MR. ANGELO FORREST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5747, 30 August 1879, Page 2

MR. ANGELO FORREST.

A concert took place at the Athenreum Hall last evening, which was given by, and on behalf of, Mr. Angelo Forrest, who arrived lately from England, where he had been engaged to come to Wellington to take the position of organist of St. Peter’s Church. Since his arrival Mr. Forrest has privately given proofs to different leaders of local musical society of the status he occupies in his profession ; and acting, we believe, on the suggestions of many of his admirers, he determined to introduce himself to the musical public of Wellington by means of a grand concert. The performance was arranged to be given last evening at the Athemeum, and from the fact that tickets to nearly the building’s full capacity had been disposed of beforehand, and that various rumors were prevalent as to the class of music to be expected, a greater amount of interest was aroused than a concert is usually apt to evoke. We need not refer to the minor items in the programme of last night : they were of the usual order—vocal pieces, sung by well-known local amateurs, aud several glees, Ac., by fit. Peter's choir. These were all agreeably rendered, and were invariably well received—some, indeed, being encored. The chief interest centered in Mr. Forrest’s pianoforte solos, and it was manifest that it was the expectation of hearing these performances that had attracted the great majority of the audience. The solos were four in number, the first being Thalberg a well-known arrangement of “ Heme, sweet home,” a concerto by Beethoven (this ivith orchestral accompaniment), a caprice by Joachim Raff, aud Dohler’s “ViviTu.” We may confidently assert that until the firstnamed was played our musical public had but little idea of the acquisition it has lately made in having Mr. Forre-t coming to reside amongst us. MuForrest’s performances on the pianoforte were of such a high order that we regret having neither the time nor space to do justice to his talents and abilities by an exhaustive, and, in some degree, technical criticism of his playing. But as to his performances of last m' CT ht, criticism may be said to be in a sense unnecessary, as a glance round the building served to showthat uineoutof ten of those whom it would immediately interest were present, and could judge for themselves. We can only say, briefly, that Mr. Forrest seemed to take bis hearers by storm by his brilliant instrumentation. Many, indeed, seemed scarcely able to realise the fact that a pianist of the first order, who has hitherto been regarded as a species of musical meteor, was actually a permanent resident of the city. It may safely be surmised that very few colonial towns of the standing of Wellington has the fortune to possess a pianist of the rank to which Mr. Forrest belongs.—At the conclusion of the concert, Mr. Forrest took occasion to thank the audience for their patronage, and for the opportunity of making their acquaintance, and also the ladies and gentlemen who had assisted him. It may be added that Mr. Forrest’s genial aud agreeable bearing served, independently of his musical powers, to instal him high in the favor

of his audience.—We cannot conclude better than by expressing a hope that, now the city has acquired two eminent masters of the profession, musical matters in Wellington will assume a still better aspect than they have been wont to bear, ami that by the efforts of these gentlemen a general appreciation of high class music will rapidly develope itself, so that when again we are favored by the visits of artists who have obtained the front rank in different branches of their art, they may be received with the welcome which their merit claims.