PONSONBY ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 292, 8 December 1900, Page 6

PONSONBY ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

SECOND CONCERT,

The Ponsonby* Orchestral Society ga,ve the second concert of the season last evening at the Ponsonby Hall. There was a crowded attendance. Owing to the wretched acoustic properties k>f the building it was found necessary to build out a temporary stage beyond the permanent platform on which to place the orchestra. The experiment proved a success, for the full volume of sound was thus carried into the auditorium, instead Of being partly dissipated in the wings. The orchestra,- under the baton of Mr S. Adams, and led by Herr Kreutzer, acquitted themselves very well, showing evidence of improvement since their previous concert. The opening overture, "Lustspiel" (Keler Beia), was perhaps their best performance, and the selection from "Les Cloches de Corneville" were also excellently rendered. More attention might have been given to the "light and shade" in Gungl's fine waltz, "Immortellen," but in "La. Mousine" and "Soir d'Autumn" the rendering was smooth and expressive. "Tambours and Trumpets," a bright little military polka, by Gillett, completed the lorchestral programme. Miss Kathleen Aickin sang "Ma Curlie Headed Hubbie" and "Douglas Gordon" with great sweetness and expression. She was encored for the latter solo, and responded with "Ben Bolt." Miss Marienne Taylor received an imperative encore for her rendering, of "The Swallows" (Cowen), and added "The Love Tide" with acceptance. Mrs Dr. Parkes' well trained voice was heard to advantage in "A Summer Night" (with 'cello obligato by Mr B. Plummer), and in the duet "The Morn Hath Raised," with Mr Wilfred Manning. The latter itetfi was encored, and another duet, "Alice, Where Art Thou?" was added. Mr Manning gave a feeling rendering of Sullivan's "Lost Chord," during the singing of which orchestra and audience remained standing out of respect to the dead composer. Altogether the concert was a most successful one,.and as an indication of the musical talent of the western suburb, it may be regarded, as very satisfactory. The society has encountered many difficulties, especially the want of a suitable haJl for practice. andiconcerts; but it is hoped that local enterprise will supply these requirements in tlie near future.