THE EXHIBITION

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2508, 21 April 1882, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION

There was a capital attendance yesterday at the Exhibition, particularly in the evening, when the first concert was given, under the supervision of a local committee. From a musical point of view the concert was a failure, principally from the fact that the items selected were entirely unsuited to the building in which they were performed. The arrangements were far from complete, as, although there were a number of persons, presumably ushers, walking about in the orthodox British evening costume, the would-be occupants of the reserved seats found considerable difficulty in finding chairs for their respective parties, that is, within the charmed circle of the numbered goats. So far as ti • programme is concerned we camiot congratulate the committee upon their selection. The Austrian Band, it is true, played their two numbers excellently, and these were of a character fully suitable to the acoustic properties of the room. The two overtures were “ Semiramido ” and “Pique Dame,” both of which were excellently played. The programme included two piano duots which,though very nicely played were somewhat tedious. Messrs Milner and Thompson with a thoughtfulness which does them credit, had distributed through the room a number of pamphlets containing the history of the pianoforte in addition to a description of their exhibits, which enabled the audience to while away the time profitably during the duration of these duets; still the experiment of twenty minutes piano music, however well played, is at beat a doubtful one. Mr Foster sang Sahondorf’s song, “ When the Quiet Moon is beaming” fairly well, though at times he was exceedingly flat, and the glee party sang two pieces which were also decidedly flat, and almost inaudible. Miss Ada Sinclair Taylor gave Sir H. B. Bishop’s '*Echo Song,” the most noticeable feature about which was that it was accompanied on the concertina instead of the flute, and it is hardly necessary to soy that the echo produced by the former did not bear the sl'ghtast resemblance to the voice. The concertina solos by Mies L. Taylor were the most enjoyable items on the programme. These were artistically rendered, though, from the reason above spoken of, they wore not heard to the best advantage. Mr Nioholl’o sang “The Gallants of England” well but his soccers was in no way attributable to the acc >mpaniment. Miss A. 8. Taylor's solo was artistically rendered, so far as wo could hear, but the acoustic properties of the building prevented it being hoard so well as on former occasions the same lady has been board in the Oddfellows’ Hall. Herr Pusohel sang a tenor solo very nicely indeed, which was one of the redeeming features of the concert. As a whole the concert, musically speaking, cannot be regarded as a success, and in future it is to bo hoped that the local committee in whose hands this matter is left will arrange the programme with a due regard to the peculiar circumstances of the building. The Austrian Band in the afternoon played a very nice selection of music, which was duly appreciated by those present. A meeting of the committee appointed to carry out the projected flower show at the Exhibition was held last evening in the rooms of the A. and P. Association. Present—Professor Bickerton (in the ohair), Messrs G. A. Reade, F. Jones, O. Mudd,D. Nairn, J. Nairn® J. Nancarrow, W. Kerr, and J, Allen. The sub-committee reported cn'Jbe appointment of judges, and brought up the draft schedule of exhibits and prizes for the show to be held at the Exhibition buildings on Wednesday next, April 26th (the day after tho Her ticultural Society’s chrysanthemum and fruit show). The schedule includes twelve groups of classes, with silver and bronze medals and certificates of merit allotted to each group. The judging of exhibits to bo by points to a scale arranged by the committee. The schedule, with amendments, was approved and adopted, and tho secretary was requested to have it printed and ciremated as ea.-ly as possible. The judges ware empowered to award certificates to any exhibit of sufficient merit not included in the schedule, and also a limited number of bronze medals to specially meritorious exhibits of amateurs.