PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 40, 15 February 1872, Page 2

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

At the Provincial Hall, last evening, a large audience was present to hear the first concert of the new Society under this name, which was established as recently as November last. The concert, conducted by Mr. Walcot with Mrs. Scaife as pianiste, was, in all respects, a success, considering the short existence of the Society; and it is highly creditable to those concerned in the management that, out of the materials *t command, so much has been accomplished. The programme was divided into two parts — commencing with an overture — the first part being the Macbeth music of Locke, and the second a miscellaneous selection of concerted songs, duets, and solos. The overture to the "Crown Diamonds" was very fairly played by a band of about a dozen, comprising violins, flutes, cornet, tenor-horn, violoncello, and pianoforte. With a few months practice this little orchestra will be found an invaluable adjunct on these occasions. The band also played the symphonies and the accompaniments to the choruses in the Macbeth, which contributed no little to the spirit of the performance. The solos were pretty widely divided among the vocalists, and were generally well sung. The first and second verses of the air, "Let's have a dance," by soprano and tenor respectively, deserve especial notice. In the second part, the choruses we consider were the special excellence, and this may be mainly attributable to the unusually even balance of the parts, that preponderance of treble and feebleness of tenor which is common in large societies was not here to be complained of, each part had " its own hearing," and from tbe precision with which some of the well chosen madrigals were sung we are sure that no little labor and pains must have been bestowed on their practice. " Down in a Flowery Vale " was perhaps the best done. The solo and chorus from the Bohemian Girl was also highly creditable. The glees and part sougs could not of course be. expected to compare favorably with a set of voices long practised together, this, however, will be merely a matter of time, and we hope the Philharmonic Society will not ignore tbat good and peculiarly English style of song The Glee. . The ballad, by Bishop, "Be mine dear Maid " was sung with some spirit by the Conductor, who, from the arduous duties devolving on him from first to last throughout this concert, we should have expected would be well nigh exhausted, however in the duet and catch, in which he again appeared, his voice appeared to have lost none of its vigor, and he certainly rendered extraordinary service at tbis entertainment. M Home they brought her warrior .dead " introduced a young '■ lady with a '; ! clear melodious voice, exceedingly well suited to the song' chosen for her ; to an enthusiastic encore she responded with a Scottish ballad. This waa the only

soprano song* performed, in consequence of the absence of the lady who had undertaken the other named in the programme, and in lieu of which we were presented with a new version of the "Holy Friar." On the whole, it must be allowed that the Society has made a very favorable commencement, and there is every reason to believe that a prosperous future is in store for it. Before concluding our notice we may be permitted to indulge in the hope that on future occasions the Committee will be a little more judicious in the selection of a day on which to, give a concert. The evening of Ash Wednesday was scarcely the most fitting one in the year for such an entertainment.