CONCERT IN DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 392, 15 October 1880, Page 14

CONCERT IN DUNEDIN.

The concert in aid of the Dunedin Cathedral Building Fund came off, as announced by us, on Monday evening at the Garrison Hall. The hall was densely crowded, the ladies intrusted with the sale of tickets had evidently well fulfilled their task, tnd, in addition, due appreciation was evidently felt by the public for the musical powers of the ladies and gentlemen who were to render the various items on the programme. The concert opened with the rondo from Keissiger's trio for the piano, violin, and violoncello, performed by Messrs Scherek, Norman, and Waud. The performance was extremely brilliant, Herr Scherek as pianist sustaining admirably his high reputation, and Messrs Norman and Waud, each as usual bringing out the rich tones of his instrument, and rendering his part of the score with the taste and skill of an accomplished artist. Herr Scherek, further on in the evening, perfoimed as a solo a " Song without Words" of his own composition, a charming morceau that we expect to find much sought after —together with Liszt's " The Nightingale," which displayed the performer's wonderful powers of execution, and afforded scope for the extreme delicacy of his touch. In response to an enthusiastic encore he gave Raff's false de Juliet. The splendid aria " Fra Poco" was the second item on the programme, and it was magnificently rendered by Signor Carmini Morley. In this, as well as in his other soli, " Thou art so near and yet so far," and " Come into the garden Maud," given in compliance with an encore, and the duo and trio in which he took part, his clear, sweet notes — the silver-trumpet sounds of that most refined and rare of voices, a first-class tenor — were heard in perfection. It is needless to add that, in all other respects also, the music alloted to Signor Morley was more than done justice to— y« ra sans dire. The third item on the programme was the itong " Stride la Vampa," from " Trovatore," sung by Miss Bessie Hume. This young lady possesses a contralto voice of much power and compass, and of a quality not commonly to be found. It is mellow and clear to a degree, and hjis been most carefully cultivated. Her rendering of the song in question was very admirable ; the prolonged shake which occurs in it was distinct and close, and the spirit thrown into the expression was most artistic. " I arise from dreams of thee " was afterwards rendered by Miss Hume very beautifully, and " Dermot Astore," given by her as an encore, was full of feeling and sweetness. Mr. Chai-les Waud's violoncello solo, " Souvenir de Bonheur." was the fourth item on the programme, and was given in the masterly manner identified with Mr. Waud's treatment of his instrument. This was followed by the duo " Sulla Tomba," sung by Signor Morley and Miss Mary Hume. Miss Hume's voice is a soprano of good range ; it is bell-like in clearness, exquisitely sweet, and very flexible, displaying also every mark of high culture. Her part in this duo was rendered faultlessly ; her 2>iano passages being especially remaikable. She afterwards gave, as a solo, the cavatina, " 0 Luce di quest anima," her rendition of which was extremely brilliant. The Fecond part of the concert opened with the overture to " William Tell," arranged for two pianos, and performed by the Misses Cargill and Tewsley and Messrs. Towsey and Scherek. The performance was an extremely fine one, and met with a rapturous encore, in response to which the concluding movement,

beginning with the march, was repeated. One of the principal items on this portion of the programme was also Mr. A. H. Norman's violiu solo, a •' .Romance." by Schumann, which was given with good expression and skilful instrumentation. The conceit terminated with the trio " Delia Cita," rendered with brilliancy by the Misses Hume and Bignor Morley. In concluding our notice, we cannot refrain from.l expressing our pleasure at the high position occupied by Dunedia ' amongst cities favoured by the musical taleni sof their citizens ; there is hardly any town we know of in which this is more remarkable. There are few towns which would not derive honour from the production by their nativo and resident talent of such a concert as that •» to which we refer. Both our amateurs and professionals are such, in a word, as Dunedin may Well feel proud of. The concert was under the conductorship of Herr Benno Scherek, who is to be congratulated on the programme drawn up by him, and the excellent manner in which it was carried out.