MISS CHRISTIAN'S CONCERTS.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6370, 18 February 1886, Page 2

MISS CHRISTIAN'S CONCERTS.

That the efforts of that enterprising of caterers for public amusement —Mr K. S. Smythe—are appreciated was amplyproved by the large audience which assembled last night at the Oddfellows' Hall on the occasion of the second of -Miss Christian's concerto. Miss Christian's first number, Sullivan's "My dearest Heart," was most charmingly sung-. The ecclesiastical style. which pervades all Sullivan's music, even _ opera bouffe, and of which this song is a marked instance, affords every scope for the display of Miss Christian's toll round notes, of which she took full advantage. In response to an enthusiastic iesire she sang that pretty little ballad "Sbylie Baun " as she only can sing ballad music. The unaccompanied duet " Ye Banks and Braes" with Mr Beaumont was a great treat, and had to be repeated. In the second part Miss Christian gave the " Lost Chord " in a manner which fully brought out all the beauties of the composition. Her ■ last solo, "Kathleen Mavourneen,"was,without doubt, the gem of the evening. It was sung with such sympathy and thorough appreciation of the words of tbe soiig as to evoke great enthusiasm. In the .duet, " The sailor sighs," which closed the concert, Miss Christian was heard to great advantage. Miss Emily Christian played two duets with Mr Toweey, the first being the overture to "Wißiam Tell,*' and the second a set of valses de concert by Strauss. - In both numbers Miss Christian fully sustained the favorable impressionmade on her first appearance. Her solos comprised a theme, with variations, by Schubert, the intricate and brilliant music of which was most at tistically rendered, and a pretty,little gavotte by Niemann. The latter, with its bright gay melody, formed an excellent foil to the more solid character of the preceding solo, and j it wa3 admirably played. Mr Beaumont, j who was evidently Buffering from hoarseness, sang in the first part Adams'wellworn "Blue Alsatian Mountains" and Blumenthal's "Evening Song." Ia response to an encore for the first he gave "The Bomany Lass" excellently. He sang well also in the duet with Miss Christian, which closed the first part. In. the second he gave "My Pretty Jane," and for an encore " Little Footsteps." Mr NichoUs' contributions were Blumenthal's "Thinkingof Thee" and Gath's "True tin death/- The hut concert will be given • to-morrow evening, when Miss Christian will sing " 0 rest in the Lord," and Mr Beaumont " If with all your hearts," from " Elijah." As the opportunity but rarely occurs of hearing such celebrated exponents of oratorio music, no doubt there will be a large attendance.