Musical.

Southern Cross, Volume 9, Issue 53, 22 March 1902, Page 5

Musical.

GOOD-BYE TO MR & MRS SIDDALL A large and enthusisaatic audience assembled in the Theatre Royal on Monday evening at the complimentary concert tendered to Mr and Mrs VV. V. Siddall on the eve of their departure from Invercargill. When it became known that Mr Siddall had been appointed to the office of town clerk at Woolston, it was felt that Invercargill would suffer a great loss by the withdrawal of two such talented and highly-esteemed musicians from the town. The value placed upon their services was emphasised by the mayor in his speech on presenting them with an illuminated address signed on behalf of the Town Council, the musical and other societies and clubs of the town, all of which have on many occasions benefitted through the kind services of the popular conductor of the Garrison Band and his talented and amiable wife. Mr D. McFarlane, on behalf of the Queenstown Band, in which Mr Siddall has taken much interest, presented a handsome travelling bag. The entertainment opened with a well-played selection “ Un Ballo in

Maschera ” by the City Band, under Mr P. H. Mohr’s able conducfcorship. The male voice part song by Messrs Thomson, Chetwin, McKay, Quinn,. Branson, T. and D. Kingland, and J. B. Taylor, “ Farewell ” (Kinkel), was perhaps the most enjoyable item on an excellent programme. Mr P. J. Lillicrap gave a good performance of the clarinet solo “ Norma ” ; Mr Glennie’s cornet playing of “ Will ye no’ come back again ” was a most pleasing item, and Mr W. Ferguson played the violin solo “ Romance ” with his usual skill. An old favourite, Mrs Ross, gave much pleasure by her singing of “ Oh Maris Stella,” and Mrs Blue was heard to advantage in “ The Prima Donna ” (J. ti. Roeckel). Mr Taylor suffering from a cold, his place was taken at short notice by Mr Williamson, who sang “In the Cathedral ” so acceptably that an encore was demanded. The trio “ I Naviganti,” by Mrs Andrews and Messrs E. B. McKay and J. E. Taylor was a good contribution, while the audience enthusiastically recalled Mesdames Murphy, Rigg and Ekensteen for their clever rendering of “My Lady, the Countess.” The Musical Union Orchestra displayed much skill and training in the overture “ Marco Spada ” (Amber), which gave much satisfaction. The Scotch reel danced by Messrs H. Geddes, Sutherland, Stewart, and McGregor, to pipe accompaniment, was a graceful performance. Mr G. C. Branson sang in good style “ Off to Philadelphia,” and Mr Porteous was heard to good advantage in his solo “ Going to Bobs,” which introduced a very striking tableau. Mrs Siddall and Mr Gray played the pianoforte accompaniments Mr Siddall was entertained at a farewell banquet by the members of the Garrison Band in McFarlane’s Hotel on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday forenoon, when he and Mrs Siddall left per express for Christchurch, they marched down to the railway station to bid him good-bye. Before the train left they played “ A soldier and a man,” and as it moved out of the station they struck up “ Anld Lang Syne.” A large number of citizens gathered on the platform and took part in the farewell demonstrations.