THE GRAND SACRED CONCERT.

Southland Times, Issue 707, 9 August 1867, Page 2

THE GRAND SACRED CONCERT.

*♦ : — The attractions offered by "Wednesday evening's programme were sufficient to induce a large number of people to face the- snowstorm which was raging, and the Theatre both above and below, was well filled. The programme included two of Handel's greatest choruses from the " Messiah," two quartettes and trio } from Mendlessohn's "Elijah," and several solos which were divided among Madame Carandini and her daughters, Mr Sherwin, and the bass and tenor singers of the Philharmonic Society, Messrs J. F. Dean, and C. E. Marten. About twenty members of the society assisted in the choruses, and the effect produced surpassed anything of the kind yet heard in Invercargill. The opening chorus " And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed," was rendered with great steadiness and precision, under the able leadership of Mr Kingsland, and it is the more creditable to the performers, as the shortness of the notice precluded the possibility of more than one rehearsal. Mr Sherwin next sang the beautiful tenor air in " Elijah," most abmirably ; he was in better voice than we have yet heard him, and did full justice to Mendelssohn's music. The following quartette orchorole"Castthyburdenupon the Lord," was also from " Elijah;" it was performed by the Misses Carandini and Messrs Marten and Dean, and was loudly applauded. Then came Handel's finest suprano air, " I know that my Redeemer Liveth " given with, surpassing beauty of expression by Miss Eosina. The grand bass recitative air, (also from the " Messiah ") " For behold Darkness shall cover the Earth " was well sung by the Philharmonic basso, Mr Dean, and warmly applauded. The air from " Elijah " " 0 Eest in the Lord" the loveliest contralto song ever written, rendered exquisitely by Miss Fanny, fairly took the house by storm, and the audience insisted on an encore, Equally meritorious was the execution of the quartette " 0 come everyone that thirsteth " (" Elijah ") and Madame Carandini created a furore by her splendid singing of " Angels ever Bright and Fair ;" she was compelled to .repeat it. Then followed Handel's greatest tenor aria, the famous " Total Eclipse " (in which Samson laments his loss of sight) sung with great applause by Mr Marten. Next came the glorious trio from " Elijah " " Lift thine eyes " supposed to be sung by three Angels, and we cannot help saying that the celestial voices were well represented by Madame Carandini and her daughters, who performed this charming moreeau to perfection, and were forced to repeat to satisfy the enthusiasm of their hearers. The sacred portion closed with the mighty " Hallelujah " chorus from the " Messiah." This like the other chorus, was most efiiciently given. The difficulties of time in the figures were thoroughly surmounted in each case. As before, Mr Eingsland codducted with his usual skill, and Mr Eolfe ably accompanied on the harmonium. The second part of the concert counted of old secular favorites, rendered with the skill and expressi n we have become accustomed in our visitors. We must especially commend Mr Sherwin's singing of Braham's famous song " The Death of Nelson," which received a warm encore. Madame Carandini and the young ladies acquitted themselves with their usual ability, and were encored in everything. The concert ended with the National Anthem.