CONCERT.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 441, 12 November 1875, Page 2

CONCERT.

Miss Winter's complimentary benefit eoncert took place last evening at the Odd- j fellows' Hall. The programme was lengthy, and was on the whole very satisfactorily performed ; but pecuniarily the success could not have been great, as the audience was rather small. Mr Bonnington's band was present, and opened with the overture to " Couronne D'Or," which was played with a precision and finish which we have not known them before to attain ; tone and time were alike excellent. The " Massaniello " overture was not so successful, but the absence of two performers out of eight does not tend to improve matters. Mr Caddy played a selection from " La Qazza Ladra" on the clarionet well ; his tone was pure and his exeution clear, but notes were throughout too much clipped, aa^^

his'performance therefore lacked the smoothness and flow which his instrument should be capable of producing. The programme was composed of ballads and operatic selections. In the former category Miss Winter sang (by desire) the " Last Rose of Summer," and rendered it in all respects well, far better indeed than we have before heard her; but yet in our opinion it is quite possible to have too much of even a good thing. Miss Winter also joined with her sister in Glover's duet, " When shall we meet." Of Miss Phc»be Winter, we have had occasion to speak recently, but it is perhaps scarcely judicious to criticise so youthful a performer. It is a mistake to bring forward a singer so early, for a voice too soon used rarely attains much perfection ; and a few years rest from vocal exertion is frequently the best training for a young voice. Mi6s Calvert sang Wrighton's popular ballad, " Thy voice is near," and Benedict's u By the sad sea waves," with excellent feeling and intelligence, and was deservedly recalled after each. There is an affectation in her manner of pronunciation which should be overcome, and we hope that her really

good voice will receive the cultivation it requires, for it would be a ; ity l<> !el •<> goo '■ an organ fail for want ol aftiiil••»• and \«d work. Mr Feldwick Bangßilfs s ' Though fortune darkly o'er mo frown." v.-ry well, but might have improver) it with a little more life. Mr Bell sang the son announced for Mr Skinner (''Alice, where art thou.") sweetly and evenly, but did not give sufficient power. Emanuel's " Desert " was well sung by Mr Austin Shia h, and he richly deserved the applause his effort evoked. This song belongs to the genus "descriptive," in which places and scenes are endeavored to be pourtrayed (alas! how vain the attempt!) by musical sounds. The pianoforte part (it can scarcely be called accompaniment) requires to be rendered with much care ; crispness and delicacy are essential ; and Madame Winter exceedingly well performed it. Two part songs were contributed by Messrs Bell, Brooke, Sheath, and Feldwick ; of which the first (Molique's "Convivial") went smoothly, indeed too much so, and there it sadly lacked vigour; but the second (Kucken's " Love ") was decidedly unsatisfactory, and listeners with sensitive ears scarcely have felt inclined to coincide '■r"\ the words " pure enjoyment and bliss." **f the operatic part, the Duo from " Lucia " (Miss Winter and Mr Sheath) was performed best. The opening recitative lacked life, but otherwise all went capitally.! From '-Don Giovanni" the duetti "Eh via Buffone," and "La ci darem"; the aria " Batti, Batti" ; and the trios, "Oh, taci inquesto core," and " Notte egiorno faticar." "Batti" lacked lightness, and the florid passages were by no means clear. "La ci darem" lost much by being too slow, but " Eh via Buffone" was on the whole good, though the

firßtOwßß was occasionally at fault. Miss WjntePj** l " Sheath, and Mr R. A. Loughnan ' performers. Mr Bell's rendering of " Oh summer night" from " Don Pasquale" was pleasing, but the invisible chorus was rather a failure. With the " Miserere" scene from "II Trovatore "we were not much pleased. Miss Winter came forward as Leonora, wearing a black dress, and the other vocalists were duly behind the platform. But it was very incongruous thus to attempt to perform a pieee [semi-dramatically with the instrumentalists in full view, and it was rather ludicrous to think of a " dungeon " furnished with a piano and drawing room suite, and with a pier glass suspended from the wall. Miss Winter's vocalisation was good, but she was evidently rather tired, and Mr Puschell was ecarcely'to be heard at all. His voice is by no means strong, and he was not favorably placed, singing through a doorway with the accompaniment before him. Of the chorus of Monks we cannot say much : it was out of time, and not too steady, evidencing want of rehearsal. The "Market Chorus," from Massaniello, concluded the programme. The band was composed of Messrs C. and G. Bonnington (violins), Mr Rowley (double bass), Mr Wood (flute), Mr Caddy (clarionet), and Mr Tankard (cornet). Mr Searell acted as part accompanist with Madame Winter.