DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOLS ENTERTAINMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 37, 1 July 1892, Page 19

DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOLS ENTERTAINMENT.

The musical entertainment announced by us to take place in the Princess Theatre on Friday evening, 24th inst., in aid of the building fund of the Dominican Convent schools, came off with eclat. The house was full to overflowing, and the performance excellent. The drawing-np of the drop-scene revealed a great crowd of little girls extending from the middle of the stage far back, and, to all appearance, standing io a wood— through which coloured lights were playing. The children were ranged on a platform raised a couple of feet from the boards, and, in their pretty dresses of white, pink, blue, or green, with scarfs of divers colours, looked very bright and pretty. They sang, without accompaniment, and as tanght on tbe tonic sol fa system in St Patrick's and St Joseph's schools, " The meeting of the Waters," harmonised as a chorus, The pitch was well sustained and the singing tuneful and extremely pleasing. A duet from " Guillasme Tell" followed, as performed on the piano by tbe Misses McArdle (2), G. O'Connell, A. Liston.L. Price, 1, Bunbury, E. Freed, and J. Griffin, and on the violin by the Misses Hogg and M. Woods. All these children were junior pupils. They did tneir work well, the precision of time kept by them, without a conductor, being particularly noticeable. An arrangement of " Norma "by Bochsa was then played. The instruments were three harps, piano, and violin, and the players the Misses Larnach (2), R. Neill, E. Inglis, and E. Solomon. This was a most dainty and charming performance, such as is very seldom to be heard. A pianoforte solo — a brilliant arrangement of the " WeariDg of the green " came next — the performer, Miss Prances Dunne, displaying great powers of execution, good expression, and a touch light and soft, though firm. The young lady bids fair to be a very fine pianist. A " Fairy Cantata," an intermingling of singing reciting, and dancing followed, the junior pupils of tbe Convent High School going through with it. This formed a very pretty scene, but was cut short and a good deal spoiled by a stupid bungle in shifting the scenes. This duty, though confided to hands supposed to be trained in it, was very badly done throughout the evening. A chorus from Weber, " Rose Gatherers," was afterwards admirably sung by senior pupils of the Convent High School. Miss Blanche Joel had kindly given her assistance on the occasion, as had also Miss Nina Schlotel and Miss Rose Blaney, it being wisely thought that to vary the performance of the pupils by that of finished musicians would enhance the enjoyment of the audience. Miss Joel's song was Goodeve's •' Fiddle and I," and was sung in the artistic and expressive manner by which the young lady is distinguished. A violin obbligato was played by Signor Squarise. Miss Joel's singing always creates a desire for more, and the encore on this occasion was very pronounced indeed, especially since the length of the programme forbade anything of the kind, as a rule. The song given in response was Peace's 11 Hush, thee, my baby." The first part of the programme ended with a performance of Mendelssohn's overture to " Ruy Bias," which was very finely played, on strings and pianos, by the Misses E. Solomon, S. Hall, M. Fortune, E. Inglis, M. O'Reilly, B. Joel (let violin), N. Schlotel (viola), M, Slight (2nd violin), Signor Squarise '"'cello) and Mr F. Bobertshaw (double bass). The opening piece of the second part consisted of Boccherini's minuet and a pizzicato gavotte by Lataun. The performance was moßt d-licate and charming. The players were the Misses Joel (Ist violin), Slight (2nd violin), Schiotel (viola), Signor Squirise ('cello) aud Mr Robertshaw (double bass). A duet, " In the dusk of the twilight," by Parker, was then sung by the Misses L. Connor and Skene, young ladies not very far advanced in their teens, but who give promise of great excellence in singing. Miss Skene has a very sweet and pleasing contralto voice, Miss Connor a light soprano of particular purity. With proper training, which has been well begun, we may expect from these young ladies very fine developments. The violin solo, De Benot's " Fifth Concert," was afterwards performed very cleverly, and in a highly finished manner,

by Miss Nina tichotel. A performance followed of Scotch airs on four pianos by junior pnpils, the Misses Neill, Dawson, M. Bossbotham, Alice Freed, M. Burke, M. Bernech, T. Bossbotham, and A. Meenan, tbe little ladies wearing tartan scarfs. A series of tableau illustrative of a Bong sung by Miss Boss Blaney came next. The representation was that of a mother's grief beside the bed of her dying child, consolation reaching her in visions of the guardian angel awaiting the departed soul, and fiaally carrying it to heaven to receive the crown of innocence. Miss Blaney's singing was most expressive and sweet, and the whole Bcene extremely touching. Its effect, however, was marred, the audience perplexed, and the performers put out and confused at the conclusion, by the bungling of the scene-sbifters, to which we have already alluded. This was the more vexatious since Miss Blaney was down for one song only, and the encore lot which every one was longing was thus prevented. An arrangement of Irish airs by Czerney, was then played by junior pupils— the Misses N. Hall, Skene, F. Bkene, A Cantwell, 0. Pearson, Bemshardt, L. Remshardt, Lawrence, K. Kartin, Dalaney, K. Lynch, and B. Inglis. The little ladies, who wore scarfs of the pretty green called sea-foam, also in this instance did their work well— indeed, in every instance throughout the evening, the pianoforte playing was admirable, testifying markedly to the ability of the nuns in teaching music. In other respects, their capacity as teachers was shown by the appearance and development of the children. The young ladies who played the violin did great credit to Signor Squarise, their master. On the termination of the performance, the Most Bey Dr Moran returned thanks on the part of the nnns, and on his own part, to tbe audience and the ladies and gentlemen who had given their assistance as performers. The pro. gramme concluded with a fine performance, by chorus and orchestra, of Mr Thomas Bracken's New Zealand Anthem. The entertainment was extremely creditable to every one engaged in it The programme was admirably chosen and well performed and the brightness and "go" of the evening were sustained to the end. The success attained was in a large degree due to the efforts of the members of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society, and the aid of Mr F. W. Patre in arranging the tableaux was invaluable. Mr Biedle also, of the Dresden Company, who had kindly lent the pianos, gave much assistance.