MISS OSBORNE’S CONCERT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 771, 10 December 1886, Page 12

MISS OSBORNE’S CONCERT.

Miss Trehair-Osborne gave her first annual concert last night week, in St. Johns Schoolroom, Willis-street, with marked success. There was a fairly numerous and decidedly enthusiastic audience, and the performance passed off most satisfactorily. One special object of the concert was to furnish occasion for the debut as soloists of several of Miss Osborne’s pupils, and in this respect the result was highly gratifying, for all acquitted themselves so well as to refleot great credit upon their instructress. In such circumstances, however, a detailed criticism of their respective efforts would be out of place, and a general reference is all that need be given. Mi 33 Wil-

liams, who is already well-known to aIE music-lovers in-Wellington as an exceptionally gifted and accomplished pianists, made' her first appearance as a solo-singer, and gave a very expressive interpretation ofMaude - Valdrie IVhite’s setting of “Mary Morison,” in which she displayed a voice of peculiarly sweet and sympathetic quality. Her- sister, Miss Hilda Williams, quite took the audience by storm. - with Sir -Hj Bishop’s fine old bravura, “Tell- me, .my heart,”, with whose florid difficulties she grappled so successfully her full and fresh . young ' voice exactlysuiting . the song-—that- she received a vociferous encore, to -which, however, she did - not respond. Another oE- Bishop’s favorite • bravura airs, . “Should he upbraid,” was ex- - cellentlysung by Mrs F.' Allen, whose bright and telling voice was heard to great advantage. Miss-Hilda Moorhouse gave the old.English ditty, “The Bailiff’s daughter of - Islington,” very well; and tastefully, and i proved that she possesses a rich and powerful contralto voice. Miss Osborne herself, . who in previous concerts at which she has sung has always been- suffering more or less from indisposition, was on this occasion in capital voice, and sang both her songs admirably. . The “Bay of Dublin” was much appreciated, but her best effort was in the ever-popular “Stella confidente which was beautifully Mr C. S. Thomas* ’ tasteful- violoncello obbligato contributing materially to the effect. Wallace’s trio “ Turn on old Time ” was efficiently sung by Miss Osborne, Mr E. Hill, and Mr Widdop, junior,- and - Sterndale Bennett’s quartet “God is a spirit,” in-which Misses Williams and Grace, Messrs Hickson and Widdop took the respective parts, went fairly, with the exception ,of some unsteadiness at the beginning. Mr Hill sang.; Beethoven’s “Adelaida” in hi& usnal expressive and conscientious style, eliciting cordial applause, and Mr Widdop’s rich bass tones told out effectively in “Across the far blue hills,’,’ whioh was very pleasingly given, and cleverly accompanied by an extremely juvenile pianiste. The-first part of the concert terminated with the delightful 'chorus from Schubert’s “Rosamunda,” and thesecond with Gounod’s “Good nieht,” for chorus and solo, the latter charmingly sung by Miss Williams. Most of the accompaniments were carefully .played by Herr Mosch, who is under engagement to -Messrs MacMahon and Leitob, but who was kindly permitted to-.assist on this occasion. Herr*r Mosch also played with Mrs Holt two pianoforte duets, which were duly appreciated.. Miss Osborne may be -warmly congratulated on the success of her first annual concert.