MADAM ANTOINETTE STERLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 139, 14 June 1893, Page 8

MADAM ANTOINETTE STERLING.

Madam Antoinette Sterling, the celebrated English contralto, who is now charming large and enthusiastic audiences in Auefcralia is announced to appear in Ailckland on Tu.esday week, the 27th of June. Mr L. J. Lohr, tho manager of the queen of contraltos, arrived yesterday per Tarawera from Sydney, to make arraugenionta for her appearance in this city. Ho states that her stay in Auckland wf.ll have to be of a very brief nature, as this distinguished lady ie giving 12 concerts only in New Zealand, thus t»vo concerts only will be given here. Madame S'cerlinp having to leave the Bluff on the laiii of July to enter into contracts already ex istinfj in Australia, her Now Zo.aland tour will be the quickest on record, as only a fortnight will elapse between her arrival find departure from our shores. Concerning her laak concert in Melbourne this day week, tho " Ago " has the following :— "On a would have to search the ancient btstori cal annals of the City of Melbourne to discover an occasion when the Town Hall contained more people than it did last right ; in fact, one would be inclined to sajr that, if ever there wera such an occasion eibh'er the Town Hall of those days must have beon bigger or tho people smaller than the y are to-da>. From end to end of the bu tiding, from organ loft and south gallery, or i the"floor of tho houae and round the balconies, not a vacant-space could bo noticed; and evan in London, where -Madame Sterling is worshipped dike For her artistic qualities and for the good she is always doing, she can rarely have been greeted by a more closely packed audience. A more striking commentary on tha suppnped ' impscuniosity ' of Melbourne could hardly bo imagined ; but then our visitor has other ways to win our hearts than merely singing; to us. Some of her Saturday and Holiday exploits among the prisoners, the Salvationists and tho unemployed have already been recorded in the papers ; and yesterday sho spent about five hours going round fco the various hospitals, singing to (ho pationts and talking to them in that bright, cheery way, which is tho secret; of half her magnetic inflnoncoover those with I whom she comes in contact. Such a prolonged strain could not but tell on the voice, since even Madame Sterling's magnificent organ 13 liable to get out of order with too reckless handling ; and, as sho j*ood humouredly said in a little speech to the audience, her higher notes had becorno unreliable, though, of course, she was applauded to the echo when sho explained the reason. The ration d'etre of the speech was to announce that she had arranged to give a little concert to-day at 1 o'clock, for the benefit of the Melbourne charities, and for this act of genuine kindness tho Alayor tendered her on behalf of tho citizens his heartiest thanks. The hour is of course an unusual one, and the notice is short; the former being necessitated by Madame's departure for Sydney in the afternoon ; and the latter by the thoroughly impromptu nature of the (It'eventuated in Madam Sterling handing over £150 to the Mayor.)