CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue II, 14 July 1894, Page 42

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, July 5. We still have THE ‘CONCERT FEVER,’ and have it very badly too. but the Sapio-Urso Company have given us musical evenings that are likely to spoil us for anything we are likely to get for some time. Madame Urso certainly takes precedence of any performer on the violin we have had ‘ up to date,’ and deserves the name she has, ‘ Queen of violinists.’ Madame Sapio’s singing has been charming, her lovely voice being full and true and most perfectly trained, while her presence on the stage was worthy of imitation of all our youthful amateurs or otherwise. Herr Scherek has added fresh admirers tothealready long list he has, his quiet loving w*ay of playing the piano being peculiarly his own. Among the many who have listened really at times spellbound I noticed Dr. and Mrs Murray-Aynsley. Mrs and the Misses Julius, Mrs F. M. Wallace. Mr and Mrs Wilding. Dr. and Mrs Jennings, Professor and Mrs Haslam, Mr and Mrs Stead. Mr and Misses Cowliehaw. Professor and Mrs Cook and Misses Cook. Mr and Mrs Marsh. Mr and Mrs Gilbert Anderson. Mr and Mrs Burns, Mr and Mrs Beath. Mr and Mrs Gordon Rich. Miss Rich, Miss Beath. Misses Wynn-Williams, Mr and Mrs Thompson, Mr and Mrs M. Nalder, Mr and Mrs A. Kaye, Mr and Miss Ainger, Misses Deamer, Rachael Ross, Davie, Turner. Mrs Adair, Me-srs Mannering, F. M. Wallace, Von Haast, Alpers, Corbett, Palmer, Mr F. M. Wallace’s SECOND CHAMBER CONCERT unfortunately took place on the same night as one of Madame Urso’s, and as Miss Bessie Doyle was playing at the popular concert on the same evening forces were very much divided. The attendance at Mr Wallace’s concert in the Art Gallery was assured, being a subscription one, but the men do not seem so enamoured of the‘divine art’(at least of this one), for they get beautifully less each time and THE AUDIENCE W’Aft COMPOSED PRINCIPALLY OF LADIES, amongst whom I noticed Mrs Common, in black, with lovely grey cloak trimmed with silver passementerie and exquisite feather trimming; Mrs Wilding, black, and peacock blue cloak; Mrs Burns, electric circular cloak and ripple collar trimmed with beaver; Mrs Gibbs, black striped silk, peacock plush cloak ; Mrs Guthrie, pretty grey cloak with pink swansdown; Miss Tabart, black dress and zouave, terra-cotta blouse: Mrs G. Roberts, dark shot silk with accordion epaulettes, grey cloak with fur collar to match ; Mrs Buller, grey satin trimmed with black lace, black velvet bodice with grey passementerie and lace trimming ; Miss Irving, pretty pink dress trimmed with black lace: Miss Godfrey, black silk and lace, electric plush cloak lined with pale pink ; Mrs C. B. Shanks, black silk ana lace ; Mrs Hurst-Sea ger, pretty pink cloak trimmed with beaver ; Mrs Robison. Miss Deamer, Mrs West.macott, black velvet, fawn embroidered cloak : Mr and Mrs Gordon Rich, Mrs A. Kaye, prune velveteen, white cloak; Mrs W. Wilson, dark claret velveteen ; Mr and Mrs Barkas, Mrs Haslam, in black silk and Indian work mantle; Professor and Mrs Cook and daughters. Mrs and Misses Meares, Dr. and Mrs Jennings, etc. Miss Davie and Mr Weir were the vocal soloists. The lat ter being in good voice gave much pleasure with his rendition of ‘The Requital.’ Miss Davie looked well in all white and sang the music allot ted her carefully. The quartets were, as usual, admirably played.

THE FIRST OF THE CINDERELLA DANCES took place on Friday evening in the Art Gallery, the hostess for the occasion being the Hon. Mrs Parker, who looked well in black brocade with lace high to the throat, and her lovely diamond ornaments ; Mrs Denniston, black with square cut bodice trimmed Ouches of r p d ; and Mrs G. Gould, in a lovely gown or shot pale blue and pink trimmed with some choice fur: Miss McGregor (Wellington) looked extremely well in canary silk trimmed with lace, vell ow bow in her hair: Miss Gould, pale lemon silk with small green st"ipe. green frills on the skirt; Miss tt u? 8 ’ a ,? r ett v cream silk with large puff sleeves ; Mrs H. Wood, white silk. Mrs R. Macdonald looked very pretty in striped satin of pale pj n k and blue ; Miss Cowlishaw, very pretty pinK siik trimmed with lace; her sister also wore a pink gown ; miss M. Tabart. eau de - nil silk trimmed with silver; .miss Hill, pretty white gown trimmed with pale blue silk and lace ; Miss Hutton, urettv cream gown with full puff sleeves ; Miss Beswick. a combination of green and yellow ; Miss Thomas wore white; Messrs Macdonald. Perry, Rolleston. Turnbull, Ridings. Lane, Judge Denniston, the Hon. Parker. Wood (two). Wynn-Williams, Tnrrell, Buckley, Cowlishaw, Beswick, and Gould were among those present. On Saturday night at the University Hall THE DIALECTIC SOCIETY gave a very pleasant entertainment. The first part of the proSramme consisted of songs and violin solos contributed by Mrs urns. Misses Davie and Beath. and Messrs Weir, Hugh Reeves, and Barkas. and the second nart a humorous play entitled. ‘ Horace at the University of Athens,’ which was capitally acted by the students, and afforded great amusement to the large and appreciative audience. Mrs Haslam entertained a large number of guests at her residence. Upper Riccarton, on Tuesday. It took the form of a MUSICAL AFTERNOON, at which Mrs Wilding played beautifully. Mesdames Burnsand Vernon sang, the Misses Helmore sang a duet, and Miss Gordon Rich played a violin solo. Among those present were Mesdames Moorhouse, Robison. Wynn-Williams, Turrell. Baines, Scott, Garsia, the Misses Saunders. Julius, Garsia. Walker. Winter, Hoskyns. and others. A delicious afternoon tea was dispensed, and a thoroughly enjovable time spent. Mrs H. R. Webb had

A LUNCHEON PARTY on Tuesday. Among those present were Mrs Chas. Cook, Mrs Hewitt, Mrs (Captain) Willis, Mrs Croxton, Mrs C. W. Hill, Miss Willis, and a few more.

Dolly Vale.