PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 935, 18 April 1868, Page 2

PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.

The last concert of the Philharmonic Society's second season was given on Thursday evening ; and, although during the day the weather was rather threatening, the attendance was, as usual, very large. Again the want of a large room was greatly felt ; and we trust that before the next concert is announced, the new hall now being built will be ready, when some comfort may be expected both by audience and performers. On Thursday we noticed that the platform in particular was much over- crowded— to such a degree in fact that we fancy the instrumentalists, especially those playing the larger stringed instruments, must have been very badly off for elbow room — an indispensable requirement for successful "fiddling." The limited size of the platform is, under present arrangements, an unavoidable evil; but, as Thursday evening's performance is probably the last on the old platform, the executants may congratulate themselves that, before long, the evil wili be remedied. Perhaps it would not be out of place here to suggest that some different style of stage would be more convenient than the one now used. The design will depend greatly on the formation of r ,the new. hall; and we doubt not the committee .of management will see to it in due time. We now proceed to consider the programme, and, in doing so, we purpose offering a few remarks on each part of it, ' and tha rendering of the various pieces. We shall not apply a professional standard of criticism, but, making all due allowance for amateur performances, shall make such comments as appear to us called for, feeling confident that, by fairly estimating and comparing the efforts of all, we can give offence to none. As we have before heard, no one desires fair criticism more than the conductor of the society, and we doubt not this feeling is shared by the performing members generally. The concert was opened with the overture to "Don Giovanni," the opera of operas. The rendering of this . very diffi- ' cult music (which cannot be effectively done without a full band) was very fairly accomplished by the instrumentalists, considering the limited number in the orchestra, which, we regret to observe, has lost more than one member during the past season. Although the harmony was pretty fully given by the piano, we felt the want of the middle parts, such as tbe viola and reed instruments supply. This deficiency is perceptible in nearly all the efforts of the instrumentalists ; however, we must congratulate the executants on the success of their rather ambitious attempt. A decided improvement was noticable in regard to precision and expression, two requirements frequently wanting in amateur performances. Next followed the piece de resistance of the evening, the "Lay of the Bell" — Schiller's words, translated by Bulwer Lytton, and set to music by Andreas Romberg, On the part of the vocalists, this was also an ambitious effort, as the rendering of this work requires sustained attention and care for nearly an hour. We should like to enter into a detailed criticism of this part of the performance, but time and space will not permit of our giving more than a few remarks on the principal solos, trios, and choruses. The opening solo (bass) was taken by a gentleman well known by our musical public, and rendered with his usual care and taste, as were all the other solos allotted to him. The part of the "Master" was also well sustained by another performer, who sang with great precision, although to our ear the effect was rather too staccato, particularly in some passages where sustained notes are necessary to give the desired expression. The principal tenor solos were rendered by the sub-conductor of the society with great care and expression. They are decidedly the most formidable parts of the work, and require rapid reading and execution. This possibly affected the articulation of the singer, as occasionally the libretto was not distinctly given. The first soprana solo was very judiciously allotted to a young lady who has more than once been favourably received by a Philharmonic audience, and who on this occasion fairly kept up her reputation for careful rendering and expression. A little excusable nervousness was noticable, which gradually wore off as the concert proceeded, although on no occasion during the evening did the lady use the whole power of her voice. A beautiful duett here occurs, which was given by the leading soprano and tenor, and well rendered. To our mind it was taken a little too fast, as the singers frequently had difficulty in giving the words the proper expression. The lady, to whom the musical people of Napier owe so much, was not in good voice during the whole evening— *" owing perhaps to the weather, which wag-* not favorable for singing, and which seemed indeed to affect all the vocalists, more or less. The other solos we would particularly refer to are a treble recitative and air " Lo ! it is the wife beloved," charmingly rendered by the leading soprano. This was, to our thinking, the gem of the evening. .It shewed a thorough appreciation of the author's feeling, and a clear conception of his meaning. The few closing bars were beautifully given by the vocalist, and were very well accompanied by the instrumentalists. And we would here remark that the instrumental accompaniments during the whole performance showed great improvement, evidently the result of careful l-ehearsal. In some cases the instruments rather overpowered the voices — a very common fault, but one easily remedied. We would also mention another solo, beginning " Wearied now with toil of day.'j In some parts of this the execution is difficult, and the changes and intervals occur in rather a puzzling manner ; but, as a whole, the solo was well done, although a little hesitation was occasionally apparent. The several choruses deserve special notice. The light and shade with which they were given proved the advantage of careful rehearsal. In this particular the choruses on Thursday evening were better rendered than ever before by the Philharmonic choir, and reflected great credit on the performing members generally. To the conductors particularly it must have been gratifying to find the singers respond so well to the wielding of the baton. We hope to see still further improvement in this respect. The thundering chorus must have struck everyone as peculiarly descriptive of a great tempest — terrents falling, lightning darting,

alarm bells ringing, uproar, hurry, fright, and desolation. Thi3 was well done and well worked up, the sopranos holding bravely on the higher notes where " each gust more furious than the last leaves nought to blast." The diminuendo was carefully observed and had a fine effect. The closing quartette and chorus were most creditably rendered, and the expression carefully attended to, another evidence of assiduous practice. To lovers of music, the length of the work was no objection, although to some the first part of the programme may have seemed a liitie tedious. In our town it is not easy to get a purely musical audience. The second part was introduced by Auber's overture to "Fra Diavolo" and, allowing for the absence of the usual drum accompaniment, the composition was rendered in a very spirited manner. In this overture there is great danger of the music running away with the performers, and there was a little inclination to bolt on the part of some, but, altogether, the executants kept pretty well together. Next in order was " Come see what pleasure " — not done with so much precision as might have been expected. A little carelessness was visible on the part of the vocalists. "Fill me Boy" wanted more rehearsal, as also "Come Fairies trip it " although both were fairly done. The "Miner's Sopg" was very effective, and the hammer wa's wielded by no new hand in an orchestra. In the charming duett "Sweet Sister Fay," the vocalists did not acquit themselves so well as on former occasions, owing probably to the depressing effect of the weather. The "Roman Girl's Song" was a surprise for the Napier public, the fair songstress not having before appeared on the stage. Some of the lower notes were very fine, reminding us not a little of some lovely notes heard in the same room some time ago, and which are ringing in the ears of many devoted knights still. With a little more practice and study of modulation, tbis new star bids fair to shine brightly, and we hope to hear her again. " Oberon " was the most attractive performance of the evening, the march particularly being well rendered. The "marmaid's song " at the opening of the selection, would have been all the better for more practice, but the general effect was very good. We hear the selection was arranged and adapted by one of the performers, who deserves great credit for the result. The National Anthem closed the concert, and it only remains for us to wish the Society every success during its third season, and tb congratulate the members on the marked improvement which has been attained in the season just closed.