THE KENNEDY COMPANY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1373, 13 March 1915, Page 3

THE KENNEDY COMPANY.

The Kennedy Company made a welcome appearance here last evening, when they gave a con cert in the Coronation Hall. It is a matter for some regret thar music lovers did not bestow more patronage on the company than was the case, for the merits of the programme deserved a full house. There are six excellent performers in the combination, and the Kennedys boys themselves arc as versatile as they are clever, a fact that ma'y be judged from the fact that these three play no fewer than eight instruments between them, Mr Laurie Kennedy is a cornet player of considerable ability, but it is in his ’cello playing that he excels, producing a rich fail tone and showing fine technique. His ’cello playing of “The Broken Melody” last evening was, in particular, a special treat. Mr Keith Kennedy, the violinist of the party, is also a thorough master o! the instrument, which he manipulates with admirable skill and taste. Paganini’s “Witches’ Dance” was his best effort, some wonderful effects being produced. Mr Lance Kennedy chiefly plays the viola in the concerted numbers, but it is as a flautist that he is heard to most advantage. Miss Dorothy Grace, the soprano of the company, has a clear fresh voice of delightful quality as well as a daintypreseuce that captures her audience from the outset, while the contralto, Miss Rose Fitzgerald, possesses a voice which, in the lower register especially, is rich, full and' true. Finally, the accompanist, Madame Bertha Kennedy, on whom the bulk ot the evening’s work falls, is the right person is the right place at the piano, her accompanying being most sympathetic and artistic. It would be hard to pick out any of last night’s items for special prominence, as each number was of unvarying excellence, but, in addition to those mentioned above, it might be said that the concerted work, especially Wagner’s “Spinning Chorus” ami Sullivan’s “Lost Chord,” were most delightful, while Miss Fitzgerald's solo, “My Aiu bolk,”aud Miss Grace’s “The Cows are in the Clover,” were enthusiastically received. Though the audience, as already stated, was less than it should have been, it was throughout thoroughly appreciative of the fine performance submitted, and should*the company again visit Foxtou its reappearance will be pleasurably anticipated.