MISSES TAYLORS’ CONCERT.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 419, 15 October 1875, Page 3

MISSES TAYLORS’ CONCERT.

The Misses Taylor gave their concert in the Oddfellows’ Hall last Thursday. The attractions elsewhere, and the many entertainments lately given, militated against the attendance, which was not large. The programme presented an unusual number of instrumental items : Two orchestral overtures, a sonata for violin and piano, and four concertina pieces. Mr Bonnington’s band has lately been called into requisition pretty frequently at concerts, and last evening contributed Rossini’s overture to “ Serairamide,” and Herman’s “ La Couronne d’or.’’ The former was not very steady, and lacked finish, but the latter was played decidedly well, vigor and firmness characterising the performance. It is not often we are treated to the chamber music of the great masters, a fact much to be regretted. These compositions are melodious to a degree, light and graceful in their working-out; and are replete with all those smaller embellishments with which Mozart and Haydn especially knew so well how to adorn their subjects. The sonata for violin and piano here chosen for performance was one of the most beautiful of the many written by Mozart ; and was interpreted in a manner most pleasing. The violin was at times rather too prominent, for stringed instruments carry their tone more distinctly than instruments of percussion ; and this fact was scarcely sufficiently attended to. Considerable distinction must be made between solo music for the violin with mere pianoforte accompaniment, and sonatas for the instruments in combination. They must each at times be subordinated one to the other, and in the one we are now noticing the piano part (where principal) was not sufficiently prominent. Mr Bonnington’s tone was excellent, and the chromatic passages in the final movement were rendered very clearly. Miss Robison’s playing was clear, brilliant, and light, but somewhat lacked vigour and force. Miss Taylor’s performances on the concertina are well known to Christchurch audiences, and last evening her playing was in no wise behind her usual style. The piano and concertina do not blend well, but Miss Taylor’s brilliant execution and delicate expression were alone sufficient to rivet the attention of the audience. She played selections from “ Lucia,” and a very delightful piece by Eegondi, “ Les Oiseaux,” also appearing in a duett ('“Guillaume Tell”) with Mrs G. M. Taylor. In this latter the baritone concertina was itself very much out of tune, and there was also a most painful difference in pitch between the two, so that the performance was the reverse of pleasing. Mrs Taylor played a solo (Gounod’s “ Faust ”) very well ; but her execu tion, though rapid, is not clear. Part songs were contributed by a number of ladies and gentlemen, in which the singing was good, and the points were well attacked ; but more expression might with advantage have been given. They were Calkin’s “ Echoes,” and Leslie’s charming “Daylight is fading.” The jladies alone sang Abt’s three-part song “ How sweet and soothing,” and formed the chorus in conjunction with the terzetto “II sogno del Marinaro,” by Campana. The solo parts in this were taken by Miss Ada Taylor, Mrs Maskell, and Miss Marshman, in very good style. Miss A. S. Taylor sang Handel’s “ Oh had I Jubal’slyre” (“Joshua”), Mozart’s “ Batti Batti” (Don Giovani ”), and “The fountain,” by Mayo. Her singing is too well known to need description, and where such excellence is displayed criticism is somewhat out of place. She also sang with Mrs C. M. Taylor Pinsuti’s lovely duet “Afterthe rain,” which went smoothly and nicely, Mrs Wood gave Sullivan’s “ The love that loves me not,” very well, but her voice would be more pleasing if less forced. Miss Stringer contributed the popular song “ Five o’clock in the morning;” her voice though full and rich is not even and wants more cultivation; but the piece was nicely rendered. Mr Sheath sang “ I never can forget,” and the “ Yeoman’s wedding song,” which latter narrowly escaped an encore. He was in good voice, and sang better than we have lately heard him. Mr H. Loughnan gave “Cleansing fires.” His voice possesses the merit of sweetness, but lacks power. There was some improvement noticeable in the pronunciation of his words, a very important branch of singing, which unfortunately too often receives but scant attention. Mr Parker’s name was announced in the programme, but he was detained by illness.

Mr Searell was at his post at the piano, and performed the onerous part allotted to him with his usual ability, especially we may notice the accompaniment to Mozart’s “ Batti,” and the piano part in the coucertante duet.from “Lucia di Lammermoor.”