DUNEDIN MUSICAL ASSOCIATION.—FIRST SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 165, 27 May 1862, Page 4

DUNEDIN MUSICAL ASSOCIATION.—FIRST SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT.

_ The first concert of the Dunedin Musical Association took place yesterday afternoon in the Athe- > nceum. Shortly after 2 o'clock the company beaan to' j arrive, aud by half-past 2, tho time appointed for the j concert to commence, the room was comfortably \ filled witTt a.very select company: Punctually to ' """ the time announced, the entertainment was 'commenced by the sinking of (iod *' Save the Queen," the new by the whole strength of the performers, Miss Harriet Gordon taking the soprano part with great effect. The company, of course, all rose and stood during the singing of the National Anthem. Midler's charming part song, " Maying," followed, ■ and was very well peifoincd, the time being exceed- .' mgly well kept and the harmonies well preserved. • The want of altos was, however, very ap- ■ parent. ■ The same criticism will apply to all the - part songs, almost without exception, bat it is to be--" hoped that before the next concert of the association, this deficiency will have been supplied. SettiiigiiHide this want, the part songs were all capitally ren- '. 'dcred, especiiilly "Bright Sword of. Liberty," and. "Integer Vita?." The glees and duets were not quite so successful, owing apparently, to alack of confidence on the part of the performers, when not supported by the consciousness of numbers. Miss Harriet Gordon's singing of " Ever of Thee," was warmly applauded. The four-part song of " Evening " which concluded the first part, was, we are disposed to think, rather a little too slow ; still, it went well. After an ; interval of ten minutes, the second part was coin- ' nicnced by the playing of tho overture to Zatnpa. .' Th,s was very unequally played, some portions being ' really capitally rendered, with all the spirit and dash so characteristic of 1-Jcrold's lively compositions, while m others, there seemed to be a something wanting which marred the effect. This we were disposed to attribute to the difficulty incident to the perform- - ance of a composition written for n full band with a very limited orchestra. In the part song " Beware," we observed-the same fault as in those in the hist part of the entertainment, it was too slow and lacked relief. Miss Gordon followed with " Casta | Diva," which she sung with more than hciusual brilliancy of execution, ami the audience insisted on an encore, when she substituted ' for the fatiguing aria the pleasing ballad, " Goad bye, sweetheart," which she sung with excellent taste ' and feeling. The fine sacred piece, •' O Sanctissima,'" was next sung in choral style, and with excellent • effect, although the soprano voice was missed by those - who were familiar with the music. After a fantasia ' on Scotch airs arranged as a violin solo, and one or ' two short pieces of concerted vocal music; the enter-' tainment concluded with the " Happier Land,'- which was sung.with really remarkable spirit by the whole" strength of the association. The performance was "< over just before five o'clock, aud the company were thus enabled to reach their homes by daylight. Taken altogether, this first performauce of the Musical Association must be looked upon as a great success. Everything went off easily and agreeably, and the faults were only those which are inseparable from all early efforts. We have more than oncealhided to the want of alto and soprano voices. Weare fully aware of the difficulty in this respect,, where only male voices are available, but we should hope that now that tho Society has made so fair a ; start, it may be found possible to induce a few ladies to' join it. In the Choial Societies of Auckland and Wellington the ladies occupy a prominent position, and, indeed, it may be said that the great snecess of those societies is nearly due to the efforts of the lady members. If a few ladies occupying a position in society, were to take up the idea in Dunedin, we are convinced that a sufficient number of young ladies with good voices could be found to give their assistance in the chorusses, even if they objected to taking any more prominent part in the concerts. '