TARANAKI AID CONCERT.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 280, 26 June 1860, Page 2

TARANAKI AID CONCERT.

Ih accordance with our promise in our last issue we give a more detailed account of the above concert. Mr. Walcot's abilities are too well known to need any eulogism at our hands. The, Instrumental piece at. opening was very fairly rendered ; next 4followed the song 'Maggie by my side' which was sung with great taste and feeling. The Setenade 'Lady, wake, arise,' was well sung, but seemed wanting in spirit. The Solo and Chorus ' Beautiful Star' cannot be too highly praised; we may s&y the same of the two following peices—the flute Solo, * Deh con te' and Linley's admired Duet ' We shall meet again, old friend.' The ' Wishing Gate' was lightly sung, though not with the same success usually attending the lady's performance, owing to her suffering from a severe cold. The first part concluded with the Madrigal * Since first I,saw your face.' The second part opened as the first, with an instrumental piece; the song following was sung with great effect, and received a hearty encore. The Solo and Chorus "Gentle Jenny Gray" was well sung, but we think it rather a doleful ditty. 'By the sad sea waves' v«as also heartily encored. The instrumental duet that followed was well played, but iv our opinion was a very "unhappy selection, being much too heavy in its character, and also too long. The Quartette 'Gather ye rosebuds' was greatly admired and deservedly encored. The Scotch Song *My am dear Nell' also gave great satisfaction; it is, we believe, a colonial production, and in our opinion, a very meritoripus one. There had been during the evening repeated calls for Norah McShane, which at last rose-to such a height that -Mr. Walcot had to make his appearance to comply; with this unani-mous-request. The Concert concluded with the two,national songs, 'The Hardy; Norsemen' and 'God save the Queen' which/fihkhed one ofthe pleasantest evenings we have .spent for some time. We cannot conclude this notice without according praise to Mrs. Scaife for presiding at the piano, which was done in that lady's usually admirable style.v; The whole affair was under the superintendence of Mr. Walcot, «vho was ably assisted by all present, and it must be pronounced a decided success.