CHRISTCHURCH ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6473, 25 November 1881, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

At the Academy of Music last night, the Christchurch Orchestral Society gave a grand public concert before an audience that filled the theatre to overflowing. The building is •comely adapted to the purposes of a concert, bat, in spite of this, the performance was of rare excellence, and fully deserved the enthusiastic applause it received. The orchestra, which included all the amateur and much of the professional talent of the city, occomed Che whole of the stage, and executed their portion of the programme with a spirit and precision seldom equalled. Messrs C. Coombs «ad Button conducted, and Mr B. T. Scare!! ployed the pianoforte accompaniments. The programme was divided into two parts of similar character, each containing on instrumental overture, two unaccompanied glees, a vocal selection accompanied, and tsvenl instrumented numbers. The overture to Mosaaiello, with which the concert began, •bowed bow full the orchestra was, and how thoroughly the nicetiee of the composition had been mastered. Two glees, “To a Bosebad ” and “Come Boys, Drink," were, on the whole, very well sung. The voices, a little unsteady at first, speedily settled down, and harmonising perfectly, while each vocalist carefully followed the murks of expression, gave a highly satisfactory rendering of by no mutt..™ easy cart songs. A flulo sob, “ The Swiss Boy,’’ by Mr Bowley, was fall of difficult variations, which were well played, but the piano not bring quite in tune prevented Ud* number being enjoyed os much as it no doubt otherwise would have been. Indeed, this and several other pieces were considerably marred by the unfortunate selection of a piano which bod been mode. The well-known duet, "Bainted Mother,” was sung with much taste and skill by the Misses Hpemley, whrae voices blended very cicely. This was followed by a clarionet solo, the composition of Brepsaot, the rapid variations of which were very evenly executed by Mr 0. Clayton. Mercadanle's composition entitled " Vestale,” concluded tbs first part. This is a piece in where there is more vhnn ordinary room for the display of individual taste on the part of the' performers; it contains many taking melodies with varied and rich harmonies. The orchestra played it co» amort, and the result was os nearly perfect an execution as can well be looked lot. ... The second part began with the grand overture to “ William Tell," which had just commenced when Mr B. W, Kohler took his seat on the stage, and soon made his presence there audible. The massive music of the earlier portion of the overture and the sweet chords accompanying the rippling melodies, with the dashing and familiar airs of the later portion, were given in a manner that brought down the bouse, and for some time ilsHctd as if the audience would insist upon ft repetition. The Glee Club then gave "To Night" and “ Maiden Listen,” both of which were charmingly rendered. Following this woe a duet for violin (Mr J. Coombs) and piano (Mr B. T. Searell). This wo* a most enjoyable number. The executants were in perfect sympathy with the composer and with each other, alternately Interpreting with great skill the sow mi, now merry,

suthor. The audience sntbuslaalically encored the number, but tho gentlemen only bowed their acknowledgment of tho compliment. Miss B. Bpehsley then showed the groat rang® and flexibility of her voles by •‘ n ß m g» cccompsnied by her titter on tho piano, "Eraaef, ineolami'' for which she was ioudlv snooted. Bite wieely avoided straining her voice, and substituted tho ballad «A little Mountain Lad,” which she rjr . “I 0 ® 1 ?* Tho orchestra next gave QtlngTa "Dream on the Ocean," a brilliant to® position, with characteristic changes of Vlie concert finished with Juliion's d» Mont Blanc, u by the orchestra f the echo effects being given on tho cornet in admirable style by Mr Kohler, who also introduced several ether of his numerous instruments.

The success of last night's performance should embolden the Society to repeat it in the Theatre Royal, where there would be accommodation for those who should desire to eseist their laudable efforts in the cause of good music.