MOTETT SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10986, 8 June 1901, Page 9

MOTETT SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

J f -__• I The conc-rt given by the Motett Society ■ last night Avas a decided success. The' programme, whidh Avas mainly orchestral, was well selected, and one is glad to note that with regard to the vocal items the older operas, which are fast dying out so far as public representation is concerned, were not overlooked. Dealing first with the vocal solos, gpeat praise is due to Miss Alice Gray for her most artistic interpretation of the difficult aria, "O Mio Fernando," from "La Favorit-." The number is one which makes • a great demand upon the powers of a singer from its dramatic character, and Miss Gray succeeded admirably in pourtraying the passionate, and powerful music of the aria. -In response to an enthusiastic encore. Miss Gray sang Wallace's setting of "Sweet and Low" very finely indeed. In the second part she "sang a song of the old Bchool, "The Soldie-*- Tear," very acceptably. Mr H. M. Reeves, who was the other vocalist, chose for his first solo the cavatina, "As I view those scenes so ciharming," from 4 T_a Sonnambula," and the following capaktta, "Maid, those bright eyes." The vigorous and dramatic style.of opera is hardly suited to Mr Reeves, whose forte is undoubtedly love ballads cl the perfervid type, which he sings most charmingly. But it is due to him to say that last night he succeeded very well in interpreting the numbers. For an encore he sang very well indeed a ballad, "Rose of tho Garden." In the second part Mr Reeves was beard to much advantage in a love ballad by Marzials. Some part songs were given by the | members of the society fairly well, but the preponderance of female voices militated somewhat against their success. Much praise is idue to the orchestra, which, under Mi Wells, was well balanced, and interpreted the music with markesd success. * 'In the second part Mr Empson played a piano solo, "Oapriciosco," by Mendelssohn, with orchestral accompaniment, veiy artistically, and the number was encored. Messrs Bonningtoo, Sinclair, Turyey, and Barbour deserve great credit for the artistic manner in which they played their respective solos. ( Miss Packer led the orchestra, and Mr H. Wells accompanied u_e several vocal solos, . and also conducted.