THE CHRISTCHURCH LIEDERTAFEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5567, 16 May 1896, Page 8

THE CHRISTCHURCH LIEDERTAFEL.

That the work of the Chrisfcchttrch Liedertafel is as greatly appreciated, aa ever by the _o_-perfor__ng members of the society and by the pabKc in general was amply demonstrated by the large audience which assembled at Hobbs's Buildings last night to assist at the .society's fifty-ninth concert, -which was given in the shape of a Herren Abend. . Some months have elapsed since the Liedertafel has held one of its delightful concerts, and, it is possible that for this reason the programme submitted last night gave the keenest enjoyment to the audience. ■- Certainly it was quite up to the society's highest standard of excellence. The part songs were all happily chosen, and were, with hardly one exception, exceedingly well snag, and the various bolos were, in the most part, entrusted to the best known singers. Two of the part songs — "Olaf Trygvason," by Eeissiger, and "Hard-, anger/ by Kjerulf — were performed for 1 the first time in Christchurch. Both are excellent additions to the repertoire of the Leidertaf el, and the former, in particular, -;o pleased the audience that it was redemanded. The remaining numbers of the concerted music were all old friends. They were none the less welcome, however, and 'King Joy" and "Soldier's Song," by Wenijr; "Not a Spot on Earth," by Winter ; " Bright Sword of Liberty " and " Silent Night," by Weber; and "Comrades We March/ by Stern, were sune in the manner which has rendered the efforts of the society so enjoyable. Quite the principal feature of the chorus music, however, was " Salamis," a triumph song by F. Gernsheim. It was eucg with all the necessary vigour and dash, and not by any means the least acceptable portion of it were the baritone Eolos as sung by Mr W. A. Day. Of the other soloists, Mr GL E. Mannering sang Tonrs' " Because of Thee " very nicely, but he hardly infused sufficient passion into . his singing to make the song as enjoyable as- it would « otherwise have been. Mr Lo7eil, on the other hand, was heard at his best in " Don't Cry," a dainty little composition by Addiaon, which was heardforthe first time in Christchurch, andhe responded to an encore by repeating the last verse. Mr Hugh Eeeves was in excellent voice, t and received an emphatic - encore for his singing of that most delightful of love Bongs, " I Arise from Dreams of Thee," in reply to which he sang "Thou Art My Life," by Mascheroni. " The Deathless Army " is, to say the least of it, a very commonplace song, but Mr A. Millar made all there was to be made of it, and the audience was so pleased that it would not be satisfied until the singer had returned and sung " Father O'Flynn." Mr F. M. Wallace is very properly considered to rank by himsplf here as an exponent of how a viclin ought really to be played. Hss performance last night of "Zigeanerweisen," by Sarasate, was quite refreshing because of the correctness of the player's style, and it is a pleasant reflection that at anyrate in Mr Wallace the Christchurch musical public recognises a true artist. Of course an encore was the result, and Mr Wallace in response played a Gavotte, by Bohm. Mr Wallace, as usual, acted as condttctor, except in the last number, ' " Comrades We March," which was conducted by Mr Laurence Watkins, the Society's accompanist.