PETERSFIELD.
VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT.—The Portsmouth amateurs, Assisted by a few professionals, gave their entertainment In the National School-rooms on Friday evening last. The instrumental part of the performance was of a first-rate order, and reflected great credit not only on the amateurs, but also upon those of a more professional character who assisted on the occasion. The vocal part of the performance was not so satisfactory. The accompaniment to the first song was so loud as to almost drown the singer's voice, and the enunciation was so indistinct as to prevent us from catching the words. The last two songs were better sung, and were both encored, although the enunciation was still very far from perfect. The audience was rather thin, not numbering more than about 140, reckoning juveniles and all; and as a matter of course, the proceeds were also rather light; at least much less than we could have wished them to be. The bills were headed, ‟In aid of the National Schools,” which was scarcely a correct statement, as it was only the surplus after defraying expenses, which was to go to the funds of these valuable Institutions. And as the receipts have come considerably below the estimated expense of the concert, we fear the schools will not be much the richer for the performance. However, the funds must not grumble, as they have been no losers, and the school-rooms, at least, have had their share in listening to the performance free of expense. In fact we could scarce help observing on the following day that the buildings seemed more musical. And if the amateurs were disappointed in their philanthropic wishes, we are very sorry for it.
Hampshire Chronicle - Saturday 15 May 1858
PETERSFIELD.—In Friday evening last a concert of a superior order was given at the National School Rooms, by the Portsmouth amateurs, under the sanction of our worthy rector, who was present with Mrs. Sumner and Col. Le Couteur, and who on this occasion as at all times shewed the greatest willingness to countenance and support an entertainment which should contribute to the improvement as well as the amusement of the people. The audience was highly respectable. The performance consisted mainly of instrumental music, four songs being interspersed in the programme. The selection form Rigoletto was beautifully played, and received the applause of the audience. The song ‟Let me like a soldier fall,” was literary engulfed by the noisy accompaniment; not a word could be heard except that he (the singer) wished to ‟die like a soldier.” The clarinet solo was charmingly played, and won the approval of all present. The second part opened with a pretty medley overture, which elicited a rapturous encore. Mr. Randall then sang a very sweet song, by Czerny, ‟How beautiful is the sea,” which was so nicely done that it was re-demanded from all parts of the room. The remaining pieces were all played in the same finished style. It is right to say that the concert was given with the intention of benefitting the national schools; but whether the expenses absorbed the takings, or not, is not yet known.
Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 15 May 1858
PETERSFIELD
CONCERT.—On Friday evening last, the 7th inst., a concert of a very superior order was given at our National School Rooms by the ‟Portsmouth Amateurs,” under the sanction of our worthy rector, who was present with Mrs. Sumner and Col. Le Contour, and who on this occasion, as at all times, showed the greatest willingness to countenance and support an entertainment which should tend to the improvement as well as to the amusement of the people. The audience was highly respectable. The performance consisted mainly of instrumental music; four songs being interspersed in the programme. The opening overture at once conveyed to the minds of all present the capabilities of the orchestra; it was played in a highly satisfactory manner. A song, ‟The Death of Nelson,” followed, sung by Mr. Randall, the accompaniment to which was full loud. We thought it rather pragmatical in Mr. Randall singing ‟We saw the foemen lay”; he need not have feared a state prosecution for saying ‟Frenchmen” in this substitution,—no doubt intended as a softener to our sensitive friends. We could only see a distinction without a difference. The selection from ‟Rigoletto” was beautifully played, and received, as it merited, the applause of the audience. The next song, ‟Let me like a soldier fall,” was literally engulphed by the noisy accompaniment; not a word could be heard except that he (the singer) wished to ‟die like a soldier.” It put us in mind of a ‟Suttee,” where the noise of the tom-toms is intended to drown the cries of the unfortunate victim. It was in this instance a great tax upon the audience as well as the singer, who did his best to be heard, but failed. The clarinet solo was charmingly played, and won the approval of all present. The second part opened with a pretty medley overture, and which elicited a rapturous encore. Mr. Randall then sang a very sweet song by Czerny, ‟How beautiful is the sea!” which was so nicely done that it was re-demanded from all parts of the room. The remaining pieces were all played in the same finished style. A song by Dibdin, ‟The White Squall,” which Neokomm evidently took as his type for ‟The Sea,” was well sung and well received; and we hope Mr. Randall thought the audience had well done when they by their approval of his efforts vociferously encored him. ‟The Birthday Valse,” which conclude the programmed, is only noticed to make the remark that such a body of instrumentalists were worthy of better music, and it was annoying to hear such a fine band marred by the tinkling of a triangle and the clack of the castanets; but chacon à son goút. It is right we should here say that the concert was given with the intention of benefitting the National Schools; but whether the expenses absorbed the takins or not we are unable to say. Still we can feel no other than pleased at the disinterested intention of the givers of this delightful concert, and can but hope that at no very distant day we may again be gratified by listening to another performance of the ‟Portsmouth Amateurs”; and we doubt not, now that their capabilities are, by this successful début in Petersfield, placed beyond speculation or the whisper of mediocrity, that a crowd audience would be drawn together on the occasion.