A very interesting concert, being the first public appearance of the Deutscher Gesang Verein, or the new German Choral Society, took place on Thursday at the Masonic Hall, under the baton of Professor Sternberg. It was in many respects unfortunate that the latter should have selected a night which clashed with so many other engagements, whereby many who had intended to be present were prevented from doing so much against their wish. Having said so much, we, however, wish to record not only our views but those of every one present in stating that the performance was, every respect a success, and reflected credit "not only on its able conductor, but those who came forward to assist in their business expacities as instrumentalists or vocalists, The programme was a happy tone, uniting jast so much instrumental niusic as was necessary to set off the vocal score, anit was further relieved by a charac: teristic recitation by Mr. Finger, with an accompanimenton the piano after Schumann by Mr. Goorlt. It would be un xct of presumption on the part of an Englishman to attempt to criticise in detail a performance by our German amateurs, who have proved themselves the life and Soul of such concerts, but it may be stated that the whole reflected the greatest. credit on each and every one connected with it.
The Concert opened with the Krénungsmarsh from Kretzschmer's Opera Die Folkwnger, admirably rendered on the pianoforte by Messrs. Sternberg and Goerlt. Its chief drawback was perhaps that the audience thought it too short, and vigourously applauded on its conclusion. "This -ended, a full chorus of ladies and gentlemen gave Mendelssohn's Abschied yom TWalde unaccompanied. The music was interesting and the performers well trained. The light and shade was excellent.
"A violin solo by Mr. F. P. Pratt, a Scene de bullet by de Heriot, followed. We believe this was Mr. Pratt's first public appearance in Shanghai, He is a skilled violinist, and performed a very pretty piece with beautiful touch and feeling. Mrs. Meuser with two ballads, one having an almost Scotch lilt, followed, and was deserved ly recalled," repeating a verse of the latter.
The second part opened with Schumann's Zigeuner lebon by the chorus as before, accompanied by Mr. Goerlt on the piano, and deserved an equal word of praise. Professor Sternberg followed with Chopin's well-known Impromptu in F sharp, Op. 35, which was carefully and feelingly played and won the plaudits of the assembly, and was followed by two well-known lady vocalists, Mesdames Timm and Schiirfi, in a ballad by Gumpert. Mr. Pratt followed with two sympathetic airs on his violin, and the concert concluded with a Terzette for ladies' voices, performed by the lady portion of the chorus.
Altogether we must give well merited praise to this frst public appearance of the society, and hail the advent of so thorough a conductor as Professor Sternberg, who has now established himself as a favourite in our best musical circles. We trust we shall have many more opportunities of welcoming our Teutonic amateurs under his able guidance.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.