CHAMBER CONCERTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 415, 15 May 1902, Page 2

CHAMBER CONCERTS.

The first of the series of two subscription Chamber Concerts was held in the Academy of Music last night, and proved a great treat to lovers of excellent music well played. There was a large audience, and a spirit of enthusiasm was manifested throughout. A first-class programme was given ; every item was warmly appreciated, and the solos especially, vocal and instrumental, evoked enthusiastic encores. There were altogether ten numbers, but these were substantially increased by the encores, the concert not concluding until 25 minutes to 11. The instrumentalists were Messrs E. N. Sidebottom (piano), H. D. Parker (’cello), and A. J. Massey (violin), Mr Palairet, jun., being a participant in the quartettes. The musicians,

being players of marked ability, with deftness and sympathy of touch, brought out all the best passages of the music with splendid effect, and the audience was quick in showing appreciation. Even those who could not claim to have a refined musical ear soon found themselves carried away by the I enthusiasm and heartily enjoying the wealth of music provided. It is not necessary -to individualise the instrumental items. All were good, and in most cases encores had to be given. There was but one vocalist, but that lady (Miss Macginnity, of Wellington) achieved a triumph on her first appearance in Gisborne. She has a commanding stage presence, a graceful deportmeut, and a rich contralto voice. She sang first “ The Promise of Life,” aud did it so well that bows of acknowledgement would not be accepted by the audience in lieu of an encore. One admirer presented the lady with a beautiul bouquet. As an encore number Miss Maginnity sang II The Valley by the Sea.'' In the second part Miss Maginnity sang most impressively, “ Beloved, it is Morn,” with 11 The Lark ” for an encore. The instrumental programme was as follows:—Trio, B flat, Op. 63, No. 2, Sitt; ’cello solo, Mr H. I). Parker, Gavotte in I) (Popper) and Broken Melody (Van Biene); trio, Barcarole, Op. 23, Fesca; piano solo, Mr E. N. Sidebottom, Bigaudon, Op. 204, Baff; quartette, Spanisehe, Op. 11, Heritte-Viardot. Quartette in E flat, Op. 47, Schumann ; violin solo, Mr A. J. Massey, “ Scene de , Ballet,” De Beriot; trio, Andante, Allegro Appassionata, Bache. The accompaniments were played by Mr E. N. Sidebottom. t