Orchestral Concert,

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 51, 28 August 1895, Page 2

Orchestral Concert,

Last night the Wellington Orchestral Sooiety very successfully inaugurated its sixth season, which opens with a list of 135 subscribers. The dress oirole and stalls of the Opera House were quite filled, (he audience inoluding HisExcellenoy the Governor, Lady Glasgow, Lady Alice Boyle, and Cant. Campbell-Preston. Under Mr. A. V. Hifi's oondnotorabip the orchestra opened the ooncert with Beethoven'p "King Stephen" overohief undertaldngf or the evening O, the four movements of whioh ' take 40 minutes to perform. "It was played in an altogether admirable 1 style throughout, and eaoh movement was . heartily applauded. Another most en)oyable< orobestral item was the "Scenes Pittoresqnes " of Massenet, the four divisions of whioh were' made rich pieces of musical colouring. - Mjbb Phoebe Parsons is to be congratulated on a highly suooeisf ul dibut as a vocal soloist. Her voice is a soprano, of a quality singularly like that of her mother, who has long been one of Wellington's most reliable amatenrs, and ehe uses it with considerable judgment. Her first seleotion was the "Softly Sighs" soena from "Der Friesohutz," in whioh, while its length made it trying to a young voioa, she sang the air beautifully, and in the reoitatives showed marked power. Later on Miss Parsons gave Garoia's " Salve Maria" in exoellent stole, Mr.' Hill playing the violin obbligato. In both instances the singer, who is a pupil of Madame Me'rji, was enoored. Miss Medley played as a. piano solo a lovely Chopin "Ballade," and, with the orohestra, renewed a former Bucoeas in. Mendelssohn's fine G-minor Concerto (op. 25). A trombone solo Jby Mr. W. Bird (ohampton soloist at;the Christohuroh band contest), in which the' performance of variations earned for -the 'player rounds of applause, completed the programme. Miss Medley played the aooompaniments, on_an Erard grand piano from the Dresden wjirehoUM - ' > fc