MR, GOOCH'S CONCERT

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 154, 25 August 1883, Page 4

MR, GOOCH'S CONCERT

On Monday evening hit Mr Gordon Gooch gave what purports to be his Un-ev,,;i! concert in Auckland. The entertaini.-n u *v: pnAvd io by of a varied character, and, on the wWjf, cut-oil considerable pleasure to everybody who nil ended it. It will , rank as one of the 'throe hat coßoerls in Auckland during the present, season. TW second I part was, with one exception, r.hrovpl.out. good, melodious, and carefully uxocurod ; hiv, ih ;■ "first portion was, in several of its iUMOo, weak o-id unsatisfactory. Had Mr G-ooch Like-' v >to consider;! •• tion the pleasure of the public rather than th* fc-.-l---j ings of individuals, we believe r.'iiit there vx-uld not i have been these defects in the entorl.ai'rrr.-ot, at all ; but teachers of singing must unfortunately ; defer to the wishes of those desirous r.\ exbibi?i>>r what ability they do possess. [ The first part began with "Blow Oenilr- Gales," | and ended with that charming part-son if of II att-on, " Trust Her Not." In these, Miss Coster, Mi :•■ Hargreave, Miss Tapper, Mrs Gooc;\ M«f;. j Burnham, Hanna, Keesing, and G-ooeh au-u:-, admirably together, and gave tlie best specimen of double quartette-singing which Auckland bus probably ever heard. Miss Annie Hardwire followed with Land's " When Night is Darkest/ showing givat care in previous instruction and promise of vocal excellence. If, however, this young lady wishes to give her voice fair-play, shr will not sing much until she is somewhat older. Otherwise, whatever delicacy her voice possesses will pass out of it, and only noise will remain. Mr Geoch sang " Alia Stella Confidente," with a most tasteful obligato by that accomplished 'cellist, Mr Edger. We think that Mr Gooch chose this song without discretion, as it does not suit him nearly so well as some others would. "Largo al Factotum." for instance, would hare proceeded far more pleasingly from him, and have evoked even more applause. Nevertheless, Mr Gooch was enthusiastically and deservedly encored. Mr Forrest then interpreted Weber's " Moto Continuo " on the piano. Mr Forrest certainly can linger that instrument. We doubt if anyone in Australasia can do so better. Out of high-class musical circles in Europe there could rarely be heard a more accomplished pianist. The audience was clearly deceived by the superb easiness with whHi he played, and were sublimely unconscious j of the difficulties the performer had to overcome. Had he given some plunging, octopean, tentacular, pyroteehnical fantf-sia, it would have impressed them more. It was a pity he did not play twice in the programme. Mr Slater accompanied everything iv the first part with great ability. The support he brought to the eccentricities of some, of the vocalists covered many d .fools. Accompanying, though an unostentatious rdle to play, is one of. the most difficult, and is not sufficiently recognised by the public. . --The second portion of the programme consisted of selections from Vincent Wallace's delightful work, "Lurline" — perhaps the most charmingly melodious of English operas, and far surpassing soire of the Italian trash designated by the name of opera. It would take too long to specify the items and comment upon them, as they were all satisfactory, and some excellent. Perhaps the most delightful were the numbers :t Take this Cup of Sparkling Wine," " Drain the Cup of Pleasure," " Peace to the Memory of the Brave," " From this Heart," and " Sweet Spirit Hear my Prayer." Mr Gooch gave well "As in the Cup," which is excellently suited to bim ; and Mr Hanna made a great impression with "My Heart's First Home." Mr Hanna'3 voice is not strong, though it is improving in this respect, but it has that without which a voice is worthless for the purpose of causing much pleasure — namely, delicacy and sweetness. With j more vigour and pronouncedness, with less of that languidness or wailing way, he will become a good concert singer. He was enthusiastically j applauded. j And, last, like the rare dish at the end of a feast, comes Mrs Kilgour. We congratulate Mr Gooch on having so far disregarded local feeling as to bring this lady up from the Thames to put the finishing touch to his " Lurline." She ran throughout it like a thread of 1 gold, warbling with the clear freshness of a lark in the early vernal sumlight. She has a voice of that pure soprano quality, flexible, sympathetic, which flies directly through the ear to the heart. It is the gift of Heaven, and no amount of acquired technique can (without it) outweigh it. The very occasional appearances of this lady does not dim her popularity. The people have, after all, discernment in the matter of quality of voice, and welcome her as a relief to the large quantity of manufactured article which is continually being obtruded to them. Her pretty stage manners go, too, favourably with her voice, and she on]y wants continuous experience in Auckland to make her a prime favourite in either concert or opera. Wherever the audience could interpose without interrupting the chorus, she was rapturously applauded. VV*e regret that Mrs Gooch did not take a more prominent part. Her singing would have been preferred to some other ; and, after all, it is the public who ought to be pleased, not the individual performers. It is Mr Gooch's duty to please the public, even though he appear to be showing partiality. Mr Slater (on the piano) and Mr Forrest (on the harmonium accompanied " Lurline," and did so most skilfully. Had the first part consisted of six pieces, viz., the two double quartettes, two solos by Mr Forrest, a song by Mrs Gooch, and " Largo al Factotum " by Mr Gooch, it would have been as fine a programme aa could have been desired, and just long enough.

"Eepokt froji Pabis Exhibition, copied from Manchester Courier, Friday, 28th June, 1878."— The most comprehensive exhibit is that of merchants, manufacturers, and dyers, Manchester, Londou, Paris, and works at Oldham. They show velvets and velveteens, in various shades, including '•Amethyst black," and "blue black" for costume trimmings, &c. These are admirably dyed, and the arrangement of the shades for exhibition is exceedingly artistic and effective. There arc some well finished white velvets, and some of the printed velvets show good design and careful workmanship ; one shawl pattern is brilliant and effective. Some fancy cords are neat, and the show of ordinary cords and moleskins is good. Tiiere are also good samples of dyed and printed lambskins, satins, twills; serges, and' cambrics for linings. W. Battray, Sol© Agent for Auckland.