THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 313, 25 April 1877, Page 2

THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The members of the Philharmonic Society are to be congratulated upon the success of the concert given by them last evening in the Masonic Hall. The audience was one of the largest and most select that has been seen in the hall for some time, and was also a highly appreciative one. The front seats were crowded, and long before the commencement of the concert it was found necessary to increase the seating accommodation, but even when this had been done many who held front seat tickets had to be content with seats at the back of the hall: in fact, nearly the whole of the seats in the body of the hall were filled with people holding front seat tickets. The gallery was also well patronised. AVe are pleased to say that throughout the evening there was the greatest good conduct, not a single instance of annoyance cf any kind coming under our notice. This fact is the more worthy of notice, seeing that Oamaru audiences have hitherto been noted for being about the most disorderly in the Colony. However, last night's audience was a most striking exception to the general rule, and we trust for the future there will be no more to complain of than there was last night. The programme submitted was a capital one, containing almost every kind of vocal music. It is, however, a matter of regret that there was not a single instrumental item amongst all the long list, and we think it would be well for those entrusted with the arrangement of the programme on any future occasion to endeavour to remedy the defect. It cannot be pleaded that there is no one here capable of rendering efficiently an instrumental solo. Mrs. Newsham, who accompanied all the pieces last evening, has, on previous occasions, proved herself an excellent soloist; and had she been permitted to play a pianoforte solo in last night's concert, it would undoubtedly have been one of the most appreciated items. The instrument used for the accompaniments was one of Brinsmead's best pianos, and was kindly lent by Mr. Carncross. The concert was opened by the Society singing the "National Anthem," but can scarcely say justice was done to this grand piece of music. There was a want of steadiness in its rendering, while the voices were far from being well balanced. Balfe's part song, " Happy and Light," followed, and was very nicely rendered. Mr. Booth then gave a capital rendering of "The Moon Has Raised Her Lamp Above," from Benedict's opera of " The Lilly of Killarney ;" but we should have preferred hearing this given as a duet, for without the second voice it is shorn of many of the beauties with which th«j composer has endowed it. That charming little song, " Esmeralda," was given by Miss Brown, and had it not been for the nervousness of the fair vocalist, the song would have been amongst the best of the concert. Miss Brown has a very pleasing voice, and will prove a valuable acquisition to the Society. The glee, "When the Bee Sucks," displayed a lack of steadiness on the part of some of the singers. Mr. Thornton's selection of a song was by no means a good one. " The Bellringc-r " is one of those pieces of music which require to be treated by a thorough musician, in order to render it effective. Mr. Thornton; we understand, has never previously sang in public, and it is to be regretted that he did not choose a more simple ballad, for had he done so he might have achieved a greater success than he did last evening. The two part songs which came nex t—"The Hymn of the Fisherman's Children" and "See the Moonlight

Beam " —were undoubtedly the best efforts of the Society. The glorious harmony and slow movements of the first contrasting greatly with the light, tripping strains of the other. Both of these items were given with a greater regard for the lights and shades of music than any of the concerted pieces, while the voices appeared to be more evenly balanced, and to blend more harmoniously. Mr. E. Booth's fine mellow baritone voice was heard to great advantage in Balfe's "Didst Thou but Know." Every note was sung with clearness, and without the slightest effort on the part of the singer. Mr. Booth was loudly encored, as he deserved to be, and in response repeated the last verse. " Oh, Nannie, Wilt Thou Gang wi' Me " was rendered by Mrs. Clowes in a pleasing and telling manner, an encore being demanded. Mrs. Clowes, in response thereto, sang " Over the Sea," which she also sang capitally. The madrigal " Since First I saw Your Face," was well sung. Mr. Nugent Wade's rendering of "The Requital" was greatly interfered with, owing to the singer being afflicted with a cold. Miss M. Campbell sang the song "Bonnie New Moon" splendidly, and secured an encore, giving "The Ship Boy's Letter." Bishop's glee, "Allegiance we Swear," was the concluding item of the first part, but was not sung nearly so well as some of the other concerted pieces. Miss Balfie Hardy undertook the incidental solos, and rendered them very

nicely. The second part of the concert consisted of Mendelssohn's sacred cantata, "Lauda Sion. This is a grand piece of music, abounding with choruses and quartettes, brimful of the most beautiful harmonies, while there a few pleasing soprano solos. These were very feelingly sung by Mrs. Clowes, more particularly that commencing, "Lord, at all times I will bless Thee." The incidental quartettes were very well rendered by Mesdames Clowes and Filleul, and Messrs. Wade and E. Booth. Of the choruses, the opening one, "Praise Jehovah, now before Him," was the best sung. The concluding chorus, "Lord, in mercy, still protect us," was also very well given. As a whole, this cantata was fairly rendered, notwithstanding the fact that it was produced for the first time in the Colony. We trust that on some future occasion the Society will repeat "Lauda Sion." A selection from Handel's " Messiah " brought the concert to a close, but it was not altogether so satisfactorily given as it might have been, though there was some excuse for the few failings, seeing that the whole of the singers had been kept hard at work all the evening, and that they were consequently tired. As we have already said, taken as a whole, the concert was a most successful one, and the members are deserving of every praise for the admirable manner in which the lengthy programme was gone through.