THE LIEDERTAFEL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10215, 8 December 1893, Page 6

THE LIEDERTAFEL.

GEMISCHTER ABEND. The Liedertafol entertained a large audience of friends at their seventeenth “Gemiachter Abend” last evening, at the Tuam street theatre. The arrangements wore carried out by the energetic Secretary in the usual complete manner for the pleasure and comfort of tbe assemblage. The hall was furnished with plants, and two large lyres, composed of white flowers, were conspicuous at the ends of the song-table, which is qf a horse-shoe shape. The back of the hall was curtained off and arranged as a sitting-room, where refreshments of a light nature were dispensed during the interval. The Governor and the Countess of Glasgow, with a party, ware present, and among others present were Bishop Julius and Mrs Julius. The part songs seemed hardly to go with their usual swing and energy, though at the same time it may be said that this was due more to the part songs than to the singers. The first part song, which went fairly well, is an instance, the words of the English translation not fitting in well with the music. Of those of the first part. "In Peaceful Slumber” and •*The Plow’rat” were to bo preferred. The former (by Abt) hns a pretty lullaby refrain, which was very softly and smoothly sung, and the whole was lightly and delicately given. The second (by Jansen) is simple and melodious, within easy compass, and went with precision. Another No. 7, “When Evening’s Twilight” (Hatton) was well sung, and the over-fresh "Ho Who Trusts in Ladies Pair,”—went with dash and good attention to expression. In the second part, “A Toast” showed a tendency to flatten, and there was rather a straining on the part of the first tenor. In the first part Mr H. M. Beeves gave one of Tosti’s songs, “My Heart’s Delight,”—not one of Tosti’o boat—in a manner that gained him an encore; he substituted “Were I a King,” and sang it better than the former. Mr Appleby sang “My Life for Thee” with taste and expression, bub does not show hia old power and range. The violin solo by Mr Wallace, "Fantasia Caprice,” by Viouxtemps, was a splendid performance, and was an exhibition of all round excellence as is accustomed to be found in all the conductor does. It was a treat fully appreciated, the difficult variations, especially the finale, being played in a brgad and masterly manner. A Scotch selection was substituted be an encore, the bagpipes being very cleverly imitated. In the second part Mr Millar gave a powerful rendering of "The Song of Hybriaa the Cretan,” being in good voice, aud doing full justice to the bold and boastful feeling of the song. For an encore bo sang, " Who Would be King P” equally as well. “The Song of the Little Baltung,” which has not been done here for some time, formed tbe rest of the second part. The spirit of Kingsley’s words has been well embodied in tbe music of Miss Smith, there being a freshness and batbario feeling well in keeping with the character of the words. The choruses went well, one "He Showed him his Engines of Arsmatriok ” perhaps would have been better a trifle faster. The tenors have rather a strain, and the solo tenor a thankless part to atrnggle with, the composer not being altogether at home in writing for male voices. The bass solo was well and tastefully sung by Mr Barnett, especially the dying scene of the Old Balt. The duet between the Kaiser and Young Alaric was worthy of notice also. In places the tenors were rather overweighted, partly due to being placed in the background. The programme was very tastefully arranged, with apt quotations to every item.