ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2135, 6 November 1875, Page 2

ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

A concert was given yesterday evening in the Academy of Music. By whom the concert was got up, or for whose benefit it was got up was not announced. This rery likely was the cause of the small attendance and the small interest the public seemed to take in it. The Thames people are ever ready (o patronise entertainments which, are got up for the benefit either of institutions or individuals, and the entertainments are almost invariably from this cause well attended, and result as all wish in a fair sum of money being handed over to the benefic'aires, but we never supposed that the performers, whether local or ■dramatic, considered that it was the merit of their songs or theatrical [performances which attracted large audiences, but only the desire of the community at large to encourage any effort made to benefit deserving objects, and the pleasing applause with which they were greeted was nothing else than the good nature of an audience not disposed to bo critical as long as they could by any possibility avoid finding fault. To what other conclusion they could have come alter seeing the. large houses which applaud an amateur concert, or play, and often the very small numbers who come to hear Miss Morgan sing or Mr Poole act, we know not. The performers of last night chose to come before the audience without announcing any object as an inducement for the outside public to come and hear them, and therefore we must consider that they thought the only inducement needed to attract a large house was the pleasure of hearing them sing. If this be the.case, criticism, if bestowed, must be confined to the singing, and that too, as if the singing were professional. This we do not feel inclined to do, as we do not think the performers ever meant to appear otherwise than as amateurs, but we simply mention this to show them what they have thrown themselves open to. Of the concert the most meritorious performances by far were the singing of Mrs Mitchell and the accompaniments of Mr Owen. Mrs Mitchell sang vellpsweetly, especially in the second part; " Muriel," and " Thcu art come again sweet Spring," being decidedly the gems of the evening. Mr Pulleine must be congratulated on his reappearance which was decidedly successful, and the audience seemed to appreciate the singing of Miss E. Dow.