CONCERT IN DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 9, 21 June 1889, Page 29

CONCERT IN DUNEDIN.

A VERY successful concert, with tableaux vivants, was giro* in the PrinceßS Theatre, Dunedin, on Thursday evening, in aid of *ht build* ing fund of the Dominican convent. The music was principallj performed by pupils and ex-pupils of the nuns, but a band formed of several gentlemen :— Messrs. Bevin and Naumann, violins ; Mr. Painter, viola ; Messrs. Parker and Rebertehaw, cello and bass ; Messrs. S. George and Boss, clarinets ; Messrs. Buckingham and Dallas, cornets ; Mr. George, trombone, and under the conduotorship of Mr. F. Leech, also kindly gave tneir assistance. The vocal selections rendered were the doublequartett, " Hark ,tis the Indian which the young ladies sang very sweetly and correctly ; the chorus, •" Slumber Darling," similarly given ; the song, " Oh, stay with me," in which Miss Mills deservedly received an enthusiastic encore ; and 41 The 8wallow," in which Miss Poppelwell was honoured in the ume way. De Beriot's " Seventh Air," a violin solo, was played with proficiency by Miss May Howell, and Miss Dickinson gave Yieuxtemps' " Homage a Paganini,'' in a finished manner. These voting ladies also played a duet by Romberg so as to deserve load applause. The Misses Irwin, ex-pupils of the nans, played a selected piano duet from Scharwenka and Grieg wiih extreme delicacy of touch and brilliant execution ; and a duet, " Belisario," was very finely performed by Mrs. Montague and Miss K. Moloney, Mrs. Montague aIBO played with brilliancy Godard's " Deuxieme Mazurka." Miss May Howell merited admiration for the manner in which sbe p«rfoimed the piano solo " Regatta Veneziana," by Liszt, and Miss K. Moloney gave a charming interpretation of Bcbarwenka's " Polish National Dance." The performance of the overtures " Poet and Peasant," and " Wilhelm Tell," severally by pianos and strings, with full band — in which the young ladies who took part were the Misses Cameron, Lynch, Molouey, Allen, and G. Allen, was particularly iffective. A great attraction of tbe entertainment was the tableaux vivants in which the vicissitudes through which Ireland has passed and is still passing, with the future to which hope points for her, were represented. The first scene was St. Patrick instructing the Irish, in which the Saint in pontifical robes held up the traditional shamrock, instructing the king aud bis court at Tara, and the Druids fit od by. The second scene wan the baptism ot an Irish king ; the king kneeling at the feet of the Saint, who was about to administer tbe Sacrament — aud the queen, wiih Druids, buds, courtiera, warriors and attendants making up the surrounding group. The third scene, representing Ireland in tbe present, showed an eviction — an old man lying oa straw, a number of miserable children, ami a woman pleaiing for mercy — a landlord — Emergency men, soldier's and policemen. Tbe fourth scene showed the tenants at bay and driving out the evictors in a very spirited manner. The fifth scene was Krin crowmd — leaning en her harp and wearing appropriate robes of white and grean. The sixth scene showed the uuion of the three kingdom* and ihe principality of Wales— as symbolised by young ladies appropriately atured and significantly giouped. In the more suoume instances the grouping wm nust t .sttful and artistic, and id lht realistic scenes due attention was given to exactness. Bacn tableau was shown by the lime light differently coloured, and the effect was extremely good. The tceues weie describe lin original verses recited rejpectively by Ma-ter Arthur Hall, Master Francis Helev, Mr. Carter, An Old Pupil of tbe Christian Brothers, and Master E<iw*rJ Duffy, who each did his pait very admirably — the comic recitation of tbe resis ance scene being especially admired, and elicitiug markjd tokens of sympathy. The verses as a whole were much above the average — and some were remarkably go d, We anouki gladly quote them in extenso did our space admit of our doing so — but as we cannot do this, we shall give, as a fair specimen, those celebrating the last most hopeful scene of the union. " Old Cambria's hills take up the cry, It rings o'er Albion's sea ; And Scotia's Highlands shout for joy That Erin, too, is free. In sympathetic sisterhood They clasp her by the hand ; 'We sisters three for e'er shall be A faithfnl loving band. H^ ' United thus in bonds of love, For Nature made the tie ; No power of earth shall sever us, As One we'll do and die.' O Music, send forth glowing strains, Burst forth in joyous song 1 Behold the consummation blest We waited for so long I

Now Albion. Cambria, Erin, Scotia, Rule an Empire vast : United, Glory crowns tbeir brow And buries all the Pait" The entertainment concluded with the New Zealand National Anthem, in which the bolos were effectively taken by the Missef Mills, Blaney. and Lovegrove. As a whole the programme wli extremely well carried out. The mus'c was quite on a pat with the reputation enjoyed by the Dominican nuns as teachers, and tha tableau* were admirable. There was a full attendance. The pianot made use of were upright grand of excellent tone, kindly lent by the Dresden company.