THE ATHENÆUM CONCERT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5368, 11 June 1878, Page 3

THE ATHENÆUM CONCERT.

The crowded state of the Athenaeum Hall last night, despite the fact that the price of admission was precisely double what it was before, affords forcible illustration that the series of concerts inaugurated iu aid of the funds of that useful institution have become popular in every sense of the word. Never on any previous occasion was the seating accommodation of the hall in greater demand, and so numerous was the audience that many \wro obliged to coutent themselves with standing room. As carried out, witli some necessary alterations, the programme was unquestionably the best that has yet been presented, not merely on account of its length, but because also of Its great variety and the maimer in which all who took part in the presentation acquitted themselves. In saying this, of course every reasonable allowance is made in contrasting an amateur entertainment with one entirely composed of professional talent. As usual, the programme was opened with the overture from “ Masauiello,” by Madame Moeller, which was excellently played. Mr. Widdop followed with the song “Good night, farewell.” A young lady was introduced to the audience iu the charming ballad “ All the world’s a stage,” which she sang with a great deal of taste and expression, and well-merited the demand for a repetition, to which she responded with “Let me dream »"ain,” which was another of those balladswhioh serve so well to bring forth this lady's soft, clear voice and pathetic style to the beat advantage. Mr. Connell’s comic song “ The German Band ” was encored, and he responded with “ Dolly Vardan,” which was scarcely so successful as the one which called it forth. Bead by an amateur, Mr. Clapcott’s trial scene from the “Merchant of Venice” was fairly successful.” “ The Power of Love,” from the opera of “Satanella,” would have been capitally sung by Madame Holler were it not for the fact that it was given rather hurriedly. Mr. Raymond played the accompaniment. The duet “ I am the king of Spain,” the next item on the bill of fare, was rendered by Messrs. J. Magiunity and Hollister, the former sustaining the tenor part of Don Cmsar, and the latter that of the King. At the outset the tenor was perceptibly nervous, but Mr. Magiunity soon regained Us self-possession, and the result was that the duet was one of the best features of the evening, both gentlemen being in capital voice. The duet was encored, as it richly deserved to he, and the repetition was even better than the first rendering. In singing this duet Messrs. Magiunity and Hollister had the advantage of being admirably accompanied by Mr. Raymond on the piano. Everybody was ,on the tiptoe of expectation for the item wUch was to bring the first portion of the programme to a termination, announced as a “ Kinder Symphony.” The stage preparations betokened something more than ordinary, but when these were complete, and the performers were ready to ben-in, it was evident the whole tUug was an innocent and amusing “ draw.” Seated on chairs extending behind the footlights, from one end of the stage to the other, were a number of gentlemen with instruments of an unrecognisable variety, except the two at either end, which consisted of a lilliputian drum, beaten by a Gulliverlooking tambour, and a policeman’s rattle, which sent forth its grating sounds at times when they could have well been missed. Behind were three violinists, a player on the double viol, and Madame Holier at the, pianoforte. The performance was of a decidedly ludicrous kind, and people laughed until their sides ached, as the drum, the policeman’s rattle, the cuckoo’s note, and the warbling of so many imaginative singing birds intermingled their sounds with the strains from the instruments of tho legitimate performers in the background. The overture from “Norma” was sustained by a violin, double viol and piano, and was so well played as to be loudly applauded. The young lady deserves to be complimented on her singing of “Cleansing fires.” The comic. duet betwen another young lady and Mr. Connell was vociferously re-demanded, and so persistent was the audience in its request, that Mr. Logan, the hen. sec.,, considered it necessary to appear and ask the audience to forego any further repetitions, on account of the lateness of the hour. For this reason, it may be assumed that Mr. Whittaker’s admirable flute solo was not encored, that Mr. Hollister was not called upon to repeat his song, “ Rage, thou angry storm,” and that Madame Holler’s “II bacchio" (an exquisite performance) was allowed to pass by with loud applause only. The audience was so largo a one that it took a considerable time before the hall was cleared on the termination of the concert. We have been informed that the proceeds of the concert amounted to £4O.