COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT TO MR. W. F. BAKER.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 108, 17 January 1880, Page 2

COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT TO MR. W. F. BAKER.

The complimentary concert to Mr. W. P. Baker came off on Wednesday evening, and proved— as was generally expected it would — a- most unqualified success, for although the pro-; gramme was not adhered to m, its integrity on account of the disaffection of Mr. GilVertj t^ie- omission was by no moans, apparent ' amid the array of varied talent which was available. Mr. A. Seaton presided at the piano in 'his usual effective manner, that : gentleman opening the entertainment with a duett with Mr. Slade, the latter, p.n. the flute. The selections given were of a most varied nature, e.m,hracing portions, of " Massaniellq." "Ernani;" "and other operas, both instruments blending m a most harmonious manner. The next item was th'e very difficult song of "The Scout," by Mr. Quinn, a .gentle, man who made his appearance on a Palmerston stage for the first time; and, judging by tlio unbounded applause by winch he was greeted, through the ordeal with ecldt. Although Mr. Pirani Jiad been 'set dow.n for a comic song, that item did not eventuate as he made his debdt m sentimental singing, m " My Grandfather's. Clock," a n»w, quaint, and withal pathetic production, and as m everything he. undertakes, acquitted' tytr.s'-lt with grea£ credit. The plaintive Irish ballad '■* Kathleen Mavonrneen " was- excellently rendered bj Mrs. Marsh, although the a.cc.om.panimen,t was certainly not what it miijht have been, no doubt owing to the instrument being a strange— andnot over good. — oneiu the haiids of the lady who assisted. Of li The Death of Nelson," which followed it is perfectly unnecessary to speak, suilice it ly say Mr. Baker \va« m splendid voice, and whether m the recitative or aria was equally effective, the' ptiecp. being iistened "to with breathless silence, fol--1 >wed'by a sponfaneous outburst of applause. In response to tije demand for an encore, Mr. Bilker appeared, and. to l\is own ac-coinpauiment^a^asaoouirast the lively IvisU song, " P.at M'Cann," tyiuch evfeked considerable merriment, tin sparkling vivacity of the representative of the M'Oaiiif's being puriectiy irresistible. Tue pretty a,nd touching song " To the Woods " was admirably given by Miss Harriet. Young, a lady who was heard for the tirst timo^ m Palmerston on Wednesday night. She is the. possessor of a rich coiilialto of great compass and flexibility, and the ; greatest proof of the. appreciation evinced by the audience Wght be gleaned from the fact, that the deities m the gallery were charmed i»to silent admiration, their usual pranks being completely set aside only to break forth into boisterous applause at the eqnelusiou. Mr Siade was must effective m the descriptive sung "-The Alpine Storm," although it is to be regretted that the wretched acoustic properties of the building which he, iv common with the rest of the singers had to contend against, somewhat marred not a few of the best points. The next item served to introduce Miss M'Phee— another lady new to Palmerston— to, t^e audience, who, with much etpeglene sang the well-known Scotch" song, "Duncan Gray." Miss M'Phee has no. reason to be displeased with the reaeptiou she experienced, fpr m response to a most enthusiastic recall she was compelled to repeat the last verse. The'many friends of Mr. Batchelar were pleased to sye him again, although we confess that we have heard that gentleman fcq better advantage than m "Fading Away." Nature has been so bountiful to him m her handicap that his worst is far better than most people's best. The first part of the entertainment concluded with the duett, " Home to our Mountains "—sustained by Miss H. Young and Mr. Baker, whioli was'a mastcrpieoe of execution, and certainly bade foHr to ;be the gem of the eve ung. Oonsid^ring that the lady and gent}em.an had but pne practice together, and t,hat it is one of the most trying as we|l a,s choice selections from Verdi's chsf- doeuyre, the ease and correctness with which the Respective parts were sustained was an excellent index of the finish of the singers, an acknowledgement which the audience made m a most appreciable manner, by the loud and long applause, and the demand f<>r its repetition. The second part of the entertainment opened with a duett entitled "The Happy Hunter," by Miss Young and Miss 11. Young. The former possesses a very powerful yet sweet soprano, and the consequence was that the voices blended iv a most harmonious manner, I the pieoe bciug executed with an ; easy grace which betokened an artistic finish, and stamped the laiies as thorough musiciaus. The Bacchanalian song of "The Friar" was capitally given by Mr. Slade, who m response to a vociferous encore sai}g a nautical soug ma m armor wuich fairly brought down tin* house. The patriotic Scotch song " The land o' the I>al " received full justice from Miss M'piiee, wiu m retumlreceived a! most deafening applause, at the conclusion of jvhiah she. was. compelled to bow to a recall. Mr. Pi-" rani is cei'taiuly to be couiplimontud upon his serio-comic song '" .Naughty, Naughty," and even uiorb so upon his make-up and representation of the character song of " '.Dancing Mad," — a not over easy one m which to command success. That he undoubtedly did so is a tribute to his versatility. The duett " riio L )ver and the Bird " by the Misses sfoqng, was, if possible. aa, improvement on theii" former effort, at all events .sue-h wouM bo the suppoxitiou f.oui lue iuc«\n cd \ ij>iilau.->o. PerJ hapd one of the 'most siu-.cdsst'ul nole>3 o the evening Vas Mr. [ivbuisjii^ "Ip

that^ gehtjeman^yerji best style, and evoked /loud- and^psejfyed approbation. We *had forgotieS^'to say Messrs. Batchelar and; yrere honored with encores, the.former for the " The Arab's Farewell to his; Steed," and the latter, the^ <f Will' o' the Wisp." Wa cannot coffelude without making special mention of * "what 'we consider Mr. Baker's best effort " My heart is thine alone," which was siniply superb, and lV.rly^.jpntranf ed his., auditors^ _ the .__ melody at one time, sweuing fojrtlilto th,e "/ full extent of his powerful eomphss, arid ' anon dyiug-a-way to the=mecesfeiW-hiffpeF*— ryet at all times clear and sw<|pt. Dur^ lDg its execiition a pin vtri^ghJ^JtUtyft ..;.';- been'hear.d falling, only to be aucfceeaed -,'-; at the close by round after rdiintt o"E -~'i genuine applause, m wiiich'ha'rids not" . feet, sticks, or discordant shrieks.formed,. the composition. On making his reappearance he gave the piece "A which .?\ Sims Beeves has immortalised " Sally m Our Alley," to his own. acfednipanU. raent, comment upon which is, unneces- „ sary. A nigger farce had been. placed- ■ upon the programme^' but fortunately it did not come off, andhutafew-.woufcl care, after ' the rich treat ■ tfhidi'ha'df : been put" before them ib have, its most' 1 ' - pjeasing remem b ranee*" dWtfbyvo 11 • • b y& -• the substitution of comicalities, how- : erer meritoribui. On behalFof Mr. J ■ Baker, — who we may lay ii an Irishman, a,nd a particularly- bashful -'Irishman ip addition — we : har,e: : tQ thank those ladies and gentlemen who so kindly, assisted to make- the/conegrt a_ ; success, and also the ;i pnbli,o who ,pa- . troniged and go- Vf armly .exhibited their appreciation of the entertainment. ' We. undertake, the duty with pleasure, fo.n :. the reasons assigned," and because* we. fee] assured that Mr. Baker not .only possesses the native bash fulness' of hia countrymen, but their national trait if gratitude, together with a -particularly lai'ge modicum of bothfiu liis o^u rjght, and quite independently of his Celtic nationality.