AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 172, 20 July 1907, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

There was a large and enthusiastic attendance at His Majesty's Theatre last night, when Miss Jessie Maclachlan and her concert company gave the fourth concert of their season. The items were listened to with rapt atten- , tipn, and most of the items were en- | cored. Miss Maclachlan sang " The Flowers of the Forest, " The Rowan Tree," "Hail to the Chief," "Mo Dhachaidh," and " Rule Britannia." The duet, " Hoo can ye tii»r>g. Laddie ?" which she sang with Mr. Douglas Young, was certainly one of the best of the evening, and the two singers were called for an encore, responding with '•' Huntingtower." Mr. D. Young sang " The Old Countrie," "Draw the Swrod, Scotland," and '"'Annie Laurie." Mr, John McLinden rendered a number of 'cello selections, all of which received special recognition from the audience. The programme of to-night's concert, with which the season will close, is a particularly fine one.

The distinguished vocalist, will sing, among her programme items, "The Lost Chord" (with 'cello obligato), "Loch Lomon'," preceded by a brief allusion to the touchingly beautiful story on which the song is founded, " Kate O'Shane," " Blue Bonnets," "Land o' the Leal." The St. Andrew's Society Pipe Band will parade in Queen-street during the evening, and prior- to the concert will march in front of Miss Maclaehlan's carriage from the Star Hotel to the Theatre.

gra:vd opera season.

Interest in the visit to Auckland of Mr. George Musgrove's Grand Opera Company increases as the time for the opening performance approaches. The company, consisting of ninety-eight members, will arrive from Sydney by the s.s. Mokoia to-morrow. During the short season in this city eight operas will be produced, with the same completeness in regard to scenery, costuming, and lighting effects that distinguish Mr. Musgrove's management. The Auckland season will open on Monday night with the presentation of Wagner's " Lohengrin." In describing the first performance of this work in Melbourne as brilliant, the critic on the " Melbourne Argus " said: —" The vast audience came with open mind, ■wilI ling to concede a great deal to artists I working on lines in many respects diametrically opposite to familiar Italian and English methods. No such concession, however, was necessary. Every, member of the company triumphed by genuine artistry. While Fraulein Heinze's Ortrud stood out from the picture with unusual brilliance, the high level of the entire cast made the performance considerably in advance of anything previously heard here. Among some general features special mention is due to the carefully studied stage management. The scenic effects in Wagner are an integral part of his scheme, and, thanks to Herr Greder, the stage manager, a series of splendid expressive situations, all as deftly connected as a modulation in the composer's score, were presented." The opera will be started at ".40 sharp, and the time each opera commences will be specially .advertised each day. In the interests of music-lovers the doors will remain closed, and on no account will anyone be admitted during the performance of each act. A good servipe of trams will run to all suburbs after the opera.

MISS MAKIE TTAT;T,

The musical public of Auckland will have an opportunity of hearing the celebrated- violiniste, Miss Marie HalL who is to give a series of three recitations in the Choral Hall, commencing Thursday evening next, under the direction of J. and N. Tait, of Melbourne. Miss Hall inaugurated her New Zealand tour on July 4th, at the Town Hall, Wellington, and has since apeared in Dunedin and Christchurch, meeting with the greatest success everywhere. The box plan for the three concerts opens on Monday morning at Wildman and Arey's.