CHORAL SOCIETY’S CONCERT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 314, 9 October 1875, Page 2

CHORAL SOCIETY’S CONCERT.

The Masonic Hall was well attended on Wednesday evening last on the occasion of a concert being given, chiefly by., the members of the old “ Musical ” Society, who have, since their last performance, changed its title to that of “ Choral.” The programme was an attractive one, containing as it did selections of great taste and excellence,-the execution of which, by the several vocalists and performers, was well received and ,rewarded by encores, and long-continued plaudits. So long a tirqe has elapsed since the members of this Society met in public, that but little improvement is .perceptible, except in the instrumental and concerted pieces, most of which were rendered on Wednesday-ovening Avith good effect, and gave evidence of careful practice; but the Company, taken individually, retain so much of their “amateur” character, fhatw;e shall refrain from criticism on their last performance, except in general terms. “ Where all did to particularize would be invidious,” is now an accepted Conventionalism of the pfess for smoothing down' defects which, while noticeable, need not be criticised. To particularize, individually, in ,tljq present instance would be an unpleasant, if not not an idvidious task, because, while we do not wish to wound-thq susceptibilities of any, we feel-we cannot, in justice to the meritorious; pander to the desire—universally conspicuous in critiques on amateur performances—to give kudos aIL round, to the good, bad, and indifferent alike. ■ '

The course we have, adopted leaves us free to remark without either offensiveness or prejudice, that the errors and shortcomings, such as .they were, were rather the result — in most cases —of accident than want of ability to do better; we are perfectly cognisant of the fact that the soloists and duettists, who did not do justice to their talents, can sing much better than they did on Wednesday bvening ; and this brings us to observe on the cause, which is silnply an insufficient acquaintance with singing in public. We have ladies and gentlemen amongst us to hear whom, sing in private life is a great Social treat l , but- who, nevertheless, lose confidence, if not nerve, when facing an audience ; this however, with ihast persons, is restored as the novelty of their position passes away. The circumstance, from being exceptional; is accompanied by a belief that something extraordinarily good is expected from singers, and their very desire to do justice to themselves, and not disappoint that expectation, often proves fatal to success. It is difficult to disconnect the occasion from the expectation, and the best way to get out of the difficulty is to make the occasions less seldom, in which amateurs are put to the test of public observation. Taken as a whole, the programme was very fairly rendered, the audience generously passing over faulty parts with good humor, and liberally bestowing their favors upon the more excellent. But as a concert it was not up to the mark of many of its predecessors. There were defeats in selection as well as rendering. A Society that is presumed to cultivate the public taste gives tooqtnuch latitude in permitting such wide extremes to meet as are comprehended in -the exquisite Italian duet “ Sul Campo Della Gloria;” on the one hand, and a comic song, (the liberties introduced into which, by coarse, personal, allusions to the names of several well-known local residents, condemned it as more fit for a “ free and easy ” than for a private institution) on the other. To say theleastof it the.“liberty ”to which we allude was in questionable taste, and, although the intention of the singer was wejl known to some of the members, beforehand, we entirely exonerate the conductor from any complicity in what cannot but be considered as a very offensive proceeding, and one which, it is to be hoped will not occur again. Barring a few contretemps in the management, and unnecessary parade of stage arrangements before the audience, everything passed off well and smoothly, and, altogether a most agreeable evening was spent. Mesdames Taylor, Bach, and Berry presided alternately at the piano, during the evening, and added effectively to the pleasure of the entertainment. , - We are glad to learn that the sum of £l5 has been added to the Society’s funds.