THEATRE ROYAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3219, 13 November 1880, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

The musical event, which had been looked forward to with unusual interest, came off last night in the presenco of a largo and appreciative audience, and we congratulate Mr Swallow on the success with which his enterprise was crowned. Whatever may be urged on accoustic principles against the fitness o£ tho theatre for concert purposes, it cannot be denied that the stage, with its pretty scenic decoratione, presented an agreeable contrast to tho usual dreariness of an orchestra platform, and it was a pretty sight to see tho Professor surrounded by four couples of his fair j'oung pupils in the performance of tho overturo _to " Figaro." Tho overtures were fairly plavcd, except foran occasional unsteadiness in ono or two bars, but the volume of sound was not bo great as we expected to bear from four pianofortes. The well-known duet, " To Uammenti," was capitally sung by Mrs Stanier and Mr Wilson. The latter has improved wnce we last hoard him. Mr O'Byrno's clarinet solo was altogether a clever performance, but the selection was rather too long, as such solos generally are. The opening movement in the minor was more successful than the air with variations. Mr O'Biernc was vociferously encored. Mrs Stevens, who sang the cavatiua, " O mio Fernando," was very warmly received. Her voice is charmingly sweot, but its calibre is rather inadequate. At the close of the song Mrs Steven's brought down deserved apElauso, and was honoured with a numor of bo()uets. Tho lights having been extinguished, and a ray of stage moonlight iutroduccd.the Professor appeared and played Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata." Mr Swallow's playing is full of grace and expression, and his execution is brilliant, but there fe an excess of individuality about his rendering of some music, such as Beethoven, which is not pleasing. His performance of the overture to "Egtnout" on the harmonium was exceedingly able, but the instrument was placed too far up the stage to admit of a satisfactory effect. We may perhaps be pardoned for remarking that this part of the programme was somewhat overweighted by the placing of two of Beethoven's overtures and a sonata in such close proximity to each other. In the second overture, " Prometheus," Mr Swallow was assisted at the piano by Mr Wilson, who will doubtless derive considerable aid from an acquaintance with the instrument towards improving and developing his power as a vocalist. Mr Wilson's song, "Good-bye, Sweetheart," was a complete failure, partly attributable (as it seemed) to the extraordinarily slow time at which it was taken.

Mr Gooch earned considerable applause in tho trio "Magic-wove scarf," and sang Mr Swallow's song, "The Goblet," with such effect as to gain a unanimous encore iv response to which he sang " The Lighthouse, and was again rewarded with much applauec. Mr Gooch ia deservedly a great favourite with Auckland audiences.

Perhaps the most interesting, and certainly the moat novel, feature of the proeranime. was the duet for harps played by Miss O'Sullivan and Mr Swallow, arranged by the latter upon a familiar air of Mozart. It was really a most artistic perfortnaace, and the applause which followed it and the sacred hymn which succeeded it, in response to an imperative encore, must have been most gratifying both to master and pupil. Mrs Stanier's song did not appear to be well chosen (the same remark applies to most of the vocal selections), a fact much to be regretted, as the lady_ is always welcomed as a singer, and her voice is truly magnificent. Under the circumstances she did remarkably well, and received a shower of boquets in retiring from the stage. Mr Swallow played the " Carnival do Venicn " with a similar idiosycrancy to that we have already noticed, and after a tew words of apology from him for the omission of the duet " Aye Maria," the concert ended with Weber's overture, " Jubilee," performed by 18 hands (four pianofortes aud a harmonium), the Professor taking leave of his audience whom he had gathered there, with his proficient pupils around him. Whatever defects there were in the concert—and we have not omitted to name them freely—Mr Swallow cannot be too highly praised for tho evidence of full and careful reheatsal of every item of the programme.