CHORAL SOCIETY’S CONCERT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 415, 30 September 1876, Page 2

CHORAL SOCIETY’S CONCERT.

If the Gisborne Choral Society intended the performance on Thursday evening last as a *’ feeler,” and a sample of what it promises for the future, the management have every cause for congratulation on the success so far achieved. It may be rather much to say it was the best concert ever given in Gisborne, but it decidedly ranks prominently in that class. The programme was of average length but a trying one, especially so in the concerted pieces, of which there were no less than nine. The songs were all satisfactorily rendered. Mr East sang the “ Stag Hunt” well, and Captain Chrisp’s song “ The good-bye at the door ” received a hearty encore, which he responded to by singing the last verse again. The Heart bow’d down ” also by that gentleman, did not succeed so well, although very well sang. Mr Dufaur’s “ Muleteer," sang with a cor. eet defiant jauntiness, was redemanded, but the singer was happier in the “ Homes of my Fatherland,” which he rendered in capital style. The absence of duetts was a conspicuous feature in the programme. By the way, our hurry has led us into an error, and we shall be accused of want of gallantry to the ladies ; but they shall not suffer. In the first part there were four glees, “The Joy sof Spring,” The Young May Moon,” “ Hymen’s Torch,” and the ever delightful “ Blow Gentle Gales,” all of which, excepting a little shakiness in the first, were given very well indeed. The exquisite solo in the last was taken by Mrs Berry, whose clear intonation we have never heard with better effect. The two young ladies marred the chorus parts a trifle, but not to an inexcusable extent, although it is a pity that; in producing such gems as Bishop’s are known to be, voices are not selected of equal calibre ; probably, however, the conductor did his best, and we do not desire to be captious. In the second part, after a ten minutes’ interval, there was a decided improvement in nerve power ; the glees “ See the Moonlight Beam,” and “ O Balmy Night,” were rendered with most pleasing effect, especially the latter, the different parts standing out in prominent relief. This was the only concerted piece encored, and deservedly so. Mrs Hood sang very prettily “ There is no home like my own,” but on account of a slight tremulousness, the lady did not do herself the justice that her merits entitle her to. The audience evidently saw this and requested an encore, which was graciously acceded to with.great improvement. Mr Browne presided at the piano on those occasions when an accompaniment was required, but, as a rule, he wielded his arm (baton we were .going to say) in front of the stage, and, without any extraneous aid, kept his company—of whom there were some 25 ladies and gentlemen—well together. Mr Browne deserves great credit for the state of efficiency to which he has brought the Society, over which he presides with much urbanity and consideration for the shortcomings of some of the singers. Mrs Brooke Taylor played an instrumental piece, in the second part togive the fair warblers a little rest, and suggested the desirability of limiting the strain on the vocals by the introduction of wind and string instruments, the material for which, we believe, is abundant in the community.