SATURDAY'S CONCERT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 920, 13 October 1879, Page 2

SATURDAY'S CONCERT.

We regret that the Concert at McFarlane's Hall on Saturday night, financially, was not a success. In respect of it as a high-class musical entertainment it was more than a success — it exceeded expectation. The vocalists quite surpassed themselves, and the instrumentation was really very fine. The selections were admirable ; and there was not a single rendering that did not possess some special merit. Ou Saturday evening had strangers from distant parts been present, they would have been compelled to admit that we have better amateur vocalists ind instrumentalists than are to be found in much larger towns in New Zealand than Gisborne. The reason for such a poor attendance is easily accounted for. The Noko had taken off seventy and some odd passengers to the Rotomahana. Most of them would have attended the concert, but the Noko did not return until just about the time the concert would commence. These' wei'e tired, many hungry, and nearly all sootbegrimed, for the Noko's funnel emitted smuts in such profusion * and distributed them so impartially, that it was as if a long continued shower of black snow was falling. There was much damage done to the feathers in ladies' hats, and the shirts of gentlemen had a wonderfully white and black speckled appearance. We were glad to see some of our old favorites coming forward again and assisting in the instrumental portions. Mrs Taylor played " The Harmonious Blacksmith " very nicely indeed; and the duet between Mrs Bach and her pupil was very creditable to both. "My Bonny Lass "is a tine specimen of *the old English madrigal, it was cspitally rendered, due attention being given to the pianos and fortes, also to the changes of time. Mr Robinson's song met with hearty approval from the audience, while the songs of Captain Chrisp, as they always are, were much appreciated. Bishop's glee, ''Allegiance we Swear," was a little unsteady in some of the parts, but Mrs Berry's ever pleasing and carefully cultivated voice told out well. The solo parts were charmingly rendered by this lady. The "FleurdeLys" is a good example of the modern school of part music, and we could not but feel pleased with the way it was rendered, the voices attacking it with' precision, and going well together. The " Image of the Rose " was not sung so well as we should like to hear it. It is, however, a beautiful composition, and we hope to hear it again after a little more practice. "Bright Sward," the other orpheus glee was not so sung as the voices under more favoring circumstances would have admitted. The singers did not make a good start, or do justice to the music, with its broad transitions of key and contrasts of tone. Some amusement was caused by one of the gods, who, as soon as it was over, took up the refrain and sang out " Hurrah ! Hurrah !" as if his joy was so gieat that the pieoe was over. The chorus from " Oberon in Fairy Land," which was very successful, finished the first part. Mrs Jones' song, " Speak to Me," was, we think, taken a little too slow, but as it gave her an opportunity to display the fine sostenato effect it gained an encore, to which she responded with a song, entitled " Five o'clock in the Morning," that even better suited her voice aud style. The glee, ' ' Sweet be Thy Slumbers," is very popular, but would have been better as the last of the programme. Mrs Cooper sang a song from Verdi's- opera of "ILonibardi" in a very pleasing manner, and received an encore. Mr Geo. J. Browne conducted with much care and ability, and every credit is due to him for the introduction of such a high class music to a Gisborne audience. Altogether we have never heard concerted music so well sung in Gisborne, as it certainly ought to be with the efforts of Browne, Jones, and Robinson. Smith, we believe, was in the audience. We hear that a repetition of the programme is contemplated, whea we hope to see a much better house.