THE CATHOLIC CONCERT.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 38, 26 April 1879, Page 2

THE CATHOLIC CONCERT.

■■-.'■ ...,.■•■, Ar ♦ ■ \ The' concert . anncunced tp take place m aidpf , St.. Patrick's Cathplic; Church duly iCame off on Thursday n.ight,'and proved to \\e, withput exception, the, greatest success; ofcthekirid. ever seen in.the town. Notwith-,.: standing that- barely '•two .weeks elapsed ain'^e 'the matter wasi. taken ip v 'hand; the, •quality of the- programme and the.amount 'of a'tteu'dance; were, infinitely, better apdgreater than oh any-former bccasip'n, a fact -which w«(; are ■sure- our local friends, -will forr give .us. f or • saying; wks;' in "a' great irieasure, owing tb the valuable" assistance given by the gentlemen' who "kindly came froni other djstyicts, Tbe. well-deserved reputation of Mr:' Baker vjas the magnet which drew crowds fronilFeilding and Karere,. and other jplaces at a 'distance, and it is a'rhatter foi 1 >: fpr congratulation thatcrieand all- expressed themselves as-amply repaid fpr the trouble. p'Kpt only did jihe :name's ,of. those., upon tbe • programme, ;giye 'an earnest bf what might have been'.expepted, but a'mbsicerrimend^ able judiciousness Was exhibited m its arrangement andlthe items, selected — duetts followed snips j the. sweetly' sentimental pre--ceded the broadly comic, and the, vpcal arid i instrumental; items wece alternately pre- i sented; .The eptei'fc'-irim^nt; opened with a .joianofqrtey duett' by Mm. 'Holt and Mr. Seiton, capitally given and lipudlv applauded, • followed by the pleasing.- ballad -. of "In Happy Moments,"*- by Mr. . Rbbirisph, ©t ;Wang"anui x wh6 kindly carii.e from that town to len*,d Hi?..aA?ista^c'el;;'"'He : p'os.e'*i^e3 a rich baritone ybiGe,- Snd '■' thb'ugh' evidbhtly suffer ;irig from.', the 'effects of s severe bold, gave the ,p..ie?e' with a precision and cbrreptn.ess which" pro'pprihperl. him Vthbro'iigK master of .music:,' .Mrs. Snelson .followed, and her entry bn I 'tb . th'e,* '_'taghH*tvas the signal* for cou^iderable applause from th9se who thus 'greetetLbprenlier return,* arid gave a proof of.her^ppphiarity'F ' We. hate heard, Mrs.. Snqls/oh . b'ft ' rajahy previous occasions, but can consci^ptibu-*ly 'say never tp such advantage as priyThursday evening. .The, piece Bele3ted^,. : " , Aften- Water," v£as '.an exceedingly 'pretty spne,.5 pne,. and Z was. rendered- m a manner* which, lef thbthiug tb" wish for*, being absolutely f**.iiltle*is with ragard'toprecisipn, due attention beips-'aiso giveri*tp both feeling and offect. 'At its conclusion she was loudlyt/applauded, nnd, m response to a. yo n iferbm s demand fpr ah encore, gave the which we mu,?t. adni.it wai rj.pt such i& success J. the musio being rendered. almost funereal 'in its*. .^pharacter,, if we. may use v expression. dii^tetdlj j _ong/pf ;";TJ*-ffe; thou 3.nis , ry Storip,".^ was7next!'^iyeri r by .Mr. c"? iri*-a 'n^mner^which>tpok .iflie aiu dicnce ."completely- by surl-Jrise, few: being prepared .for:6U.?h : .a. rich;,treat. . He; possesses >i most ppwerfrilybar.itonq < ;"rich i clear, arid ringing as a beUy unm^rcdyby 'the sligate*-t particle v huskiness, wsi.is_ enables biirii .to i*un up the schfe^frb^^Vlb^lo^OT-V'to' .'the highest note- ywitb v the greatest ease, and', perhaps, 't^-ex'Jibjt the cap'lbilijjges of range, ,1a more jmumo^ hphtij hot haVe been mivle •fih'tb itl tfte^sbrig chosen.' ' It. i| pity fyr m referring, to this item to'say that the efforts of Mr. Slacte' were, ably Buppleiherited\by Mj\ Seaton, who pre'sifled-^fthfei pinrip, " arid flayed' the m a "manner which must' have been a great Sid •to tbe,_ibger,;'' The genujne.beartvjt'pplahse whiih greeted Mr, -Slade -upon its cp:helusion wt-s alike creditabl4 v tb' singer arid audience. He is a stransler "m the district, but tfcwt his valuable, aiditffiay he lcng secured y.y. v . X'.yVyVSi- 'l'.\ ">^'' -**y\ ■'.*• <•''•>(••>';■'■«

tp Palmerstpn wa^a-wish generally expressed, and which we heartily endprse. The was then varied by the introduction- of a recitation,' tt Tbe Dream of Eugene- Aram,'? by 'Mr. John Swift. That' gentle^nan's-'appearance" -wjis the. signal fpr ' general applause, .thus showing that during'- his r,esi4erice m Balmerston he has succeeded ity making..hij|jse^ a general |ayprito. As is'wljl kn&wn,;the^ an exceedingly 4png 'andy trying pne;' yet he, succeeded- Jn' -igncljaini^g the attention of his audience !during ; tlie wbple 6f its recital, which was perfectly free from stoppage pr stammer; they Rathqtic pprtipns twng par,ticuiarly we.U.gi^ri. .As a rule,: the msertiPti pf recitatipns m programmes .is a mistake, but thei-e are occasipns wha^n-the-result. proves' the>#rary, and certain y the latter, was the verdict accprded by acclamation on Thursday nightY andpne tf™hve heartily endprse' Qf "The Dear Littlq Shamrock, - which fpllqw^d, it is ,'ab-tPrt, wn^cessary to speak, as thpse whp have heard Mr. Baker can fprm a ve.ry gopd idea.of the rich treat, arid those, who have . npt would be unable to do.-so'fcpm any description of ours Suffice it to say, he was m grand voice, and evidently entered into the spirit ef the spng con amor& fairly bringing dpwn the house with the' anplarise with which ltwas greeted. In resppnse' to an enthusiastic, enqore ha gave 'that charming ballad, ytyhich Sims Reeves has immortalised, . "Sally m cur Alley *' tb his pwn accpmpanimenfe, which,, it is'' needless to /.say, was ..also rapturously applauded.*- <N*xtffQhPW€id a pianpferte solo;'«J Galtevda Q<ieu7c?7 xriagpfflpebtly &% euted7byT-Mis? ,^*kinson;';'ahd 4rUicli;nlust certainly be classed . amongst the gemg of ;tha ? evenings W^ligh^s; of touch, and Wdityyofi) AQfiteriryhemg-- the ■' theme .qf gene'raV admiration: - - >«? SBiffls ' is a River, - a motto song, -was allotted i;o Mr.- Menzieq, and we ar.e" pleased to say that he was by far moitf successful'ihari inVa^y of his previous, attempts, particularly m the, second par It;p'f1 t;p'f the" programme, m which he gave " The Basque Muleteer," with spirit and animatipn, and-a total absence of that hesitancy and nervousness which has been the, only thing, to mar his previous efforts.; "Happy be? thy Dreath's" Teceived full jus T tice from Mrs. Marsh, although we must confess 'she did not appear to such advantage as on the, laaVoceasioii upori -which we had the pleasure; pf hearing- her, when she rendered " Kathleen Maveurneen " m splendid style. Not a few amengst the audience were • -delighted to : renew acquaintance with an eld faypriteywhp, m .the sister cpunty, •has many a time and' pffe centributod fep the delight pf pleasure-seekers, and given his kiridly. aid upon pccsions like the present. We' allude fc Mr/Batehelar, who althpngh we have heard . privately, has never befere, appeared in/public since, his settlement m Palmerstohii^ In the- first portion pf the pregrammeybe sang " -Loye'-s Bequest," m a manne^ -which plainly showed that his vpice was^-sweat and fresh as ever ; while,, m the national sbrig of "The Red-Cross' Banner x \ he threw an ainpunt pf fire and spirit into, his i^ndering that fairly carried away bis audience 'with patriptic enthusiasm 1-Ir.yPirarii, as usual, made a tremendpus hit m his- character spng pf " Mrs. / McSpriey's. Twins," his make-up and byplay being, immense. As might have been ' expected, lie, was applauded to the echp by " the gpd,s,'' m whioh alsp the mere st : aid portion of . the audience were compelled. I ■ 'to-jbiny ;"A Scandinavian quartette brought the first pbrtjipri'pf the. programme to a close,, and although, m response to a well-. 'i merited,, encore, they gave a secpnd, the. generalise!} rig. was that the items were top , shprt,' the blending pf the four, voices being, j executs.ed'in^a'finished manner, and evincing censitleS»ai^le,pwic.ioe and -.raining. After a . . brief 4 interval, '^iss Atk insen again took her j 7- seat at*the piano, arid dashed pfE into awildy dance, entitied' "The Fairy Queen Galep," which created a feeling amongst the audience as if each one wpuld iike tp aeize? his 'neighhprtand whisk round m the, " nxaiy."Indeed pur pwn fears pf that result were considerably heightened by npticing what we took to he preparations' for our capture, .by.anvagedjfemate party by .pur side. Hpweverj as the/music ceased, curhppe: of-sajfety one« mpre beat-.high. The touching and' pkintiv^'Sallad,' " The BJiri.?!. Girl to' her i Kajp " was^rendered m excellent style, the : pathetic .frond's. and(music being given with .judgmenijfe.elingj and effect. Mr, Rcbin-- ' spn wa&'fey-far mipre, siiccepsful iriliis seccnd song, 'VThe -Friends, ef my Jouth," than, •.if the first pprtipri, of : fehe, programme, bbu s unfertun.ately(.ythe.y:.hall: wiM 1 . wretchedly lighted, "and as it was hrippftsible to read i the musiij, he was compelled to leave tbe^ stage wi^id tit singing th.c. v last verse. This was a great pity; as his vpice was m far better trim,""md.the. piece: was being highly enjpyed, a fact that was plainly apparent by the hearty 'manne\*.:in. which he was ap; plauded hefere/I*e.irin£ . That the light was totally inadequate 'was. alse proven bythe diffioulty exDeriehced^F^.Mr. Batchelar m fellpwing the music, .'a drawback wliich is mpst trying' : to thpse' who endeavor to accurately follow the copy.before thorn. We are,' sure that m expressing pur regret tp Mr. Rpbinsehi we iare- only echoingj the wishes'o'f' il^'thpse who duly* apprecia>ef his kindness; ih -iebjrinng'-flo far; tp, give his services. A'solo on the clarionet was th>riext. portion, Mir* Newcpme acqpitting himself m a -masterly manner; followed byTBJS gem of the, evening — "Tha Death of Nelson." "y?e'.hnve heard M>. leaker hQndreds of times. wii*hin the pasf sixteen years, but on no occasion has he equalled his effort of Thursday night. It was grand, truly gfa.rid r r and from Ihe plaintive opening repitative to ' the .'cla-ing/'Jiae,, every accent seemed- to he drunk m- by his breathless audience. As a musicat*..d%plo;yitf , ;was simply faultless^*., whilst a?, a: piece of descriptive painting- It -could n&Wsjjirpassed', ;the^inanly outbursts of patriotis^n. ueing deliveredin a manner nvh-ichmade-'eSoh-neai't^ swells with emotion and pridfe, wliile the death" pf the hereic •sailor was mourned .with a, .plaintive cadenza which appealed to the feelings. Napbleon once s.aidi "G'iye me leave tp. write the' spngs of a popple and X care npt whp may make thel* laws," 7 an.d perspn, after, hearing •'The Death af "Nelspn " sung as.i^was on Th ( ntsday nigh.^ could weil understand the magic, and powerful influence which' the grei-F«>hlier'so. Tp%h respected. Aft^r the hoisterous applause liad. subsided,. Mr. . Baker appealed,, and, m the*most irresistible manned sflng " Pat't McCann," accprapanyiug himself on t tie. piano. As a musical (•pnippsrtipn 1 it if scarcely lip tp " The Death -of 'N^isprii-ybut ''it thd'apprpbatipn. evinced be any test of satisfaetieri; it" wJ-s v no't'withpulCitsiadirii^rs, afact which is attributable, toJJhe.excessive espttglerik ■ pf Mr. Buker's by-'phijy, hisyrd.ntPrtiori-b.fj: the .-right optio as he. .liepeat'ed-^lie-Jwerds "tPrthe; girls lam warniug,? heing stichinsonly Ipng pijartice aridiihis riatign^lit-yjcould^ After, "the 'audience "' had reisumed -their gravity, -WEr?- Rp^ fc 8^ n S' nan R dmirablc m^fif^^ijli(i'B,Gebd^ Nighf,V,this .pleas^ inn* little sppg run ling . ampng th« very best emjrt.*' pf that lady. v Slid was ;in expellent vctfoe, '.'andysang^th ; an easd^ y<»t graceful dignit^V^'h'i^b considerably.' tieighteiied the merit, of the renderiri"^' The, Dutch cotnio 80^g..hy:.^%#lCoi*gan;^^w^^ excellent specimen of .. 7istili, class . of yocalisirC and.;bot[i'in^ liis self-jp'ossession and natural n\anrierinthe* u.pokeri .poriiori he plainly,* showjed^ that it was not his first -appearance m pHiblie. We' regrot(!we*caririt»t- compliment DrV'MaclaehV hrn iipbn'''his. delivery of Tennyson's,, niastei*piece^tThe Charsre'of the Light Brigade," which certainly did. not db justice to the rey ; .^y^'-vC^.-y; '■■- '« x> «■■ '■-'■• ' iv, 'A ■

oiter's abilities. Dr. Maelachlan is ho mean elouutienist, bjit tho pp'em ip-- question was certainly giv^j jf' not wi'heut study, at least without .are,' or the. slightest attention to the rules of elocution, '^.fter Mr. Slade had given a proof 'of his abiljtes, both iv f The Tar's Firewall )' and f'The Old Tcine: raire/' Nfr. I?iraiii 'dent the. audience hqmg m tljprough 'good ,V_*un)Pr by bisejQelleqt character' songs .-'"of v . ! Naughty, ifaugbty," arid " Beautiful Girls," the JaJ-ter of Which' fairly convulsed th'qae present, anq gaVe a pp'werful index of Jus versatility. - Npt withstanding the ve.ry' groat addition made to the programme, by the numerous encores, the entertainment was over at eleven o'clock, thus closing what has been by far the best atte.qde4 and, ..ably' conducted. Qpncflrteve^given jn Palmerston.