MUSICAL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9814, 25 August 1897, Page 5

MUSICAL.

THE MUSICAL UNIONS CONCERT.

Taken as a whole, though here and there defects were noticeable, the Musical Union is to be congratulated upon the success attendant upon the third concert of the season, given last night in the Opera House. That there was a large attendance goes without saying, all the concerts of the Musical Union draw full houses, but the audience was somewhat cold and ir.esponsive, though the music was light, graceful, and not too highly classical. ' The concert was an orchestral one, and here it might bo said that though Miss Lingard's accompaniments on the piano are highly artistic and leave nothing to be desired, the vocal solos which are given should be with orchestral accompaniment. After so much orchestral work the piano sounds thin, and this detracts considerably from the general effect of the solos.

Taking the vocal part of the programme first, one cannot but regret that tbe indisposition of Miss Davie prevented her from appearing, Miss Graham, at very short notice, filled the breach, and sang " The Land of Yesterday " and " Hasten to Mc," both by Mascheroni. Mr P. Hockley, who was the only other vocalist, was greatly overweighted in '? Prince Ivan's Song," :%hich requires drairiatic force and intense passion to interpret it successfully. Mr Hockley has a nice light, pleasant baritone, fully equal to the modern love song, a style in which he achieved success in tho second part of the programme, but if ho is wise he will eschew the heavier style of music. Ho was heard to great advantage in his second number, a charming little love song, " Love Could I Only Tell Thee," by CapeT, which he sang very nicely, succeeding in rousing the audience to an encore.

,Coming now to the orchestral portion, iihe opening number on the programme Mozart's charming overture "The Magic Flute " was excellently interpreted by the orchestra, which was well balanced, and throughout the evening played in perfect time and tune. The allegro movement especially was very brightly played. Beethoven's symphony in F Major, No. 8, op. 93, was without doubt the gem of the evening, and a great musical treat. The wonderful musical vagaries which the composer has indulged in were interpreted with great fidelity and artistic skill. The opening movement was played with great deli-' cacy, and the quaint finale was excellently given, as was also the charming melody in the second and third. The opening of the finale was played with much grace, and altogether the Union are to be congratulated on their performance of so beautiful a work.

The concert stuck for pianoforte and orchestra afforded Miss Jennie West an opportunity of displaying her powers as a pianiste, of which sho took full advantage. The orchestra.worked splendidly, the march especially being excellently played. A couple of dainty little numbers from a ballet suite by Delibes were most gracefuliv played, the pizzicato especially so. This had to be repeated iv response to an encore, aud was one of the successes of the concert. Another item which was exceedingly well played was "Vior Gesgnach," or conversation betwerm flute, oboe, clarionet and horn, played by Messrs Gundersen, G. Bounington, junr., D. Sinclair and T. Tankard. This is a charming bit of orchestration, all the instruments named being played very arti«tically. The orchestra deser/e credit also, especially for their playing of the pizzicato accompaniment and a movement for the 'cellos, which wan most delicately played. Four movements from the Faust ballet music played with much vigour and grace concluded the concert. * Of the four, all of which were played well, perhaps the first, a charming movement in waltz time, was the best.

Mr Wallace conducted, Miss Packer led, and Miss C. Lingard accompanied most artistically.