The fourth subscription concert of the Shanghai Choral Society drew a fairly large audience to the Lyceum on Thursday, 21st, the programme being a decidedly attractive one. Unfortunately, it was rather a hot night, and the new buildings on thesouthside of the theatre keep out a good deal of the air that used to blow through the house. The first number was Henry Hiles's part song "Hushed in Death," a fairly spirited composition rendered by " chorus consisting of twenty-seven ladies and sixteen gentlemen, which was well balanced, except that it would have been improved by the inclusion of two. or three more contralto voices; but in thi as in the other two part songs, Barnby "(4 Wife's Song," and A. R. Gaul's "The Silent Land," the chorus showed " thorough appreciation of the music and that they had studied earnestly under the condueworship of Mr. F. L. Crompton, who may well be congratulated on their success. The Silent Land" was particularly effective. There were two instrumental numbers in the first pert, a piano solo by Dr. Hildebrandt, who played a well-known composition by Chopin with much delicacy and personal feeling, and a violin solo by Mr. Léhlein, accompanied on the piano by Mr. Crompton. It was rendered with great taste, but Mr. Lohlein's instrument was not worthy of the composer, Beethoven. Mr. Léhlein was enthusiastic cally applauded, but declined to appear again.
The second part consisted of Henry Smart's Dramatic Cantata, The Bride of Dinkerron, the soloists being Mrs. E. F. Alford, the Sea-Maiden; Mr. H. Clapp, Dunkerron; and Mr. C. Wedemeyer, the Sea-King. The vocalists were supported by a small and somewhat uncertain orchestra, Dr. Hildebrandt being at the piano, and Mr. Crompton conducting. it is a difficult piece, full of good music worthy of better words. With such competent soloists, so well trained a chorus, and a conductor so devoted to his task and so capable as Mr. Crompton is, success was certain, and the applause of the audience showed how well it was attained. The solos were all delightful, and it would be invidious to pick out any one of the twenty or so numbers that the cantata contains. The choruses were sung with great spirit and the most careful attention to light and shade; and altogether the selection of the cantata, which seemed rather ambitions, was justified by the result; and the public would be glad to hear it again next season with the orchestra somewhat reinforced.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.