CHORAL HALL.-HERE SCHMITT'S CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 120, 23 May 1887, Page 5

CHORAL HALL.-HERE SCHMITT'S CONCERT.

Heer Schmitt'b, grand «..Vee musicale, with a programme ' somewhat altered and extended, was repeated with, signal artistic success, at r the Choral .Hall'on Saturday evening. Although'the.-hall was not full, there was a very satisfactory attendance. The Earl and Countess of 'Aberdeen/arrived before the performance" began, and were received and escorted to, their seats by His Worship the' Mayor | (Mr A. Devore) and HefF Carl""Schmifct. Mr Lesley Martin opened fche concert ■ with a/ tasteful execution of Liszt's, charming pianoforte arrangement of airs-from'""Rigoletto," tho instrument used for the occasion being a grand piano of sweet and powerful tone .lent' by Mr Thos. Webb, of Oak House,--Hobson-st. The other instrumental moixeaux'' we're also marked by a high'order ofmerit.' Mr G. Poque again captivated his audience by his sweet and expressive rendering upon the 'cello of his uncle's arrangement of airs from "IPuritani" ("The Puritans"), and Herr Schmitt gave a masterly interpretation upon the violin of Schlegel's "Moment Melancolique" and " Danse de Cossaques." Langey's charming quintette, "Tho Evening Breeze," was very effectively performed upon muted strings by Herr Schmitt, and Messrs J. Keesing, J. Kelly, G. Paque, and F. Clutsum; and "The Serenaders' (Langey), by the same performers, was given with equally good effect. In compliance with a very honrty encore, the concluding movement of "The Evening Breeze " was repeated. Thalberg and De Beriot's brilliant transcription of airs from Meyerbeer's " Huguenots " was artistically played by Mrs Duthie (piano] and Herr Schmitt (violin), and ILretschmer's " Romance," for violin and violoncello, was executed coh amore by Herr Schmitt and Mr Paque. No less than eight vocal selections figured upon the programme, and they wero each and all successfully presented. Miss Taylor and Miss Stephenson gave with im proved effect, Mattel's "Dear Heart" and Gounod's "Aye Maria" respectively— the latter number, as beforo, boing supplemented by organ and violin obligato by Mr J. A. Beale and Herr Schmitt.. Miss-Stephenson was deservedly encored,,and bowed her acknowledgments for the honour. - Miss Taylor we have never heard to better advantage. Miss Whifcaker contributed Adams's sentimental song, " For-Pity's Sake," singing it with great taste'and feeling. Fraulein Jahn made her debut in the rich and florid cavatina, "NobilDona,"from Meyerbeer's "Huguenots," and displayed the possession of a very flexible and well-trained light soprano voice of good compass. The ftoriture with which tile'.cavatina is lavishly embellished threw hfer slightly'out of tune once.br twice, :but sho recovered herself immediately. ~.In; response to nnlmperative recall the lady also ' sang Spohr's air, " Rose Softly Blooming." Mr A. L. Edwards rendered with clear enunciation and nice expression "The Maid- of - tho - Mill," . and was promptly honoured *with an encore.1 Miss Scraggs in the melodious recitative and aria, " Che Faro," from Cluck's " Orfeo," renewed her success of Thursday week, and charmed the audience with- the rich'quality of her voice and her.cultured stylo of singing. Three vocal quartettes were performed very acceptably indeed, viz.,'1 Parting " (F. Otto) and "Soldier's Love" (Kucken) by Messrs Martin, Edwards, Haincrton, and Charter, (Grafton Orpheus Club), and the " Spinning Quartette "from Flotow's. "Martha," by Misses Stephenson ond Scraggs and Messrs Edwards and Charter. , Miss Harding played fcho pianoforte accompaniments with her usual ability.

About two months-ago a>mah named IT. 3. Atkin was arrested by Sergeant Bernard Greene on the Three Kings Road on several charges of larceny/ and he was subsequently committed for trial. Detective Tuohy has since succeeded in sheeting home another charge-tbelarceny of two gold,rings from Uv % Saijntler*'s i-|si.dgpe«^ajgain_t the Mino' prisoner,