ST STEPHEN CONCERT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2267, 30 October 1889, Page 3

ST STEPHEN CONCERT.

The lilt or the series of shilling conetrti In aid of the Fabric Fund of 8t Stephen's Ohoroh we« given laat evening m th» Sohoolroom and was the most Mooetifal of the serfea, there being a

good attendance and an exceedingly choice and eb joy able programme. Mrs Denshire opened with a brilliantly tx•oated pianoforte solo ond the a«ma lady ifinrfng the evening acted as acoompanfcts 4o the vocal performers with exquisite find iklll, being occasionally relieved *y MlisKidd. Mr Thoi. D. Aoland, of OhrUtohnioh, then gave a delightful tendering of J. L. Button's " Anthea " «ad as an enoore, auDg the balUrd "Ocoa i loved a maiden fair " In boto of which

the pore and mellow voice of which be la the fortunate poueaior was heard to great advantages the execution beiog perfeot. Hill Blmmoods theD gave a very otedit- ' *J)le violin bolo, variations on the air of " fiome Sweet Home," and was followed by Mi» jßLldd whose Interpretation of Onweo'fl favorite long " It waa a Dream " left nothing to be deilred, tbe fate cantatrlce having a veil trained voice of excellent ' quality and great sweetneia. I She was deseivedly encored and gave a Scotch ballad, very oharmiegly, m teaponsa. The dnet from 11 Trovaiore, *' Home to oar Mountains," lira i>ennn>re «nd Mr Aoland waa delightful)/ retired end Indeed a very finiihed performance , ensuing tbe inevitable demand for a 1 repetition. Thta waa folia Fed by Coweo'a ••One love have I "given by M* W. B Dlxon of B»kaia, who is a performer of exceptional ability. Having a tenor voice of tare quality and being a f auitless executant he fairly took the home by atorm £ad wai enthusiastically recalled. Next can** * aoena from Lurline Introducing the well-k^own "Sireet bpirlt bear my Prayer" of whlo^ Mrs Ouarles Harper gave a charming rendition with necessarily an enoore. Thif closed the firit part, be «toond opening w"i*h a violin dnet, Mr •nd Mlea Simmonde, Allowed by Wation'a beaatlfol long " Anchored' m which Mr W. B. Pixon'fl aplendld wo&k wa« again laatd to great advantage tbo pwno pataagea being interpreted with great delloacy and exqalsite tiecatioa Again an encore, after wbloh Mt3 Harper and lira Denshire gave "Traat her not' In » atyle whloh reminded an of tho Oarandlnia. It was re-demanded bpt we were not eurprUed to fiod that an apology . waa tendered Instead, Mru Harper beiog too tired to aeoede — the andleooe indeed having been already aomewhfct too exaoting. Mrs Gamble who I* tbe poesc<Bßo» of «n exceptionally good ocntralto yoioe,tben gave " The loat Ohordj" and m response to a hearty encore " Tho Lover and the Bird." Major Steward followed with a reading, Davle Wlngate'a ' 'Annie Lonnle" » touohlng little poem, and iraa aucaeeded by Mrs Harper who gave a fiuUtied rendering of a scena from "Robert .Le Plable," giving place to Mir Aoland wboaa exceedingly ohoioa aeleotion "An Evening Song* (Blumentbal) was greatly appreolAted, Re then In response to an encore gave an old Bngliah ballad "Oonco lada Jaod laisles," m 0 manner which rendered it one ef the most delightful cf the Items of a programme of unusual expellence, ond rls» to tbe wish that songs of this cifcraoter jshoald bs more frequently ■elected by vocalistß, as simple aira when done feU justice ore always greatly en|oyed. A rote of tfaapka to the performers proposed by Major Steward, supplemented by a few remarks by tba Jlev E. A. Soott (who preslaO^ during tho evening) expressive of the Pbligmlon of the chnrobtoall who bad asßifjed and particularly those who had seme from a distance to do so, was curled by «ccljmatlcn. and the singing of • verse of the National Anthem oioaed the most '' i y»bla muilcal evening we have bad iv for i long time pa**,