Concerts.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4795, 12 September 1883, Page 3

Concerts.

Ihe seoond concert of (he season of tho Ohriatchuvcb. Musioul Sooiety wa* given last nigbr., when Mendelssohn- 1 * oratorio "St Paul" was again performed. As was to be expeoted, the exeoution of the oratorio showed the advantages of frequent rehearsal, tho choruses being especially noteworthy for their preoision and well-managed effeots. Tbe solos wero entrusted to Misses A, S. Taylor and Spensley (soprani), Miss B. B. Bowley jfplto), Mr Dixon (tenor), and Meesrc Merton and Boyd (bassi.) Mr Allen took S.rt in the bass duet "We Verily Have eard," ahd Mr Appleby, at a moment'* notice, relieved, 2Jr Dixon of one of hie solos. The manner in whioh eaoh of these amateur* acquitted themselves displayed the excellenoo they hare rendered familiar to Ohristohuroh*,lovers of high-cio** fcUSieY IheovertuwwMi aooompaniments were very fairly l"ehaera!f* somo members of the Amateur Orohegtfjil Society doing good service • but, oooasionally; passages seemed to suffer from weak orohea* tration. Mr H. Wells conduoted with hi* usual good taste, Mr J. Ooombs led tho orchestra, and Mr B. T. Searell was organist — a sufficient guarantee that in these depart* ments nothing waa wanting. The audience was a orowded one, and though not very demonstrative, oould not refrain from applauding more than one of the numbers. It may be safely assorted that on* of 'the most enjoyable oonoerts ever given in tit John's sohoolroom was tbat whioh took place last evening under the direotion of Mr G. B. Fleming. The attendanoe, considering the powerful oounter - attraction of the Musioal Society's oonoert, was satisfactory, and from a musical point of view tho enter* tainment was even more euooessful. The programme was a good one, consisting, as it did, of first-olass musio, and on the whole, it was rendered in a manner that left little to be desired. Among the most euooessful numbers were the two songs of Miss M. B. Little, who was in exoellent voice, asd was deservedly encored for Tier socond song, "Ihe Ohildren's Homo." Miss BV Thompson Bang "Good-Bye," and Donizetti's oavatina, "O Luco," with groat sweetness, taste and feeling, and received an encore for eaoh. A similar oompliment was paid to Miss B. Carl for her tastefully rendered pianoforto solo. Mr 0. Fox wae iu good voice, and gave a oouple of songs in spirited aud capital stylo. Being encored for the seoond one, " Adelaide," he sang " Lolia, my beloved," in whioh he was even more euooessful. Mr P. H. Bobertson also obtained a recall for his rendering of Sullivan's "When Thou Arc Near." ithe instrumental numbers were, as a rule, of oonsiderable oxoellenoo. Mr Thos. Fleming'* violin solo (on one string) was a fino speoimen of bowing, and the pianoforte solo of Mr G. B. Klemit'g was a finished and artistio performance. Tho othor instrumental items were well rendered. Iho accompaniments were exceedingly well played by Messrs Sidney Wolf, 8.A.M., aed G. B. Fleming.