HERR FRANCIK'S CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 68, 20 March 1894, Page 2

HERR FRANCIK'S CONCERT.

Herr Francik has good reason to feel satisfied wibh the Auckland musical public, and they have equally good reason to feel satisfied wibh bim. Yesberday evening bhey attended in very considerable numbers at the Choral Hall, and accorded him a most hearty reception, while he, on his parb, did everything to merib bheir approval. His Excellency the Governor, Lady Glasgow and suite, were presenb among the audience. Herr Francik was assisted by Mr Towsey, Mr A. L. Edwards and Mrs Coates, and by a young lady vocalisb and pianist, Miss Lily Cameron, who made her firsb bow bo an Auckland audience yesberday. The violinist comes bo us with exceptionally high testimonials. He has distinguished himself in some Of the chief musical schools of the Continent of Europe, and, ab one time, was violinist to bhe balenbed Queen of Rouraania, better known perhaps under her norn deplume Carmen Sylva. The chief distinguishing feature of Herr Francik's playing as heard lasb night is his wonderful manual dexterity in bhe most intricate passages. He has hia instrument mosb perfectly under his control—indeed, so much so, thab he is tempted and yields to the temptation to perform musical tours de gobelets if anything too often. To the general audience bhese displays seem always welcome, and yesterday bhe applause which greeted the violinist was much the loudest at the conclusion of those pieces such as Sarasate'a " Gipsy Melodies,'' where his bow leapt wibh a lightening rapidity and his fingers performed marvels of execubion on bhe simple strings. Added to this dexterity, Herr Francik possesses a firm, smooth and delicate touch. As we have jusb said, he gained the greatest applause for bis performance of the "Gipsy Melodies." When he had finished the audience was so insistent in its demands for an oncore that the violinist had to appear again, and was not allowed to leave' the stage until he had played Ernst's " Eligie." In Leonard's Fahtasie "Souvenir de Haydn," Herr Francik gave a further proof of his powers of execubion, ! conquering wibh apparent ease the difficulties wibh which the arrangement of the famous hymn to bhe Emperor fairly brisbles. Ab bhe opening of the evening he played in concerb wibh Mr Towsey Smebana's violin and piano duo " Zdomoviny," and broughb jit to a close with a clever rendering of Miska Houser's " Scotch Rhapsodic " Miss Lily Cameron chiefly distinguished herself by a spirited rendering en the piano of Ketterer's concert gallop, while she sang, with no litble success, Schubert's familiar "Soranade." Mrs Coates gave with charming simpliciby Adams' " Holy City," and Molloy's " Home, Dearie, Home," while Mr A. Lj~ Edwards, after singing Sb. Quenbin's " Home Dreams," and "Good Nitrht, Fair Maid," had to add another number, " Douglaß Gordon," before he was allowed to go. The singers were all heartily applauded. Throughout the evening, Mr Towsey accompanied on bhe piano. During his residence in Auckland, Herr Francik will give lessons on the violin.