REMUERA MUSICAL SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 262, 9 November 1906, Page 3

REMUERA MUSICAL SOCIETY.

The FiOnniera Musical Society's third concert of the season look place last evening at St. Mark's Hall. The great counter-attraction at the Choral Hal! of -.Idlle. Dolores was doubtless responsible for a somewhat smaller attendance than the concerts of this society usually at-

tract, but apart from this tho evening may be reasonably counted among this society's suece-se*. Tho piece chosen w-= Gaul's " Una." which, although -airly simple in theme, yet contains passages that make d-.mand- both on soloists and chorus to an extent that is not to be ignored in criticising its production; and in this respect the performance of the evening it would be vain to deny, revealed weaknesses that might be inexcusable under other circumstances, but with certain permissable indulgence may not. bo too harshly considered. As solo soprano. Mrs. G ilra.re. I Una) had a task that might well have taxed a stronger voice, and in one nr two instances, noticeably in the recitative "What vok-es." • ho strain prodiuel a tircdne-s that was more than a suspicion; but in " Tis all wo seek" and later in the duet. " For thee may life..*' she wa- distinctly .uoees_ful. while "O

lore will love " was delightfully expressive in its rendering. Mrs. Sutherland 'Fid.-.-a i v.a- in thorough voice, and in her number- she showed a round quality and fullness of note that never failed the demand mad. of her. In the recitation ''Spell, potent -poll." and song. "The Enchanter's Wand.." she was especially attractive in her interpretation, nor was she scarcely less so in the duet following. "I thought it was." Mr. 11. B. Coney was also in excellent voice, and gave an almost faultless rendering of his score. In " Bring a Fair Enchanter Hither.'' and in the recitation. "' What rabblemeiu draws near.'' he was. perhaps, most happy. In the tenor part of R.d.ro*se. Mr. Irving acquitted himself generally with decided merit, but one or twice, and more particularly in the recitative ,; Beloved One,'' an unevenness Trept into hi- rendition that -poke of W.ue stn. . . He was al his b"st in the aria. "I thought it was an idle dream.'' while in tho following duet with Mrs. Sutherland his voice was ulso lu-i.rd to distinct advantage The work of the chorus was on the whole very fair, notwithstanding; lhat an occasional indecision in following up somewhat marred OtherwiH' really meritorious effort. The Rale voices did splendid work in "We hearken thy call." while iv toe ensemble 0 Lady, have "' the balance was well tfuintainM throughout. Although one pr two of the sustained passages were inclined to dovplop waveriness. the chorus part, were very creditably achieved generally. The orchestra, led by Miss Edith Whitelaw, did work that frequently rose above mediocre, the only passage that really laiied to please bding the intermezzo '■ Early morning." in which the winds and heavy strings were both Ye *_ feeble. Mrs. Petrie accompanied v ery capably. Mr. H. Connell (conductor) wielded the baton with his usual kfficlencv.

.Refuse substitutes; WOLFE'S is the '(?-&] original Schnapps.