FOR THE ART GALLERY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1456, 3 June 1912, Page 3

FOR THE ART GALLERY.

TOWN HALL CONCERT. ! The remarkable enthusiasm which has been evinced by the public in connection with the campaign'for i'tuuls for the National Art Gallery was not reflected in the attendance at the '■popular" concert which was given by Miss "B. Richmond and a number of her friends at the Town Hall on Saturday evening, for the purpose of further augmenting the gallery funds. The weather was not very inviting, and no doubt, a large number of ticketholder's were numbered amongst the absentee's. Her Excellency Lady Islington, with a small party from Government House, was present. The concert was an ' excellent one, albeit the "popular" flavour ascribed por the published announcements to the general character of the entertainment was very faint. Indeed, it was a chamber concert programme, and, quite obviously, as chamber music is not suited to a hall with a seating capacity of about MOO, the performers suffered the attendant disadvantages of such a situation. Nevertheless, the programme was such as a lover of musio should be sorry to miss, and glad to hear again under inoro favourable circumstances. Amateur violinists, whose playing is in oil respects pleasing to tho ear, are so rare that one felt rather grateful to Miss Richmond-for Hiss Hay Donaldson's appearance on tho platform. This voung lady is the fortunate possessor of a very fine instrument, and to this not insigniacant part of her equipment there is added technique of commendable quality. Her bowing is trenchant end bold, fingering confident but a little careless, and she produces a rich full tone from her violin. Her playing of Tartini's "V Art de 1' Archet was very good indeed, while her work in two of the concerted numbers mute satisfactory. Miss Beatrice Kichmond, at the piano, contributed Leo's "Anteta and a Chopin polonaise, and was, in addition, associated with Mrs. E. D. Cachemaille in Rubinstein's "Fantasie" (for two pianos), and wi*h Miss Mav Donaldson and Mr. F. R. Johnstone ('cello) in two trios-a bolero from the album of Fernan-dez-Arbns, and Code's "NoveUetten." In her solo numbers Miss Richmond admirably sustained her more than local reputation a« a clever amateur. A vocal duct, "The Gift," bv -Miss Gladys YVatkins and Miss Driscoll "was an interesting item in that tho words and music were by Mr. Lawrence Yvatkins, who accompanied at. the piano. The voices of the sudors did not blend altogether successfully, but the music was pleasing, though the tenor ot its ideas was somewhat uncertain. Jhe nro"ramme also included solo items by Mr. Maughau Harnett (at the organ). Mr. John Prouse (baritone songs). Mr. I. 11. Johnstone (two 'cello nuiiihers), and .Mr. C. H. Stephens (tenor), well known and highlv esteemed, while not the least interesting of the series of items was tho vocal quartet (Liza Lehman), "They Told .Mo You had been to Her" (from the (rial scene in "Alice in Wonderland"), l.y Misses Watkins and Driscoll. and Messrs. Stephens and Jiobbins. M iss Jim flow also assisted with the accompaniments. During on interval in the programme Mr. If. M. Gore briefly addressed the audience, end retorted with satisfaction to the fact that tho subscription list for the National Gallery fund had passed the £5000 mark. (Anplnnse.) The speaker feelingly eulogised the services rendered to art by the late Mr. H. S. Waillell, until quite rceoullv -resident of the Academy, who-e fatal'illness had laid him aside duriii" 'he earlv stages of the campaign, when ho was actively assisting in the eam-.ss. .\s a mark of re-pect.to the deceived gentleman the audience rose and stood in silence for a few seconds.