Amateur Concert.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3516, 2 April 1880, Page 2

Amateur Concert.

A large and fashionable audience assembled at the Academy of Music last night on the occasion of the concert for the Kauaeranga Bridge fund.- The entertainment was a most unqualified success, and appeared to be thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, to judge from the manner the several items on the programme were received. The performance commenced with a chorus from " Robert lo Diable," which wa« pleasingly and correctly rendered, bespeaking the attention that had been paid in its preparation. We may here remark that all the choruses on the programme were good, evincing care in their selection, taste in their rendition, and a perfect knowledge by the singers of their several parts. Mr Turner followed the openiDg chorus with a song " My Lass," and then Miss Stephenson and Mr Stewart sang a duet, " The singing of the birds." Miss Stephenson's singing was much admired, the young lady shorting considerable ability, possessing a more than ordinary good voice, pure, sweet, and of good compass. Mr Stewart, as usual, did well, singing his part correctly and with taste. So well was the duet received that it had to be repeated in response to an encore. In the second part Miss Stephenson also received an encore after singing " To-morrow," when she bang " Will you always love me, darling." Miss Mason came next on the programme in the. song " Somebody whispered so sweetly," was encored and gave '* Coming thro' the Bye," both little songs being rendered very nicely. The quartette, "Fays and Elves," from Martha, was given very fairly, without any piano accompaniment, by Misses Coney /and Day, and Messrs Stewart and Catran. One of the sweetest and best efforts of the evening was that by Mrs Kilgour, " Sing sweet bird," with a flute obligato by Mr Vivian. So frequently has this lady pleated Thames audiences, and so highly is her singing appreciated that it is almost unnecessary to say that her song was well received. The sweet voice of the singer, with the very pleasing accompaniment of the flute, made the piece one of the gems of the programme, and both singer and accompanist deserve commendation. A trio by Messrs Brown, Airey and Catran from the Pinafore was welljsung and was encored. Next came Mr Wiseman's comic song, " Our Thames Volunteers," and to say it was well received is only a mild way of expres sing the reception accorded both the singer and his song. An encore was demandedj when some additional verses were given, referring to the reception of the carbine champion. "A joyous life" was nicely sung by Miss Hunter, and as an encore gave her favorite song, " Little Buttercup," from " Pinafore." Misses Hamlin and Fleetwood very fairly rendered the duet " The Cousins," after which a chorus from " The Sorcerer " brought the first part to an end. Mr Hilton's song " Storming the Breach "was encored, and in capital style he responded with "The Warrior bold." This gentleman possesses a good and pleasing voice, and sings his songs with vigor. "O'er the Hill," a duet by Misses Probert and Belcher, was well sung, and had to be encored, and then followed another local song from Mr Wiseman, "Billy Barlow." The song contained a number of happy hits, created great amusement, the singer being dressed to suit the character, and as no refusal would be taken by the audience it had to be repeated. The quintette from " The Sorcerer," iv which Mrs Kilgour and Miss Hunter, with Messrs Airey, Hilton and Brown took parts, was well rendered. The parts were dressed in character, and that of Miss Hunter as the "|Tidy Widdy " was capital. The other characters were also well represented, and the whole piece went oft' well, so well, judeed, that it had

to be repeated. A glee followed, then a song by Mr Airey, " The Free Lanne," as usual well rendered, the Gipsy Chorus concluding one of the most, successful amateur concerts ever given on the Thames. The highest praise is duo to Mrs Kilgour for suggesting and getting up the concert; to Mr Owen for the great care taken by him in preparing the singers, and the ladies and gentlemen who took part in it for the admirable manner in which they performed their several parts, His Worship the Mayor thanked the audience for their attendance, and called for a vote of thanks to the singers by acclamation which was enthusiastically given. ■