WELLINGTON MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7215, 28 November 1888, Page 5

WELLINGTON MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

PEBFOBMAireE OF " ELLtAHJ* [Bt Te-j-bbaph.] * [fkom.oub special cxjrrespondent.] W_DTiLTNGTON, November 27. The first grand performance of the New Zealand Musical Festival took place in the Garrison Hall to-night with brilliant success. The large hall was densely packed in every part,-the audience including the Governor and Lady Jervois, Misses Jervois, and numerous visitors from all parts of the colony. On the entrance of the vice-regal party at eight o'clock, the National Anthem was sung with She effect, Misa Spensley singing the first verse as a solo, while the second verse wag given as ad t uartet by Mass Spensley, Mrs West-aacott, Herr Pus-bell, and Mr Prowse, and the third by the lull chorus • Mendelsohn's oratorio "Elijah""then foi. lowed, and occupied the whole' evening until 11 p.m. It was given by a choras and orchestra of over _*00 performers, add with magnificent effect The choruses vr-re song with reraark&ble -power and grandeur, while the precision and delicacy in the many little critical points which test the capacity of a choir were specially comn-endabaa, as was also the crispness with which oveiy note was cut off at the finish. The voices were well balanced, full and round in tone, and excellent in trine, the only instance of the slightest straying in pitch being in one phrase in the difficult " W_ti_**-wind attd 'e__r-hqn__se'*' chorus, which otherwise, however, was superbly given. The orchestra, as a role played capitally, their only failing beings slight unsteadiness in the firs* movement of "Hear ye Israel." The soloists -were e_-cept.on_-.ry efficient. Naturally the p-Jn_ "*ss carried off by Mr Prowse, whose impersonation of the prophet Was in all respects a notable one, the grandeur bt his voice and the dramatic fire of his singing eclipsing any previous representation of the part in New Zealand. Miss Spensley, as was antioipated, sang the chief soprano music beautifully, and won great admiration. Mrs G-i-rard scored' a marked success in the second soprano solos originally in the part of the Youth. Mrs Westmacott sang " Woe unto them " excellently, and Herr Puscheh cha_.*_aed every body by his superb delivery at the tenor solos. The two quartet*-, kc, were exceedingly well done, and in short the performance throoghont was a memorable one, and a most brilliant inanfrnration of the first New Zealand Festival. Already SOO seats are reserved for the "Golden Legend" night, and it is beginning to be a matter of c-Jculataon how to pack the audience for the renuuning concert-, '^^^^^^— mmm __