THE CONCERT AT PAI^MERSTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 47, 6 February 1880, Page 2

THE CONCERT AT PALMERSTON.

The Hibernian Concept at Palmerston on Wednesday evening must be pronounced in every wajp a most unqualified success. Notwithstanding the fact that the pricesfof admission were fixed at the veiyj high rates of five shillings and three! shillings, the Public Hall was literally packed with an audience in which Palmerston faces predominated, [but in which were well represented [Foxton, Feilding, and the country 'district immediately around the JBojrough. Every provision had been made to secure a successful concert. Tickets had been freely put in circulation, the best available talent had been secured, and a large number^ of persons had been interested in the movement. Success was therefor* both deserved and obtained. On entering the building the attention was naturally attracted by the dec nations, which were neat and taste fully arranged.; Festoons of flags Imn; » over the bddy : of the Hall, whilst at the southern end were several hanusorne pieces of work. On a large fctretch of pink background, "CeadelMille Failthe" was worked in white, kecompaniedby the national harp land shamrock. Several other devicejs adorned that part of the building, (whilst a : plentiful supply of flowers tolaced in various positions on the stagi heightened the effect considerably. iWe understand thai Mrs Snelson prepared most of the decorations, and succeeded admirably in her self-impised task. The concert, from la musical, point of view, was successful throughout. Excepting the omisifeion ofi Mr Batchelor's songs, owina to the indisposition of that gentlleman, the programme was strictly jadhered to. Instrumental music did not occupy a very prominent plaifce, being represented by two overtures and a clarionet solo. The overture to the first part consisted of ffrish selections, embracing a number of well-known airs, played by Missj Young and one of her pupils, Matter Hayns, the latter taking the 1 jading part, and both performers i .cquitting themselves excellently. The overture to the second part was i gaeat'treat, and was one of the finest piecea-of instrumentation we have heard in tne district. It comprised a number of selections from " Obei on," played as a duet by Misses Atk nson and .: Skerman, and was brill antly performed with absolute prec ision and great taste. Mr Nowcoh be, who played "The heart bowed down" on the clarionet, with pian* accompaniment by Miss Young, brjought down the house by his. manipulation of the instrument, of whfich he was evidently a master! and a pronounced encore was the result,

the last movement J^ e "^j^ttMrijQiM|k. By far the largb^i^jg||P|j^TOemßTL on the progran2p| compi£i3edri»opgjs7 s ) jfc&d. /w 16 appeared, %owl|jto, TO«a llcffof spii'it in the smgiH» wliiiii may, we believe, be a^coii^^Ps^ for by the foct that the shigers jftigp new to the building, it being thQ first occasion on wkich a concert had been held in the Public Hall; besides which is the fact that the acoustic properties of the building are of a veiy poor character, whilst the piano _was.uo.t in y.eiy--g£DjdJiun£. — These — causes no doubt militated against the soloists, who nevertheless, in spite / of the difficulties mentioned, ac - __ quitted' themselTerexeellentty. Mr*~~ Slade contributed " Eily Mavourneen," and " The Cqlleu.Bawn,"the fp/mer being given with|greatie6ling^.>. his light 'baritone voice suiSbE^^JL^ piece. Misa H; ] Young, I^l© w 33ie^ - • possessor a'f a sweet contralto voice, gave " Steer my bark " and "Look- • ing back" in very. good style, ni&ny {' of her low notes being exceedingly' rich. The gems of the evening, ... however, fell to the lot of a representative of the sterner sex, Mr; W. P.: Baker, a name well known throughout the Colonies. That gentleman was in magnificent voice,, an,d sang . in his splendidly-ringing tenor, with - intense feeling, " Green are thy. hills," accompanying hiniself oil the piano. A terrific encore was there-, suit, in response to which Mr Baker gave with a rich brogne, and intense humour, " The Irish Jaunting Gar," which fairly convulsed the audience, n who almost insisted on. a second encore. In the second part Mr Baker gave "The Dear Little Shamrock/?-, and for the c^co/r repeated the last vr rse,muoh to the disappointment of the audience, who evidently expected another song. . Mrs \Vot*on sang with appreciation "Kitty Tyrrel," thongh we enjoyed her voice more in the duct with Mr Watson, «• The Sailor Sighs,'' lier low notes in the lstlep- piece - being very full end rich. . Mrs. Keeling ;fr< ;- to he congratulated on hor success in " Per? ■ mot &9thore," whilst Mrs Hoe gained welldeserved pruise for her of " The, . , Minstrel Boy." ' Mrs Marth po9fl&£es*' a 9\veet soprano voice, which was heard to advantage in " The Ha r p that once through Tara's Halls." Mis 3 Young, who evidently has her voice under perfect control, sang with greafc_£3rptq^^>-i'J]he Irish Emigrant," and being^^i'wi repeated" the iaatr~ verse. The same -Jby was warmly ap« plauded for her rendition of "Molly Asthore." Mrs Snelson effectively rendered "The Four-leaved Shamrock" despite a severe cold under which she appeared to be i labouring, her high notes being remarkably pure and sweet, whilst Mrs' Holt was rery successful in " Erin, the tear and the smile " Mr Pirani, whose forte is in. oonjic songs, was scarcely so successful as usual having essayed "Eileen Alannah," the high notes in which appeared to b<s beyond the < tange of his voice. The echo chorus, h<fcever, supported him admirably, and grea^hk contributed to the success of the pi^l^B There were three duets —•• The SailoPpß Sighs " (by Xv and Mrs Watson), " Money Matters" (a comic duet, capitally rendered by Mr and Mrs Snelson), and " Tha Moon has raised her lamp " (by Messrs Baker and Slade). In the latter piece Mr Slade waa evidently o « erweighted, his voice being of too light a character to act as a " foil " to the clear, ringing tones of the tenor. The item, however, was much enjoyed. One of the gems of the evening, however, was what was described in the programme as a " double quartette " (unaccompanied) , sung by Mrs Keeling andjjliss Tbung (soprano),' Mrs Watson and 3ltft "fi'.-Xoung (uJto), Mr Watson (4riMJs,T&fcJskd&. (bass) — " Here in cool grot" This was magnificently sung, the forte and pianissimo passages being perfectly marked. \Ve give the singers high prajse for this piece.- • We . must not omit to mention that the Scandinavian glee club sang a translation of the " Last Rose of ' Summer ,' also r one of their national airs, at the close of the programme. Miss Young and Mrs Holt played the majority of tne accompaniments, and acquitted themselves admirably. Before closing our notice of the concert, •' we desire to offer our heartiest' congratulations to Mr Oungan, who was the promoter-. . of it, and upon whom the burden of the work of organisation fell. He succeeded In ' communicating his Own patriotic and charitable enthusiasm to the people of that part of the district in which bo dwells, and we believe the result will be an addition of at least £30 to the Irish famine fund.