SUNDAY CONCERT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 396, 4 January 1909, Page 6

SUNDAY CONCERT.

Whatever', may ; .be said.. concerning propriety, or impropriety, of; Sunday concerts, certain it is that entertainments of the class provided by the 'Wellington Professional Orchestra (Mr. F. J. Oakes) are exceedingly popular. This enterprising body of musicians, has a repertoire from which it is able to on such occasions ■ as it appears before the public, a,tastpful and attractive programme, and,to this are generally added a few solo numbers by. local or visiting performers, who are invariably, enjoyable to listen to. Last evening,' the orchestra, assisted by Mr. Wm. Short (the King's Trumpeter), Mr. Ernest Parkes.(baritone), and Mr. D. A. Kenny (accompanist), appeared, before .what was probably the largest audience which has' ever been assembled in the Town Hall. With all, due deference to themerit of .the concert, it must be said that the propriety of displaying, in pfoininent positions, invitations to patrons to tender one shilling for the gallery and sixpence- downstairs is at least'open, to question. The concert, of course, was well worth the figures ; suggested,'?but:.that is :not the point. Sunday concertSjhave, been,attacked; by, a section" of the community; in these: circumstances, the orchestra, while'it need not,-so'long as the standard , of, its performances is ; maintained at its present level, apprehend any ; reflections upon the taste_ : :of;its.entertainments, will .do, well, to refrain froiri the adoption of any expedient which, might,.; in tho opinion 'of some, be characterised as a subterfuge for swelling the receipts As for the concert last night, there was little.to.'icavil.at.. The'principal attraction, of course, .was tho King's Trumpeter whose efforts on this'occasion'excelled, in many, respects, his previous performances here. His items—"For, All: .Eternity" (Mascheroni). Tosti's " Good-bye.',' (an encore number), and the "Coronation Scene! , (given by him - at his previous.recitals)-7were excellently played, and appreciatively listened to. . Mr. Ernest Parkes sang, -with very fine „ effect,,. "A. - Dream ■' of Paradise' (Adams), repeating the last verse as an encore, and "My Fairest Child" (Alfred Hill), which'-was also.- encored. Mr. Henry Moschirii contributed, a pleasing clarinet solo, "Alicante" (Lethaire). i The -orchestral numbers—overture to "Pique Dame" (Suppe), Masoagni's "Intermezzo," from Cavalleria Rusticana," and Mozart's fine "Gloria," from the "Twelfth Mass," were attractively played, and heartily, applauded, Mies Elsie Hennah played the violin obbligato for Mr;; Parkes in his first song, and Mr. D. A. Kenny iilayed the accpmpaniments.'; '■' ; ,