MILITARY CONCERT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9299, 15 December 1891, Page 2

MILITARY CONCERT.

There was a large gathering in the Garrison HaU last night on the occasion of a military concert in aid of Jlrs AVilson, whose sou was last mouth accidentally killed while . acting as a marker at at the Pelichet Bay rifle range. As the hall was granted free of charge * for the concert, and as all the performers gave 1 their services voluntarily and gratuitously, c there seems reason for hoping that the coin- I mittee—on whose behalf Captain .Myers took i the opportunity towards the close of the pro- l gramme of acknowledging the assistance offered 1 them as above-mentioned—will be able to hand ( a very respectable sum over to Jlrs AVilson. ( The concert was as enjoyable a one as has been given in Dunedin for some time, and I contained abundance of variety. 'The open- ] ing item was contributed by the buncdin Garri- 1 son Band, who, conducted by Signor Squarise, i performed the selection of airs by Kossini that r formed the test piece at the recent contest, at which they secured second prize. The method of treatment of the selection by the Garrison Band was favourably commented upon in these columns at the time of the contest, and it is only necessary to state now that in their performance last night they did full justice to their reputation. The " Camille Mazurka," a composition of considerable merit by Signor Squarise—was another item on the programme for the Garrison Band and was admirably performed. A couple of instrumental trios for piano (Jlr J. BIoss), flute (Jlr H. F. Moss), and 'cello (Jlr 11. R. Moss) were both taken from the works of Mozart, whose centenary was, a few days ago, celebrated throughout the world. The pieces performed were selections from the operas of " Don Giovanni " and "Le Nozze di Figaro," and in each case the performers succeeded in giving a good interpretation of the music. The instrumental feature of the evening was, however, a duet for violin (Signor Squarise) and piano (Jlr A. J. Barth), consisting of airs from "AVilliam Tell" (Osborne and De Bcriot). The instrumentation of both players was conspicuously skilful and artistic, and the result was that the item — one embracing numerous difficulties—was splendidly rendered. It was concluded amid a quite unusual outburst of enthusiasm, and after the performers had twice bowed their acknowledgments they were compelled to reappear, when they played Giorza's beautiful composition "Les Adieux de Jlarie Antoinette." Jlr H. F. Jloss, whose reputation as a flautist may be considered to be well established, contributed a solo, "Allegro maestoso," in which his skill was displayed to excellent advantage. The vocalists were Jlrs Israel, Jliss Blanche Joel, Jlessrs C. Umbers and F. L. Jones. Two songs that are now very popular—"The garden of sleep" and "AAnen we meet"—were rendered by Jlrs Israel, who sang with characteristic feeling and success. Jliss Joel can hardly be accounted happy in her choice of "Heaven and earth," which she sang with a good deal of dramatic effect, and she was distinctly more successful in " Fiddle and I" (to which Signor Squarise played a violin obbligato), while this song, admirably rendered though it was, did not, as an artistic effort, come up to the encore number, "The Venetian boat song," which was introduced to Dunediu by Madame Patey, and which was now sung with ease and finish by Jliss Joel. The martial song, " Yes, let me like a soldier fall," is not altogether suited to Mr Umbers' voice, and the drum and cornet symphony, while it might have been effective enough had the performer been able to keep in time with the piauofoite accompaniment, was rather a handicap to the vocalist, when it was played behind the scenes out of sight of the accompanist. Jlr Umbers was recalled and responded with a song that is much more in his style, "My sweetheart when a boy," which he rendered with taste and expression. In the second part he did adequate justice to " The young recruit," aud Jlr Jones well earned the encore which he received for his singing of " Plymouth Sound," a favourite song of his and one iv which he never goes wrong. The conceit, which was given under the direction of Jlr Barth, was concluded hy half-past 10, but even that hour was too late for the majority of the audience. Had those who wished to leave done so quietly in the intervals between the numbers nobody would have a right to object, but there is certainly cause for complaint when persons, generally wearing loudly creaking boots, time their departure from a concert hall so as to leave during a selection.