CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 102, 7 March 1879, Page 2

CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The Farewell Concert given by the Masteitoii Choral Society in the Totvn Hall last night, must be pronounced an unqualified success, and it must be hoped that the cordial reception accorded to the Programme, by a large and appreciative audience, will encourage the promoters and members of the Society to renewed efforts. Having regard to the long interval which had elapsed since the last concert of the Society, and to the limited opportunity, and time afforded for practice prior to last nighls entertainment, it is matter for no small surprise that a programme embracing many items of difficulty should have been gone through in a perfectly satisfactory manner. The success was no doubt in a large manner due to the assistance of the. recently organised String Band, which under the able leadership of Mr Linn, added considerably to the attractions of the programme. Nor can we omit the expression of our admiration of the brilliant rendering by the Ladies of the solos and other pieces undertaken by them. Wo had apprehended that so classical a song as " Vashti" might possibly prove too ambitious an effort for an amateur, but the masterly manner in which it was presented by the young lady who sang it, charmed the audience, not less than it dispelled whatever misgiving we might have entertained. The Choruses throughout were well rendered, botli time and tune being faithfully adhered to. The Quartettes, also, were distinguished by that unison and conscientious delivery so rarely to be met with among amateurs. Great credit appears to be due to Mr Pearson who, we understand, leads the Society, and of the lady who accompanied most of the songs, we can only say that she discharged her duty in an admirable manner.

The stage of the lmll was tastefully decorated with flowers from the conservatory of the President of the Society, while the hall itself was brilliantly lighted by chandeliers moat of which were kindly lent by Mr Corbett for the occasion. Refreshments for the singers were, we understand, also gratuitously provided, and the residents in t-licßorough seem generally to have contributed in every way to the promotion of what we trust will be by no means the farewell concert of the Society, Between the two parts of the programme, the President announced that the present would be the last concert given by the Choral Society, its object being to liquidate the outstanding liabilities. Past extravagance had landed the Society in debt, and better organization must be looked for in any future attempt. It will perhaps be unnecessary to specially advert to each particular item of the programme. Happily our task is a pleasant one, and where adverse criticism is uncalled for, general commendation may be assumed. Wo may however, mention that the gem of the evening was in our opinion " Vashti," to which we haVo already particularly alludc-d,. and which evoked an enthusiastic encore in response to which the fair songstress sang very sweetly the pleasing pastorale" Farewell." The only other piece complimented, most deservedly, by a special encore, was the Quartette" Drink, Boys, Drink," and as we have before stated this feature of the programme was extremely pleasing, the gentlemen not only being in good voice, but harmonising with unusual success. We should not omit to refer to the very unaffected and natural manner in which a lady sang the favorite sow " 'Twas long, long since," nor to accord a special word of commendation to the young lady who with great good nature substituted a brilliantly executed March on the pianoforte, for an instrumental solo which, in the unavoidable absence of another, had to be omitted. Before the termination of the Concert, the indefatigable Secretary of the Society returned the thanks of the members for the support they had received from the public, and the assistance both vocal and instrumental with which they had been favored. The evening was brought to an agreeable close with an impromptu dance, to which many of the audience remained, and in concluding this report we would reiterate our hope that at no distant date it nmy again be our pleasing duty to record a successful concert given under the auspices of the Masterton Choral Society,