Musical

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 18, 29 July 1893, Page 9

Musical

CITY BAND CONCERT.

It must have been very gratifying to the Committee of this band to find such a very large audience assembled at the theatre on Thursday evening on the occasion of their concert and drawing for prizes in the art union. A good rendering of the selection “ Wagner,” by the Garrison Band, under Lieutenant Siddall, was the initial of the concert. Of the vocalists, Miss Lithgow scored a success with Molloy’s “Home, Dearie, Home.” This lady’s voice, although rather weak for so large a building, is notwithstanding very sweet and pure, and her enunciation very good, In response to the deserved applause she simply bowed her acknowledgments. A duet, the well-known but always acceptable “ Larboard Watch,” was very carefully sung by Messrs Wright and Ovenden. It is rather a pity that Mr Wright, who has a very nice baritone voice, should be so careless of intonation in one particular bar of this duet. Later on Mr Ovenden sang “ Marguerite ” very nicely indeed, and certainly deserved better treatment at the hands of his audience than he received. Stanford’s Father O’Flynn made famous by being sung by the eminent baritone Santley, fell a trifle flat in the hands of Mr Wright. The dry humour of the words of this song seemed hardly to fit in with his particular style ; nevertheless his effort was a very good one, and was evidently much appreciated. In singing “ The Flying Dutchman ” Mr Geo. Searle was evidently quite at home. .Miss Geddes, without whose voice no concert here is complete, essayed the ever-welcome “ Kathleeen Mavourneen.” Although evidently a little nervous, her vocalising as usual charmed her audience. One of the best vocal numbers given was Jude’s fine bass song, “ The Mighty Deep,” which in the capable hands of Mr Taylor received full justice. Mr Mohr’s rendition of Auld Lang Syne —a cornet solo arranged by himself —was without doubt one of the gems of the evening. His masterly treatment of the varied theme, needless to say, received, the inevitable encore. He further, delighted his audience with a short arrangement of the theme “Marlborough.” Mr D. Blue in his violin solo—a selection from Flotow’s “Martha*’—was hardly up to his usual form ; still his solo was very much appreciated. A capitally played selection, A Bouquet of Beauties,” by the City Band, under their talented conductor, Mr Mohr, terminated a first-rate programme. Miss Kirwan ably officiated as accompanyist. The drawing of the art union was conducted under the supervision o his Worship the mayor (Mr D. McFarlane) and a committee selected by the audience, consisting of Messrs Cunningham, Goldie, Ferguson and Watt.