, they exhibit a notable aptitude and promising skill. Several of tho members are exporienced and capablo instrumentalists. The voices wero fairly balanced, and their ownors manifested tho effects of careful training. In the first part, "And tho Glory" and "For Unto Us a Child is Born " wore particularly well rendered, the vocalisations in tho latter number being taken very effectively by each of the several divisions of tho chorus. Tho slower movements were generally not so woll dono. In " Behold the Lamb of God " and "All we Like Sheep," for instance, thcro was an unsteadiness and want of accord that seriously marred tho execution. Thesamo defect, to a lesser extent, however, was noticeable in tho Hallelujah Chorus. As for tho instrumentation, it was satisfactory, with the exception of tho accompaniment to "Comfort Yo." Still, the progress made,by the Orchestra sinco its formation must be pronounced really surprising, and if tho .samo ratio is maintained it will at no romoto dato command high praise. As a whole, the solos were acceptably rendered. Miss Gee gave the recitativo and air, " 0, Thou That Tellest," Mrs Chadwick tho airs, " But Thou Didst Not Lcavo" and ;l I Know That My Redeemer Liveth," Miss Peace the air, "Ho was Despised ' (which was sung with much feeling), MrShackleton "Comfort Ye," Mr Worrall " For Behold Darkness," and Mr Gordon Gooch "Why Do tho Nations." Mrs Chadwick was apparently suffering slightly from cold, but she rendored her contributions very pleasingly nevertheless, while Mr Gooch gavo "Why Do the Nations "in first-class style. Miss Gee and Messrs Worrall and Shackloton acquitted themselves woll, tho lady singing especially well in tho middlo register. Tho orchestra having been strengthened by tho addition of sevoral instruments, opened tho second part ot tho programme with an ovorturo, "Fu de Potsdam," played with good effect, and then withdrew, tho remaining items, consisting of a pianoforte solo cleverly executed by Miss Keturah Campbell, throe concerted selections by the Society, and four songs. Mr Moreton secured a well-deserved round of applause for his rendering of "Tho Old Sexton," and Miss Peace sang Bordoso's "Vashti" with expression. It is rather a pretentious selection, however, and is susceptible of great elaboration. Mr Campbell gavo " Tho Storm Fiend," but ho forced his voico unduly, and got out of tune. Mr Gordon Gooch contributed "A Song of Neptune" (Diehl), singing it in such a manner as to fairly bring down the house. Ho bowed his acknowledgments to two consecutive encores, for although the hour was advanced, tho audience were loth to forego tho pleasure of hearing him again. Tho double quintette, "Queen of tho Valley," though fairly interpreted, was too longandasforthetwochoriisos,"BeholdHow Brightly" and "The Carnival," they wero executed with decided success, the latter one being the best concerted piece of tho second half of the programme. It must be said that the concert as a whole redounds to the credit of the Sooioty, and we congratulate Mr Chadwick upon the degree of efficiency to which it has attained. We are requested to state that Mr Hardwick was suffering from a severe cold, in consequence of which his place in the programme had to bo filled by Mr Shackleton at a day's notice.