HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 243, 14 October 1870, Page 2

HARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The concert of last night, without being an eutire success, was, on the whole, very creditable to the Society. The concerted pieces were carefully executed and had evidently been well studied ; there was, however, a want of that spiiit which can only be acquired by constant practice. The great kindness of Mr. Heller iv playing two of his brilliant pieces, of course, helped the concert through immensely. Of this gentleman's playing on that occasion ifc is impossible to epeak too highly ; it combined the mosL brilliaut rapidity of execution with gentleness, taste, aud pathos, a combination which is but very rarely met with. The concert commenced with the May Day, the beauties of which are, as ifc were, latent, aud require to be brought out by exquisite taste, and careful attention to lights and shadows, in fact, by the aid of an eutire sympathy ou the part of the performers with the spirit of the composition. We are bound to admit that there was something wanting, aud thafc the performance never rose above mediocrity. Tho lady who took the leading soprano part did so with much taste, and entire truthfulness, but we hope to be pardoned for saying thafc a more powerful voice is required to do justice to thafc very trying part.

Next to Mr. Heller's playing, the most satisfactory thing in point of artistic rendering was Kuckeu's Slumber Soiig, which brought the house down, and was followed as au encore by an elegant little French Canzonette, the name of which is not known to us. Both Avere sung in a style which afc once showed that the singer had received a thorough musical education. As for the Welsh melody, it was impossible for a set of performers to make anything of that; ifc resembled some of the new fashioned hymns of the period. Nor do we think much of Mori's " Who shall be fairest," which was performed in very excellent time, and by some very fair voices with as much feeling as the thing deserved. But now again to the pleasant task of praising. Tho Glee c 'The Evening Star " was almost perfect, Good iv itself, rendered carefully and tenderly, and the words well-enunciated, ifc left little to be desired. The duett which followed, « 0 ! Mays't Thou Dream of Me," was rapturously encored aud well deserved the honor. Of the two ladies who sang, it is difficult to say which has the most beautiful voice; the one, a clear, fresh soprano, and the other a rare contralto, both are thoroughly rich voices which will stand any amount of practice and improve by it. The execution was good and spirited, and if, as the ladies become more accustomed to concert singing, they should think fit to dwell a little longer on the ad libitum passages which they may safely do without fear of wearying the most fastidious ear, they will give even greater pleasure than they bestowed ou us last eveniug. The " Village Blacksmith," sung in a rich, manly baritone and with much feeling, gave great satisfaction. The j gentleman who sang it has a voice and a musical taste which deserve, and would amply repay, careful study and practice. Might we suggest that the last verse but one was perhaps a thought hurried, and the last verse a little too slow. The change from the exquisite pathos of the words of the former to the cheerful, hopeful spirit of the latter should be marked by a rather abrupt change of time; at least such is our opinion which, however, we give with all humility, entirely admitting that the song gave us great pleasure.

As to the waltzes and quadrilles, they were very well played, aud greatly appreciated, and, no doubt, proved very tantalising to the dancing part of the audience.

We feel that our duty would not be done were we to omit to mention with the highest praise the very excellent manner in which the accompaniments to the songs were played. Every singer knows a good accompaniment is an immense assistance, in fact, is almost half the battle. The lady who played the accompaniments did so in a manner which loft nothing to be desired, and to which we are sure that the vocalists feel thafc much of their success was due.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE SYMPOSIUM.

To the Editor of tjie Nelson Evening Mail

Sir — Allow mo to succour your correspondent " Cryptograph," who from not beiug posted-up as to what is going on, has been mystified by my letter. He iz nofc advanced iv the art of reading "between the lines," aud was surely a wee bit dull nofc to flush the joke which others perceived without difficulty under the flimsey. The jeu d'esjyiit rose out of my using a goose-quill to whip up a dish of trifle for my fellow Symposifces besides their chop, which was already sure. As for the advertisement, in " 9.30 sharp," the figures denote the hour of supper not of lunch, and the word has reference to punctuality not, as "Cryptograph" imagines, to our esteemed R. M. The mistake may be readily condoned, however, for in fact thafc gentleman and punctuality are never disjoined. I am, &c, Abracadabra. Nelson, October 14.