AMUSEMENTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 657, 28 July 1876, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

THE LYDIA HOWARDS TROUPE. “Nemesis” was again most successfully performed at the Music Hail last night, and went exceedingly well, a decided improvement being noticed throughout. The music went well, and everyone seemed to be well up in their respective parts, aud, as might be expected, Miss Howarcle aud her lady confreres came in for an unlimited share of applause from the audience. The piece evidently gains favour by its repetition, and wc predict for it a long run. The same bill of fare will constitute this evening’s performance. The next novelties to be produced by the company will be Lecocq’s opera bouffe “ Girofle-Girofia,” and “La Chatte Blanche, or the White Cat,” now playing with great furore in London. Wc wish the management every success in their endeavors to cater for the public amusement, and have no doubt their efforts will be duly appreciated. ST. MICHAEL’S CONCERT. (From the Press ) An excellent programme was submitted on the occasion of the second annual choir concert, which look place ou Thursday at the Oddfellows’ Hali. It was well varied, and the items were well selected. There were not many solo pieces, and the concerted vocal and instrumental pieces were tolerably evenly proportioned. A few refreshing novelties were introduced, which made the total extremely enjoyable. The opening piece was a bright little cantata by Niels W. Gade, the modern oxpouent of Danish music. This is a smooth aud rather brilliant ■specimen of writing for chorus and orchestra ; for the instrumental part can scarcely be termed an accompaniment, being generally rather the chief point tf interest; and the work may almost better be called a composition for orchestra and voices. It was very neatly sung by ihe selected chorus; aud the instrumental

portion was allotted to a pianoforte and harmonium combined. A portion of Haydn’s celebrated “ Surprise ” Symphony was next given by the Orchestral Society, under tht conductorship of Mr Alex. Lean. The selection comprised the andante and finale. The opening of the former was very clearly given, and in some of the chaste variations the violin tone was particularly good, but in the harmonic development there was a painful want of accord between the various instruments. The finale went brightly, but occasionally in this, as also in the subsequent overture (Cenerentola ), it was excruciatingly “out of tune ; but there was a good deal of life about the performance which atoned for much. Mrs Palmer next appeared and sang Schubert’s artistic and elegant Barcarolle , “ Auf dem Waser,” with considerable taste and feeling. But the most enjoyable item by this vocalist was Barnby’s delicious song, “ When the tide comes in” (in which she accompanied herself), which deservedly gained an encore (the only one of the evening), for it was sung to perfection. In response, Linley’sold ballad, “ Elise," was substituted. Of the other solos, Mr Appleby’s rendering of Berthold Tours’ elegant little song, “ Stars of the summer night,” must first be noticed. In this the singer appeared to the greatest advantage—indeed, we have never heard Mr Appleby sing better than he did in this song. Mr Ollivior was scarcely successful in his aria from Semele (Handel), successful, that is to say in pourtraying the feeling of the song, but the notes were reproduced with tolerable accuracy, and in good tempo. Mrs Palmer and Mr Knox joined in a brisk performance, the Duet 11 Crude!, perchc,” from Mozart’s Figaro, which went well. Henry Leslie’s delicate vocal terzetto " 0 Memory ” was very nicely sung by Miss Parkerson, Miss Marshman and Mr Appleby. The choir boys appeared in Brinley Richards’ part song “ Let the hills resound,” in which the under parts were sung by various adult members of the choir. One of the best pieces was an arrangement for piano and harmonium of the chaste Larghetto from Beethoven’s Symphony in D, which was played with extreme care and finish by Miss Marshman and Mr Parker; and which despite its unusual length was listened to with evident attention and delight. The arrangement in the first part is particularly good, the various points of interest being well brought out; but in the latter portions it is inadequate to aptly convey a true idea of the delicate instrumentation of the original. The andante, minuetto , and allegretto from Mozart’s piano trio in B flat (No *7) were excellently played by Messrs Parker (piano), Bonnington (violin), Lean (viola.) It is a matter for congratulation that we are now occasionally treated to these hearings of the delightful chamber music of the great composers. For a change a specimen of the so-called “ Music of the Future” was given last evening in the shape of the great choral march from Richard Wagner’s “Tannhaeuser,” which certainly seemed most agreeably to accord with the feelings of those individuals of present musical generation who were at this concert—judging by the applause bestowed. It is a bright, bold piece of harmony, with melodious vocal parts, and (though in the original key too much is expected of the compass of choral voices) was sung with much spirit and verve. The concluding piece was Sir Michael Oosta’s Serenata “ The Dream.” The opening solo was sung by Mrs Palmer, who well exhibited its charming phrases, and the subsequent recitatives were interpreted by Miss Parkerson and Mr Walker, Thechoral portions comprised the chorus of Fairies (“ Make the car of a golden king cup") and the concluding serenade “ Lady arise,” the latter especially was sung with great attention and care, the variations in tempo being particularly effective. Miss Marshman played the piano part in the various choral pieces with exactness and brilliancy; and Mr R. Parker accompanied the other pieces with care and artistic feeling, particularly so in the elaborate instrumental part to Schobert’s Barcarolle, Mr Neville Barnett, F.C.O, also assisted in some portions at the harmonium.