CONCERT BY MR. FLETCHER'S PUPILS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 295, 13 December 1901, Page 2

CONCERT BY MR. FLETCHER'S PUPILS.

Mr A, W. C letcher gave on Thursday evening his first annual pupils' concert at St, Mary's Hall, which was crowds') to ovw flowing, admission being; by invita'ioti oily. Tin p>Ojr>mme was a mod' I <ii g bo h >.s regatds length and judicious solec ion, and the variout items were all Tendered in such a way as to refl ct great credit on both teacher and pupils. Miss Otaong opened with a piano solo, Weber's well-known " L'lnvitation ala Yalse." This young lady possesses considerable music. 1 taste Rnd ability, and is evidently very painstaking. Miss Fojkes sing " A Song of Night" (Somerset) very pleasingly, after which Miss Gray played Godard's " Deuxieme Mazurka" with creditable precision and touch. Miss MacDiarmid secured an encore for her artistic and sympathetic rendering of !" Dear Homeland," and repeated the last verse. Miss G. Holdsworth fairly brought down the house with her song, " Queen of Ange's " (Piccolomini), and the audience insisted on a double encore, which consisted of " Maid of Japan" and "Sally Horner." Although displaying slight nervousness Miss Holdsworth was in splendid voice, and her singing was a real treat to the audience, who were loud in their expressions of appreciation. A piano solo by Miss Daacon, " Venetian Regatta " (Lis'z) evoked loud applause, and w s certainly a very good performance. Miss L. George secured great applause for her rendering of " For All Eternity " (Macheroni), and Miss O'dfield gave a very accurate and intelligent interpretation of Hellers' " Tarantella," which was determineJly encored. Miss Nora Skeet was also very successful in her vocal item. The concluding song by Miss Nixon, "Good-bye" (Tosti),' was deservedly encored, her rich young voice lending i'self admirably to the theme.

Du.ing the interval, Mr MacDiarmid apologised for Mr Fletcher's unavoidable and regrettable absence, and pointed out that the object of these concerts was to give the pupils confidence to sing in public, and free them from the nervousness which was so trying to young ladies when facing an audience. Ho spoke in high terms of praise of Mr Fletcher's good work, and congratulated the vestry of St. Mary's on bringing such an. able and enthusiastic musician to New Plymouth. Judging from Thursday night's concert, Mr Fletcher has every reason to be proud of his pupils, who have evidently profited greatly by the instruction given by him.