INVITATION CONCERT.

Evening Star, Issue 10188, 15 December 1896, Page 2

INVITATION CONCERT.

The Garrison Hall was filled last evening on the occasion of the first of what is intended to be a series of annual entertainments given by Messrs A. Lorie and Co. to their employeq curtomcrs, and friends. The stage was handsomely decorated, and as the best available talent was secured the concert was throughly enjoyed. Mr A. F. Robertshaw’s orchestra of eight performers contributed in excellent sty le an overture from the ‘ Bohemian Girl ’ and an arrangement of airs from * Traviata.’ Miss Blaney’s opening solo was ‘ Lorely ’ (Silcher), and in response to an encore the ‘Grand canal’ was given; while in the second part ‘ A garden of sleep’ was artistically rendered. Miss Clara Mongredien was in splendid voice, and scored quite a success. ‘She wore a wreath a roses’ (Knight) was done full justice to, and the audience thoroughly appreciated the quaint ‘ Two is company ’ which was substituted as an encore. Later on Miss Mongredien was set down for ‘The gift’ (Behrend), which was feelingly rendered, and, in answer to emphatic demands for an encore, the lust verse was repeated. The male vocalists were Messrs F. L. Jones and Parquhar Young. The soli by the former were ‘When other lips’ (Balfe) and the German folk song ‘ True love.’ Mr Young was most successful in ‘ Simon the cellarer,’ and in response to the insatiable demands of the audience substituted another favorite in ‘ The admiral’s broom.’ The second number set opposite his name was * Drinking,’ and as an encore ho gave ‘Mistress Prude,’ Besides acting as accompanist, Mr Taylor agreeably diversified the programme with pianoforte pieces by Schumann, Mendelssohn, and others. We had almost forgotten to mention the trio ‘l’m not the Queen’ (from the ‘ Rose of Castille ’), which was admirably given by the Misses Blaney and Mongredien and Mr Jones, and was probably the most acceptable item on the programme. Mr Lorie took the opportunity of thanking the public for the generous support accorded him during his nine years’ residence in Dunedin. It was only to be expected, he said, that other and older-established firms would not allow him to commence business here without setting up a very strong opposition, and therefore he was all the more thankful for the. hearty sympathy and support he had received. An enjoyable concert was brought to a close at ten o’clock by the singing of ‘ God save the Queen,’ the solo parts being taken by Misses Mongredien and Blaney and Messrs Young and Robertshaw.

A gust of wind blew a Wanganui cyclist named Drummond against a shop front, and he pitched through the window, cutting his cheek open. He will probably be scarred for life.

You should see the great show of Christmas presents, cards, toys, dolls, fancy goods, crockery, glassware, etc., at Montague’s Arcade. -[Apvr.j