AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 4260, 21 October 1876, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

" Our Ein'ly" was repeated at the Princess's Theatre last evening and drew a good attendance. This evening a doable bill will be provided, comprising those popular plays " The Octoroon" and " The Colleen Bawn." Mr Clifford's views on the Thames still prove attractive, they being very well received last evenin? at the Temperance Hall.

DUNE DIN CHOEAL SOCIETY.

We very heartHy congratulate the Choral Society on the success of their last night's concert. When it is remembered that it is not yet three weeks since the concert was proposed, and that though "Naaman" was once before performed by the society, the music was quite new to a considerable number of the chorus and to at least two of the soloists, the manner in which it was rendered last night is noteworthy evidenoe of what can be done by the musical amateurs of Dunadin. To say that the whole oratorio was as well sung as it might have been, or that it was all os well performed as on the occasion of its previous production iu Dunedin, would be more than the facts warrant. Tet we do not hesitate to state that on the whole the concert of lost evening l was a decided success, and reflected very great credit on all parties concerned in it: Though the music of "Naaman" Is popular and effective", much of it is very difficult to render. The solos and other leading passages, as well as several of the choruses, present difficulties which require oare, culture, and practice to Baraiount. These were well overcome last evening with ouo or two exceptions, notably the Hallelujah chorus, with which the oratorio closes, and the opening choral taken by the tenors a-nd basses was nob given so effectively as it might have been; the singers weie evidently timid, and there w«u, oonsa. quently, a want of decision and firmness about the vocalisation which to some extent marred the force of the composition. The other ch< ruses all went very fairly, several of them beiuy sung with great vigour. Of the soloists, we pan only apeak In terms of high commendation, Considering the shert practice one or two of them sad, their singing was worthy of all praise. Our spaco will not permit us to refer particularly to each item, but we cannot forbear mention of the ever popular quartette, " Honor and (Jtory," This was evidently a surprise to many in the bouse, and the vigor with which it was sung created an tuthftsiaam seldom witnessed at the performance of sacred music. Th« audience broke through all conventions} restraint, and unanimously called for a re! pititiou. fhoflawand was acceded to by the parformers, and the auajfeette wag 8nfl? better the second time than the fhst. Thu Applause which followed was only silenced by the band commencing thfl peft passage. The ocliestrn, which was very comply, did their part of the work very effio ently and PQjitiJbuted nos a }istle to the success of the whole peetoMßawuH. Mb Ttiwsoy, as conduotor, is to be congratulated ( n his very able management of the eoncert ;an i it need hardly be said that the young lady who piesided at the piano w;is a valuable assistant. Mr E. Towsey took tin* prinuipa tuaojr a'artd, and fit n'.'ver heard him sing butter. We trust tho long talked of reconstruction of the Society on a more satisfactory basis will be speedily effected, and that the new society will be iu a position to give the usual Christmas eoncert.