CONCERT AT ST. JAMES'S HALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 145, 19 June 1894, Page 2

CONCERT AT ST. JAMES'S HALL.

The first of the series of orchestral and chamber concerts under the management of Mies Clarice Brabazon and Mr S. Adama was given in St. James's Hall, Wellingtonstreet, last evening. Owing to the very unpropitiatory state of the weather prevailing the whole of yesterday, ib had been almost expected that the concert would have to be postponed, but instead of anything of the kind taking place, there was actually a crowded house. The evening wan a most treacherous one for anyone to trust himself out in it, and the large audience at St. James's Hall therefore spoke well for the way in which the entertainment had been looked forward to. An orchestra, consisting of 30 performers, led by Mr Joseph Hemua and conducted by Mr S. Adams, rendered in a masterly manner, an overture by Hermann, " La Souveraine," selections from "Marifcana" and the " Stories," waltz, by St Quentin. Each of these items received the warm applause of the audience, bub the selections from " Maritana " were, perhaps, the most successful. Two piano solos were contributed by Miss Clarice Brabazon, " Balmoral" and an intermezzo descriptive of a sleigh ride to Moscow, each of which was a really artistic interpretation, and were received with enthusiastic applause, an encore piece being given in each instance. Miss Brabazon's brilliant playing cannot be too highly commended. An effective rendering of "Let Me Like a Soldier Fall" waa given fay Monsieur Henri Casier, who also contributed Rossini's favourite solo, "Cujus Animam." M. Casier possesses a voice which is undoubtedly of greab power and range, but it has evidently Buffered from the strain of a number of years of heavy work in an operatic chorus. Miss Lizzie Warren, the favourite soprano, gave a very successful rendition of "The Carnival" (encored), and also took part in the duet, ••In the Dusk of the Twilight" (from " Madame Favart ") with Mr Horace Stebbing. The last-named alaoconfcributed "The Miner's Dream of Home," in which, however, he was nob quite so successful as in the "Sleeping Camp." For his excellent interpretation of this he was accorded hearty applause, and .on returning gave "Estudiantina." Master Gerald Ralph, a pupil of Mr S. Adams, and scarcely more than eight yearß of age, undertook a violin solo, "Blue Bella of Scotland," and played in a manner which fairly brought down the house. This young violinist givos great promise of a successful career. In her two items, Miss Daviea was also a pronounced success, her beautiful contralto voice being aptly suited to the songs she had selected. For her admirable rendering of " Will He Come " anfl " Last Muster " she was recalled, and in the first case contributed another item. A string quintette, consisting of Mr J. H. Edwards, Mr S. Adams and pupila, aleo added an item to the programme, giving an excellent renderwg of a minuet.