WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 39

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

By P. Rompter.

May 1* Dear Pasquin, —Last Friday we had Maughan Burnett's musical society's flnul concert of the first season a season which has given us, besides the items under review, "Comaia" and "The Messiah." Mr B*rnett is a finished conductor, his concerts being musicianly in every respect, and it would be hard to fiod (entailing a long jouraey) a more enjoyable concert than the society's latent. I would like to call it a popular classical programme, but as two thirds of the items given were composed by Rle-ars Burnett and A. F. Hill, and as they are living, that bars the use of the term " classic" ; but it was certainly popular, for the house was a big one, the audience mixed, aud encores numerous. The Witness frequently gives space to cists— may I ask your indulgence for what may be termed a concert cast, for, in my opinion, one cannot too much eucourage native genius, musical or other. Here is the programme :— . Part I. Motett, for Soprano Solo, Chorus, and Orchestra "Hear my Prayer" ... (Mendelssohn) Overture, for Orchestra— " The Whipping Boy" (Alfred F. Hill) ((a) "Serenade" ...Schubert-Luzt Piano Solo ■< (6) " Bridal Procession " .., (Grieg) L(c) " llhap»odie H mgroise "' (Liszt) Mr Maughan Barnett. Chorus, for Female Voices— "The Land of Joy" (Maughan Barnett) Part 11. Concertstuck, for Viola and Orchestra (Hans Sitt) Solo Viola, Mr Alfred Hill. Son^s— (a) " The Story" \ ( A\ fr . D A r? tt:ii\ (6) " Wilt thou be my Dearie " / (Alfred F> Hlll > Madame Eveleen Oarlton. Suite, for Orchestra— ... (Mau?h»n Barnett) (1) " Village Festival " (3) "Gavotte" (2) " Valte Lante " (4) " Marionette March " (5) " Humoreske " Part Soog, with Orchestral Accompaniment — " It was E»rl Haldan's Daughter " (Maughan Barnett) Individually going over the programme, I am looking forward to the full performance of Mr Hill's " Whipping Boy," the overture giving bright hopes of a treat ; the Schubert-Liezt "Serenade" is always deligh ful a< fingered by Mr Bamett ; "The Laud of Joy" seemed on the weak side, and hardly c assed with the rest of the programme ; Mr Hill has given his heart to the viola, and in exchange he comes near to drawing the soul oat of its casement ; Madame Carlton was much more enjoyable in " Wilt thou be my dearie " (of course we wilt, nudawe I) than in "Hear my prayer "—which piece, by the way, shorted high-class conductorship in the chorua work— and "The story," Mr Hill's very latest song. The words, by John Strange Winter, need to be told a few times before the public cau catch on to it. If one could hear the words I have no doubt it is a dramatic story, but, like a to-be-continued tale, madame leaves us at times to supply the missing plot by weak enunciation. Perhaps the gem of the evening was Mr B»rnett's suite for orchestra, and his part song makes a fine finish up for such a programme. Kindred societies should get an introduction to " Haldan's daughter, as she's a real live qumtity in music. The Charcoal Burner" has juat been given up here by the amateurs of the League of the Cross Dramatic Club.

Mr Mac Duff Boy d's annual concert ivas successI fully got off last week. A mixed company of pakehas and Maoris, with more than average amateur talent and a female interlocutor, have been giving turns to good biz at Petone. Aa they call theinselvea the Moas, you needn't be s'pvised if you hear moa about 'em. v Amy Vaughan still keep 3 a-going of it with her company at the Criterion, meetiug with a clear, fair ft-ld and lots of public favour, but she will be with you ere this appears 1 in print Johnny Collins knocks 'em in the back rows overy time as MuMoon, and the front row keeps open countenances fixed upon the dear gurls at the picnic. It's no idle v*ughant, but if you've got nowhere better to go, aud don't mind a laugh or two, you don't vaugh*nt to go farther " them Vaughan's vunny variety yaudevillanimo»ities. Oh I I Cri off — this is uuWarrentable, by Geo 1 Writing on April 24, the Tasmanian Democrat said :— " Last Thursday was the anniversary of the birth of a party by the name of William Shakespeare, who once lived in a small island off th« coast of Europe and made sundry marks on paper, which marks were subsequently printed and have been preserved by his countrymen as valuable relics." Since I last wrote you, Mr ft. A. Steinway, eldest son of Mr W. Steinway, of the well-kuown firm of Steinway and Sons, pianoforte manufacturers, of New York, has passed through on a health trip round the world. > Our l.iedertafel has held its annual meeting, re-elected its officer* (Mr R. Parker conductor), and voted the conductor 25gs. Tho trea->mer's balance sheet showed ttjat whereas at the end of last year the debit balance was £36, there was now a ere fit balance of £12 3s 9d, the receipts totalling £142 6s 9d and the expenditure £130 3s. You have had our Mr Prov e with you for the Treb Hi' concerts. He has been further engaged for Melbourne, and very, likely he will do the whole Australian season. Mr Alf. Hill is doing 14 days in the Wairarapa —recruiting, of course. Brother John has been pausing off his tenor notes upon the Sleepy Hollo wites. N M.idame Merz, of this city, has been engaged to fill the part of Marguerite in two recitals of the opera " Faust " by the Christchurch Musical Union, the fiist to be given on the 21sd inst. Melb* is a Victorian ; she sings " Home, sweet home," in an exquisite manner ; but, like many colonials, it is the last place she thinks of coming t«.