ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY’S CONCERT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1018, 6 December 1883, Page 2

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY’S CONCERT

The Ashburton Orchestral Society are certainly unfortunate. On the occasion of their first concert the weather was so unfavorable that comparatively few people cared to leave their firesides, and last evening an “eagerand a nipping air” prevailed, interfering considerably with the attendance. However, we feel sure that if the lovers of music knew what a treat was in store for them they would not have been prevented by the bad weather from attending, and we are glad to say that the Society has decided to repeat the concert this evening, so far as the instrumental selections are concerned, but the songs will be altered. But if the entertainment was not a financial success the Society can fairly claim to having placed before their patrons the best concert ever listened to in this town. The first item was Lamothe's Invocation to Saint Cecilia, which had been given at the previous concert, and it was possible to judge from the manner in which it was rendered last night horf much theorcheatra has improved during the past few months. The two gentlemen engaged from Christchurch, Mr Corrick, the leader, and Mr Poore, the flautist, it is needless to say lent additional weight to the performance, hut the local talent showed marked improvement, and the instrumentalists have been practising to good Mr G D. Branson chose Ascher’s beautiful song “Alice, where art thou?’ for his first contribution, and acquitted himself so much to the satisfaction of the auidence that an encore was loudly demanded, and he was forced to repeat the final verse. A similar compliment, which was well deserved, was accorded to the cornet duet “ Will o’the wisp,” excejlontly played by Messrs G. Hoskins and J. McDonald. Mrs Corrick, who appeared next, has a good contralto voice, well under control, but although little exception could be taken to her vocalisation, her rendering of “ Vashti,” a song that calls for the depiction of strong passion, was somewhat wanting in force. In the encore song, “ To the woods,” however, Mrs Corrick was thoroughly successful, and well merited the applause she received. A quartrttte for flute, violin, ’cello and piano, consisting of selections from Beethoven, was beyond doubt the gem ofthe concert, the instrumentalists, Misa Griea, aqd Messrs Poore, Corrick and Bell, rendering it to perfection. Mi»s Smart has been heard to better advantage than in hqr song of last evening, as she did not seem to be in good voice. Mr Poore's flute solo was heartily appreciated as a delightful piece of instrumentation, and the concluding item of the first part,

“ Cleopatra,” as played by the orchestra, I is deserving of praise. The second por tion of the programme started with a medley overture of London street tunes, and so caught the fancy of the audience that nothing would satisfy them but its repetition. This was not high class music, but it presented an excellent contrast to the more solid selections, while its succes' amply justified its introduction. Mrs Crisp then gave “Close to the threshold,” which was sung with considerable expression, the obligato being played on the violin by Mr .Corrick, in the absence of Mr G. Jameson, who, we are sorry to hear, was too unwell to take his accustomed place in the orchestra. A brass quartette followed and secured an encore, but while admitting that is was well played, it is doubtful if such ljud instruments as cornets, euphoniums and tenor horns are not a trifle too strong for the size of the hall. The only fault to be found with Mrs Corrick’s otherw se admirable interpretation of “ Alas, those chimes ” was that it was perhaps taken a little too slow, but this did not seem to be the opinion of the audience, as the singer was loudly recalled. Mr Corrick’s solo, a fantasia on a well-known Irish melody, was one of the most striking features of the evening, and proved the performer to be a violinist of a high order. Its repetition was insisted on, and although the encore system is as a rule to be deprecated, everybody must have considered that an exception ought to be made in this case, as Ashburton people have very few opportunities of listening to instrumentalist* like Mr Corrick. That well-worn but ever popular ballad “ Come into the gar den, Maud,” as sung by Mr Branson, raised a storm of approval, and it appeared as if the audie ce would not be satisfied until it had been given three time?, but the singer very properly refused to accede to the demand, though no doubt he appreciated the compliment. The overture “ La Fde de Potsdam ” by the orchestra was the final item, and its effect was greatly enhanced by Mr Poore’s masterly performance of the picco'o passages. As to the musical success of the concert there could be no two opinions, and we hope to be able to record a very large attendance this evening, as the Society unquestionably deserves support.