ABBOTT'S OPERA HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 100, 28 April 1888, Page 2

ABBOTT'S OPERA HOUSE.

MISS riHERWIN'S CONCERT COiNt

PANY.

THE audience which assembled at the Opera House last evening on the occasion Of Miss Amy Sherwin's benefit performance was a sight to bo met with only at very rare intervals. Every available scat was occupied, and hundreds were content with standing room. Probably there were about 2,000 people present altogether. Miss Sherwin oven .surpassed her previous performances and afforded her great; audience such a treat as will be remembered for a lifetime, A scene and quartette from " Martha " by Miss Sherwin, Miss Fischer, MrStockwoli and Mr Sherwin was a performance of much excellence, and afforded the prima donna ample scope for display of her wonderful vocal powers, combined with histrionic ability, The singing of the other members of the quartette was also excel lent, and the effect was splendid. Miss Sherwin later on sang " Lo, Here the Gentle Lark," in which she achieved such a brilliant success at a previous concert, and such was the effect upon the audience that their enthusiasm over-ran their discretion. Two encores were insisted on, and • then tho people Boomed absolutely thirsting for more. In response to one recall Miss Hherwin gave " No, Sir, with an originality and spirit which was quite charming, and the second recall brought forth that which many of the audience desired so much to hear, the beautiful negro melody, " Down by the Swance River." 1 b was a gem of the first water, and the gre-.it singer was applauded to the echo, while rich bouquets fell on all sides of her. Passing over several other items, wo comu to the feature of last evening's performance. This was the appearance of Miss Sherwin in the mad .scene from " Lucia- " The impersonation was powerful without tho least degree of exaggeration, and proved that mCs Sherwin's talent is by no means confined to music. The dramatic display was of a high order _of merit, and the rapidly-changing emotions of the character were very naturally and touchingly portrayed. ' The incidental vocal music was suns,' with a power and completeness that held the audience at times almost breathless. Tho air

" Spargi d'Amor" was in ibsolf a gem, tho many beautiful and difficult pas- i sages being interpreted with a degree of perfection that was perfectly charming. Thabeautiful voice of the songstress, accompanied by a cleverly-executed flute obligato, produced a result at once brilliant and highly artistic, and the best expectations of the audience were more than realised. Of the other items on the programme Mis^ Fischer's singing of "Tho Beating of My Own Heart" was a beautiful performance, and tho famous duet from Maritana between Don Cresar and the King of Spain was capitally rendered by Messrs Stockwell and Arthur Sherwin, Both items were well received, and encores had to bo permitted. Mr Stoekwell's beat effort was "Good-bye, Sweetheart, Good bye," sung in response to an oncoro ; the '• Romany Lass," and a very meritorious composition (by Mr Clutsam) entitled "If Love were what the Rose is" being also very well rendered. Mr Lemmono treated tho audience to a very line performance of Tershack's li'ute solo entitled, "The Dance of tho Fairies," and also to the'"Carnival de Venice" with variations in response to a recall. During tho evening Mr Arthur Sherwin"intimated that Mis* Sheuvin intended to leave for Sydney l,v tho mail boat, bur, that the other members of the company proposed to give a popular concert on this (Saturday) evening. Mi<S3 .Sherwin had kindly promised to sing" at the concert if the time fixed for the steamer's departure would permit, and ho hoped that the audience would continue their patronage in any case.