CHRISTCHURCH MUSICAL SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 708, 30 August 1870, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH MUSICAL SOCIETY.

♦■ The repetition concert given by this Society yesterday evening was even a greater success —in some respects far greater — than that given on Friday. The hall was crowded to the doors by a perfectly orderly audience, and greater punctuality was observed— both no mean elements of success. The performance of Bierey'a cantata was equal in excellence to that of Friday, while the selections from the " Creation " went better than on that occasion, more especially the final chorus. In the second part of the concert much improvement was noticeable. Haydn's " Twelfth Symphony " was very enjoyable, barring a little uncertainty n the opening

morement. But when we speak of the performance of Mendelssohn's exquisite part songs " The Vale of Rest" and the " Hunting Song," we can only say that it was absolutely perfect. The lovely finale of the latter was sung with an enthusiasm and intelligence which made it by a long way the vocal gem of the evening — it was one of the best things we have ever heard. The popular " Carnovale " was, of course, redemanded, as was also the Misses Marshman's pianoforte duet. The encore to the latter was responded to by Miss Marshman, who played a solo with hardly less success. The playing of thess young ladies is really most enjoyable. So (though in a different way) is that of Mr Simms; his charming performance of Thalberg's "Les Hugenots" deserved the hearty encore which it received; if, indeed, an encore is a reward to a true artist. Mr Thompson, we are glad to say, sang with much greater clearness than on Friday. His song, with its violin obligate, was very charming. We wish "Maud" would " come into the garden " in response to Mr Appleby's oft-repeated entreaty, so that we might hear him sing another strain. The scramble at the end of the overture was extremely diverting — we wonder how the instruments managed to come in together at the cn ', but they did — in other respects it was very well played. We are glad that Mr Parker has been able to get something, — indeed a great deal— of delicacy into the performances of both band and chorus, and we look forward with pleasure to the future concerts of the Society if they are to be as enjoyable as this, its sixth performance.