STAGE AND STUDIO.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1887, Page 3 (Supplement)

STAGE AND STUDIO.

(By Euterpe.)

*'i Choral Society Jmying now disposed of &&nefflj,%w4 earned great kudos in it, ' fnddress itself with vigour to the re- ■■ of Smart's " Bride of Dunkerron " a next concert. As next Tuesday is a : i/tfday,the first practice will not take place week. "The Bride of DunV rron " * s a verjr melorlious work, and Id find great favour with the perform- • of the Society. Henry Smart, i- -composer, was born at London in ISI3, '■'& died in 1579. Ho enjoyed great repute in , world's metropolis as composer, conduc-.γ-and teacher of music. He was also an cellent organist, and a number of his comfUions are still- frequently performed. Us lincle, Sir George Smart, who was born •London in 1778, and died thereon the 23rd 'f February, 1567, was an excellent conductor and did a great deal to raise the tandard of musical tnsfce in England. Ho f mded the Philharmonic Society in Loiir Lain 1813' anc * was he who first gave iflOTilar performances of the works of Beethoven,' Weber. Schumann, and Schubert). Weber, who stayed with him Tfhen in London to conduct the first performances of his opera, " Oberon," in 1826, died in Sir George Smart's house.

■'■ Richard W. Younge, the aefcor whose; death was chronicled by a cable message the '• other day, arrived in Melbourne with G. V. Brooke, the famous tragedian, and Miss Fanny Cathcart (better remembered as Mrs George Darrell), in the early part of 1555, IH after playing at) the old Queen's Theatre lie went on with them to Sydney, returning aram to Melbourne and opening there at 'Coppin's Iron Tot with Mr Brooke in July oftliQsame year. Younge was connected !,vitij the great Brooke during the whole of'his managerial career in Australia, arid -when that gentleman returned to England Younge followed him, but ■came back to the colonies at the time 'Charles Kean visited Australia. He played fwith that gentleman at the Haymarket 'Theatre, where lie was stage manager for a 'time; but finding little scope for his abilities, he finally returned to England, and Srith his brother, Mr Fred Younge, purchased the provincial lights of Robertson's •'Caste,' , etc., and was connected with this enterprise until poor Fred met with his 'death in a railway collision. Richard 'afterwards became manager of the Sheffield ■Theatre, and of late years lessee and manager of the Tync Theatre Royal, Newcastle, Epgland.

■ lowe an apology to Mrs T. Garrard, of Christehurch, for an inadvertent oversight in a reference made by mo in the Star of May 28th to the production of Offenbach's opera bouffe' "Madame Favart." It was Mrs Garrard, and not Miss Fairhurst, who took the leading role, and the "Press," in 'criticising her, said that ths part displayed (the lady's versatility in a remarkable deigree. ,"She showed that she is a clever •actress as well as an accomplished vocalist. Her singing was marked by a thorough ap: Weciation of the niceties of the music, while jher acting was full of vivacity and archness." Miss Fairhurst, it appears, took the ipart of Suzanne, and her vocalisation was jpraise'das being "highly finished in style." I When does our club intend to wake up and settle its programme for,the year ?

§ Sir Lohr brings Mr Locke Richardson, the well-known' Shakespearian reader, to New Zealand shortly. His return to Auckland will be eagerly welcomed.

I In Melbourne to-night Miss Amy Sherwin, the Australian primadonna, "leadingsoprano oi Covent Garden, Her Majesty's, and PruryLane Theatres, London," gives her initial concert at the Town Hall. Herr fchannes Ehodes, the celebrated violinist, BcLa strong company support her. The performance is under the patronage of the Australian Natives Association.

General Logan'-e forthcoming book, ." The Volunteer. Soldier of America," will be published early in June, by R. S. Peale and: Co., Chicago. It is dedicated "To the intoortal host of Citizen - Soldiers and Sailors who, from Lexington to Appbmatto|, ,have. won the liberty of the republic, maintained its honour and; preserved its integrity."

A "best on record " of an unusual kind was recently achieved at Baberton, Cape Colony. An artist named Woodcock played the : piana for twenty -four consecutive hours "without breaking harmony," which I take to mean that he had at laasu two fingers on thf.keyboard throughout the time, unless the'conditions of the" exhibition permited the employment of his nose. During the twenty-fours. Mr Woodcock took no other refreshment than, some beef-tea and an occasional cigar.