THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL IN WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue XV, 13 October 1894, Page 355

THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL IN WELLINGTON.

THE Musical Festival has, of course, been the topic of the week in Wellington, and well worthy it is of that position. The opening took place on Monday night, the Ist instant, at the Opera House, which building was crammed in every part by a large and enthusiastic audience. The sight was certainly enough to warm the hearts of everyone who had anything whatever to do with it, and the applause was quite sufficient to gladden the heart of the most sangine of conductors. He (Mr Parker) certainly did look pleased at the hearty reception. His Excellency the Governor ascended the stage and made the opening speech from there, just before the immense body of voices and instrumentalists —numbering three hundred—gave ‘ God Save the Queen ’ with wonderful effect. The audience was fairly electrified, and there were thunders of applause after it. ‘ The Lobesang ’ was then given, and went remarkably well, and after this came ‘ The Creation,’ which was a real treat to listen to, the soloists being Madame Bristowe (soprano), of Melbourne, Mr Charles Saunders (tenor), of Melbourne, and Mrs Parsons, Mr John Prouse, and Mr Gibson. Mr Saunders and Mr Prouse both sang magnificently, but Madame Bristowe suffered somewhat, it is said, from the effects of a very bad passage across from Australia, and somewhat from nervousness, but in spite of this she improved considerably as the evening wore on, and gave ‘ On Mighty Pens,’ her most exacting solo, with great success. The choruses went well from beginning to end, and it is to be hoped that the more difficult ones in the more difficult works which are to follow will go with as much crispness and form. The orchestration was also deserving of the greatest praise; indeed the whole performance pleased me greatly, and it was a most creditable production

In * The Spectre’s Bride,’ Mr Gee, of Auckland, was the success of the evening, singing his part splendidly, and making it altogether a great triumph. On the opening night His Excellency the Governor was accompanied by Lady Glasgow, who wore white silk with old rose sleeves and lace epaulettes, Lady Augusta Boyle wearing black satin and net ; Lady Alice Boyle, white ; and Miss Thurston, white. The party was also accompanied by Lord Kelburne, Major Elliott, Captain Preston, and Captain Clayton. LATEST. The Musical Festival was brought to a close on Saturday evening by a complimentary concert tendered to the honorary conductor and honorary secretary. A varied programme was provided for the second part, the whole comprising one of the best evenings of this series of successes. The Government House party were again present. The Opera House was packed, and the applause enthusiastic. In returning thanks on behalf of himself and colleagues at the close, Mr Robert Parker (conductor) said they read of 75,000 attending a Handel festival in London, but he thought it more remarkable that in Wellington they should have bad an attendance of some 8,000 or 9,000 during the week, showing a deep-seated appreciation of high class music adequately rendered, at least so far as the means at their disposal would allow. Such audiences were the greatest reward the promoters could have. After Saturday night's performance Mrs C. C. N. Barron, on behalf of the ladies’ chorus, presented Mr Parker with a handsome silver-mounted honeysuckle baton in recognition of his work as conductor, and Mr Theo. H. Ritchie, the energetic hou. secretary, with a silver pencil ease.

Ophelia.