COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1060, 23 June 1892, Page 35

COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT.

The farewell concert tendered to Mr _F. A. King by the leading musicians of Wellington, under the patronage of His Excellency the Governor, was a charming concert. The talented young musician, who leaves in a few days for London, via Sydney, in the Wakatipu, to study at the Royal Academy of Music, London, will take with him a pleasant memory. Unfortunately, the inclemency of the weather interfered with' the attendance If we may judge by Mr King’s own contributions to Monday night’s programme, a great future is before him as a violinist. .His first solo, Hans Sitt'a * Concertino,’ a work in three numbers of great intricacy and of classical refinement, was played with breadth of tone, lightness of touch, precision and excellent style. Being deservedly recalled he substituted Paolo Angelin’s beautiful ‘ Elegie.’ His second solo, a ‘ Legende ’ of Carl Bohm’s he played with exquisite expression and great beauty of tone, The Wellington Orchestral Society contributed three excellent numbers, Kela Bela’s ‘Lutspiel,’ the second minuet from Delahaye’s ‘ Colombine,’ and Beissig’s ‘Concert Polonaise,’ the last two of singular elegance and gaiety, the first more severe in character. They were all remarkable for the mastery of the conductor, Mr Alfred Hill, under whom the Society is making very rapid progress The balance of the instrumentation is all that can be desired ; the precision of the leads L excellent; the style broad, firm, smooth, musicianiike, and marked by gieat attention to light and shade ; and . the work of the leading instrumentalists is artistic. These three numbers were very enjoyable. Miss Medley’s two contributions —Chopin’s quaint ‘ Ballade in A-flat,’ and a ‘ Tarentelle ’ of Raff’s, played with Mr F. A. King as a duo —were given with this lady’s usual clearness of fingering, firmness of touch, and finish of style. Mr Prouse delighted us with his fine declamatory rendering of Callcott s 1 Last Man, not losing a syllable of the noble words, and not making a single one of them unduly prominent —giving, in fact, a perfect enunciation. Being recalled, he substituted Bevan s 4 J'light of Ages,’ in sympatheiie finished styleMiss Fisher (Mr Alfred Hill contributing the violin obligato admirably) gave Tosti’s favourite * Beauty’s Eyes with fine display of voice, and repeated the last verse in obedience to a recall. Miss Johnson, who has a brilliant voice, sang effectively Bishop's ‘ Tell Me, My Heart,’ a composition in the style of that composer’s ‘Bid Me Discourse.’ Air E. J. Hill sang Hatton’s noble song 1 Fair is My Love ’ excellently well, and substituted one of his brother’s compositions, entitled 4 No means No,’ the words by Mr Didsbury, a son of the well known chief of the Government Printing Department. The display of local talent was greatly appreciated. The last of the vocal numbers was Blumenthal’s duet the 4 Venetian Boat Song,’ nicely sung by Mbs Johnson and Miss Nellie Parsons. Mr Tallis Trininell, who accompanied throughout, supplied accompaniments of great sympathy and finish.