MADAME CARANDINTS CONCERT.

Southland Times, Issue 1001, 10 August 1868, Page 2

MADAME CARANDINTS CONCERT.

The programme on Thursday contained perhaps the largest amount of fine music yet given in Invercargill. The first part was entirely sacred, and commenced with the chorus 'And the glory of the Lord' from the * Messiah ' veryjweU rendered by the Carana^nrcompanyT^wTth the assistance of a number of lady and gentlemen amateurs. Miss Rosina than sang ' With Ver lure Clad ' (• Creation ') most beautifully. We have never heard her in anything which suited her voice and style so well as this great air of Haydn's. Mr Shersvln followed with the tenor air from the same oratorio c ln Native Worth' and did it admirably. Winter's delicious trio ' Jesu mi' was given with the utmost taste and delicacy of execution, particularly in the contrasts of light and shade. Madame Carandini greatly surpassed even her last year's performance of Handel's famous ' Angels ever Bright and Fair,' although on that occasion she sang it superbly ; some of her pianissimo effects were wonderful. In describing Miss Fanny's ' O rest in the Lord' ('Elijah') as one of the most melodious airs ever composed, given to perfection by one of the most charming contralto voices ever heard, we only do her justice. The tenor air *H?s salvation is nigh, from Professor Sterndale Bennett's new oratorio, was to have been sung by an amateur, Mr C. E. Marten, but as he was suffering from a severe cold he was unable to attempt it, and the next piece was proceeded with — the lovely duet from Mendelssolin's * Lobgesang,' to which full justice was dona by the Misses Carandini. Miss Koeina 'Considered the Lilies' delightfully. The 'jjTrio of Angels,' from 'Elijah,' ' Lift thine Eyes,' was appropriately parsonated, and gloriously sung by Madame Carandini and her daughters. The sublime ' Halleujah' chorus was executed with a force and ' crispness' rarely heard, except in large and well trained choirs, and very creditable to our small body of amateurs. The secular part opened with the grand duet, ' Sulla Tomba,' from Donizetti's ' Lucia di Lammermoor,' which showed to the utmost advantage the vocal and dramatic powers of Madame Carandini and Mr Sherwin, who played Lucia and Edgardo respectively. Miss Fanny's 'Alas those Chimes,' was exquisite, so was her encore song, 'The Murmur of the Shell.' Miss Bosina in Maynard's 'O say once More,' and Madame Carandini in ' Molly Asthore,' and 'Annie Laurie,' sang splendidly. Mr Sherwin rang his ' Bells ' most skilfully, and the Misses Carandini enchanted everyone with ' Two Merry Gipsies ' (Macfarren) and still more so in ' Beware ! Trust her not,' when the effect of the reiterated caution wav sadly nullified by the bewitching glances of the singers.' We fear very few profited by the considerate advice. The National Anthem by the whole company, including some new verses by the Bishop of Nelson, bearing reference to the attempted assassination of Prince Alfred, terminated the concert. In bidding a reluctant farewell fo.: the present to our accomplished visitors, we must express our regret that owing principally to the inclemency of the weather, their success fi lancially has not

been so great as might have been expected, but we hope to see them again some day under, more propitious (circumstances and we cordially wish them all possible good fortune in the future.