WESLEYAN ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 128, 26 November 1898, Page 5

WESLEYAN ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

The third annual concert of the Wesleyan Orchestral Society drew a large audience to the Wesley Hall in Taranaki-street last night. The programme was an excellent one, and the orchestra has reached a high standard. Most of the items were instrumental, the only vocalists being Mrs. Muller and Mr. Douglas Jackson. Mrs. Muller's first song, a recitative and cavatina by Donizetti, deservedly gained her a recall, which she met with a serenade. Her second song, " The Harp in the Air," from Wallace's "Maritana," was charmingly sung and keenly appreciated. Mr. Douglas Jackson was in good voice. His first song, Lassen's " All Souls' Day," was vigorously encored, and in reply to the recall he sang with much expression, " Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes." Mr. Jackson's second song was Maud Valerie White's charming setting of " The Devout Lover." The chief feature of the instrui mental music was the contributions by the Society's Orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr. T. Billman. The overture consisted of a spirited selection by J. Ord Hume, " To the Front." The other orchestral pieces were — Juliet Homer's " Cleopatra " ; Doughty's Diamond Jubilee March, " Our Empress-Queen " ; and a gavotte by Viscount Dupplin. Mr. Donaldson played, as a euphonium solo, the difficult "Fantaisie" by Felix Curtis, selected as the test euphonium solo at the coming Dunedin contest. Mr. Donaldson won the first prize for the euphonium solo at the Napier contest of last year. Mr. Nicholson, who was also a prize winner at Napier, gave the test horn solo for the Dunedin contest. Both these performers had excellent control over their instruments, and their efforts were loudly applauded. Messrs. Thomson and Copithorne were very successful in two bracketed items from Donizetti and Bellini set as a fantasia for two clarionettes. Messrs. Muller, King, and Traversl played a trio for two violins and piano by Pleyel. Mr. Harland contributed a bassoon solo, " O Ruddier than the Cherry " (Handel) ; and Miss Tall gave two recitations, each of which earned a recall. Miss Ethel Billman and Mr. Traversi accompanied at the piano. During the evening the Secretary (Mr. J. W. Copithorne) thanked the audience on behalf of the society for their attendance.