The promise of an excellent programme attracted large number of people to Cathedral on Wednesday night.
A somewhat different order would have given greater variety. As it was, three Iengthy organ pieces followed each other before there was any break. They were however excellent specimens of their kind, and the softer movements ey cially wore particularly enjoyable. Mik Macleod followed with an Aria from Bach, and a Handelian Bourée, both layed with excellent taste and Gnish, he Recitative and Aria from The Messiah introduced to Shanghai a new vocalist of very considerable power, who ordinarily good training"-the Rev. Alfred has evidently profited by some more than
J. Walker. We should have preferred to hear him in something less ambitious than one of Handel's most difficult solos, but as it was, his rendering will long'be remembered for its general excellence. For the performance of Gallia, Mr. Crompton had drawn upon the PhilharmomeSociety for a very efficient orchestra, which added vastly to the charm of Gounod's beautiful Motelt, but re-infareed in the chorus work by the organ was at times a little overpowering for the voices. Of these the tenors and basses, stationed in the chancel, told with excellent effect at the bottom of the church, the female. voices being a trifle weak in gon. Mrs. Lanphier, as soloist, taste and tone The com-here, having sition is well-known Bociety. Detailed eiticim therefore would ro viously, been, rendered by the Choral be superfluous. But we may remark upon the very effective rendering of the final chorus, which equalled the best choral work we have heard here of lat There is but one word more of eriti to offer, But for a ray or two of munshi here and there, as, for example, in Miss Macleod's Bourée, the music generally was somewhat heavy, not to say doleful in character. The note struck by the Toccata and Fugue in D minor ruled the performance, otherwise as excellent a one as could be compiled.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.