CHORAL, HALL.-WIL- HELMJ'S CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3558, 4 January 1882, Page 2

CHORAL, HALL.-WIL-HELMJ'S CONCERT.

SLerr Wiliielmj, the celebrated violinist, | assisted by Miss Marie Conron (vocalist) v ■'; and Hecr Max Vogrich (pianist), gave the*' j; i first of a short series of concerts last night . in the Choral Hall. Although the weather ' ■?*•. ; was very unfavourable, there was a good audi« , ence. The recency of Camilla Urso'a visit to this part of the colony, and the sensation croatcd by her wonderful performances,. , had engendered a lively interest in inslru- .'. mental performances, and at the same -„,, time supplied a standard of comparison by '-iw4 which .subsequent professors of proficiency upon the violiu could be measured. This ; . was not needed, however, in the case of ;? ~ August wilhclpij. His reputation had ■ preceded him hither, and the people who assembled last night to hear mm, did so in coniident anticipation of a rare, treat, ,<ii and fully prepared to accord him a cordial walcorae. lhcy were not disappointed by the result. The very appearance of the man, as he leisurely ascended the stage and saluted the audience, was striking and suggestive of high talent. His massive ,_ - hcaU, intellectual forehead, and ex- •&. pressive features proclaimed the possession of more than , ordinary* ability, while his easy carriage and self-possessed manner shewed that he was accustomed to display it publicly.". The .'; first selection was a grand concerto by taganinl, abounding, as might be^expected in a composition from such a source, with rapi>l and intricate instrumentation, and ■ richly embellished with th/>se graceful complexities which only the" master-hand can successfully essay. No written music aided , ; . the memory and guided the hand of the I performer. Ho-attacked the selection with * resolution, and played;with boldness and: vigour, his attitude firm and unconstrainedjk his iigure gently swaying and oscillating with theirhythm of the music, %ndf hiß ' , whole appearance evidencing a rapt absorp«y lion in the performance upon which he was ... engaged. The most astonishing instru- -■ .' mental effects were produced with the .»' utmost facility, the gradations of pitch from ~L M piano to forte produced a flowingjundnlation *«•• of sound, while at times the velocity o£ tho 4 playing divided one's wonder with the per- " .' feet skill displayed in the interpretation of fm the recondite music. "From Beginning to '**"* end the bowing was energetic and masterful, j& and at the same time graceful, whlle*the ' g grasp of the left hand never relaxed, aor did the fingers cease • for a moment 'their,; nervous regulation of the strings at the neck" && of the violin. To those who could percciyo * and fully appreciate the amount of technical * i skill* involved .in the exccutidniibf^nia difficult concerto, the performer's genius* Avas at once apparent. Tne*%ext contribft- ' tion from the same hand appealed 4to a . | wider circle of admirers. It was a romance, i j by Wilhelmj; himself, and t|e pretty and *• * impassioned character of the'air, quite as ~ much as tho exquisite delicacy with which-, it was interpreted, took the audience com-*' , ; ' pletely by storm. An encore was enthiisi" :jtK«L' astically demanded, and * the. violinisp ' cheerfully complied by rendering Schubert's «i£*l beautiful <(Aye Maria,"^with itl supply . catory tones and eloquent appealing spirit, in a manner that could hardly "bef|r transcended, An arrangement <^^Hnn-* garian airs, by Ernst, was subsequently given with consummate finish. It ' • afforded opportunity for an advantageous display of the performer's thoroughness in, vk legato and staccato passages alike, and1' ". ' in rapid alternations of pianissimo and , , forte, at one time tho tones of thojviolm ■ asserting themselves above, ami 'sacuring the ear before those of tho grand piano, and at another time captivating and fascinating -, by their delicate Boftntss. Hert "VYilhelmj was rapturously recallod, when !he simply bowed his acknowledgements. The audience, however, would tak<s no denial, and he therefore gratified tlicm by the magnificent execution of> a nocturne ,;:. (viz., No 9) by Chopin. Miss liitrie Contpn, * "': a lady oi pleasing personality, aud with a * rich mezzo-soprano voice of considerable gi strength and great flexibility, saag.,the" wcll-knoyru aria "Com c Bello" iiwa. ' "Lucrezia Borgia," as^well as a ballad, "My Snowy Breasted Peail," by Ebbiu< .*;•■ son, which, on b?ing encored, she supple- 5( ™ meuted with ilatton's "Bid me to Live." * She sings without a visiMe'elfort, and with striking effect. ;Mr Max Yogrichi, proved himselt to bo ano of the ablest pianists who 4 have over visited us. Ho played a fantasia -• by i-jzst cv " Xhq.Midsnmmer Night'a^' •* Dteatb," the same composer's oft-repeated " Kunp&pdie Iloncroise," and. improtoptu .. aud funeral march by Chopin; all Jeing executed with great" skill, T'.and ." ;, iii; itV prompt aad decided ~ manner. Th'etoues of tho insutiniolit when played £ foite were rather loud for the linutecl dimeiisjotm of the building, but *tn¥ a " piauist's ta!eut;,wn.s evido(jtg.|jbjrougb6ut.";t.'' Hie performance of the"Ai&el's.Sereuii l de"* (Braga) by Miss Conroii."gcrf'Wilhebnj * j and Mr Vogriclv brptigfit th« ? overiiiig's ' eutbrtaiimunt to a close. fAnothoiS cofcert -tf ■will ha jfivctt to-nigiit.. : * ■■;,* %, ~'^.' " ' J ■;.....', ''■". ■■•". ' ■««ii»<.^..mmm.i_ JL m ;:= m.' ' ' ;'