ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 119, 16 November 1900, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

THE LILI SHARP-RAFALEWSKI CONCERTS. Miss Lili Sharp and M. Rafalewslri, two musicians of Australian repute, opened their Wellington concert season (it the Opera House last evening. Miss Sharp is a soprano of undoubted merit, gifted with a voice of remarkable range, which she has cultivated to very marked advantage. The voice is puro and fresh, and of considerable power and flexibility, and ite upper register is of particular sweetness. Miss Sharp's first contribution to the programme was the "Qua la Voce" of Bellini, which she sang with excellent judgment, earning an enthusiastic encore, to which she responded with the "Aye Maria" adapted' from Moscagni's "Cayalleria" Intermezzo. Later in the evening the lady gave a very pleasing performance of Pinsuti's "Sweetly Sleep," and added Sullivan's "Poor Wandei|lng One" when recalled!; and she closed the concert with Toati's "Good bye." M. Rafalewski comes before us in two capacities — botih as violinist and pianist. His more pronounced merits are in respect of the smaller instrument, which he uses with much ability, though his treatment of some of the themes he chose last night differed from that of other artists who have visited us. His violin selections were Sarasate's "Zigeunerweisen" and a composition of his own, and in compliance with an encore he added a Chopin Nocturne. As a pianist, M. Rafelewski has cultivated the picturesque rather than the poetio side of his art, and he obtains effects from the instrument which are certainly striking as products of clever technique, and which few pianists who have visited us have attempted. He began the concert with a perf omiance of Liszt's transcription of the overture to Rossini'a "William Tell," in which the supplementary effect of turning, down the lights at, the "storm" representation is not to oe commended. The audience were well pleased with the item, and enforced an encore, whereupon the soloist added a Rubenstein Etude. Another Liszt number wqs one of the composer's well-known Hungarian rhapsodies, to which, Aye gathered from the programme, the performer's improving hand had in one place been applied. It also won M. Rafalewski an encore, and in response he grave his own arrangement of "Home, Sweet Home." In the absence through indisposition of Mr. Williamson, the tenor of the company, Mr. E. J. Hill contributed two pleasing ballads, one of which was encored. Mrs. A. Levi and Mrs. Mount rendered assistance with the accompaniments. Another concert is announced for this evening, when Miss Sharp will sing the scena " La Placida " from " II Trovatore," Cowen's "The Swallows," and Goring Thomas's "Wind; in the Trees;" while M. Rafalewski will play as piano solos a Berceuse and an Etude by Chopin. The attractive variety bill-of-fare provided nightly l)y Dixs Gaiety Company brought another large audience to the Exchange Hall last evening. Every item' met with demonstrations of approval. Messrs. Tom Leonard and Johnny Collins, Misses Ivy Foster, Alice Layton, and the Staunfcon Sisters were each in turn tendered encores, and often a second and even a third recall failed to satisfy the audience. -Professor Davy's Royal Marionettes were again a great source of amusement. They are to appear for the last timfc to-morrow evening. , A matinee has been arranged for to-morrow afternoon, when ohildron will be admitted to all parts of the house at half-price. In the evening there will be a complete change of programme. Fuller's B^jbu Company again had a large audience at the Choral Hall last night. Mr. Fred Bluett's songs and patter, the clever dancing of Sivroni, and the singing of Misses Barlow, Salvini, and Blackie, the character sketches of Mr. Percy James, the coster impersonations and topical allusions of Miss Lottie Lome, the company's newest star, and the amusing by-play of Master Bain, all kept the house in excellent humour, and <a shower of silver coin was rained upon the boy comedian. A change of programme is announced for .Saturday night, when new artists will appear. Kudarz, the illusionist, is still the chief attraction^ at, the Federal Theatre. The gymnastic feats of the Roselles are also worth witnessing. The entertainment will be repeated to-night. Last night at St. Peter's Schoolroom the pupils of ( St. Francis Xavier's Academy gave a dramatic and musical entertainment in aid of their prize fund. The body of" the hall was well filled, and much applause was bestowed throughout the evening. A piano trio by Misses Lawton, Barrow, and Meehan opened the programme, and the operetta "Rumpelstiltskin" followed. The chief characters were filled by Misses Wright, F. Moran, F. Levett, Callan, G. Bonner, Daly, and Chamberlain, and these were supported by a host, df little, ladies dressed in all the colours of the rainbow. ' Miss Wright, as King Cole, gave a pleasing reading of her part. The remainder of the cast suffered from nervousness, but all did their work ve"ry prettily. The operetta was interspersed throughout with Spanish dances, songs, violin and piano duets., and a toy symphony, the last-named being a distinct novelty. The accompanists were Misses Callan and M'Sherry, and Miss Julia Moran played a violin obbligato to Miss Barrow's song. The entertainment concluded with a farce entitled "Cupboard Love," in Which Misses F. Moran, Marshall, and Wright appeared. To-night the performance will be repeated. Visitors to and residents in Worser 3ay are reminded that a special musical treat will be given them at Hearn's Kiosk to-morrow evening in the form of a miscellaneous concert, " to be followed by a performance of Dibdin's operetta "The Waterman" by the Kahakura Dramatic Club. There will also be a dance, and a special brake will return to town at 11.30. Hearn's Saturday evening brake leaves the Royal Oak Hotel at 5.15 p.m. The weekly meeting of the Literary and Debating Society of the Marist Brothers' Schools Old Boys 'Association was held in St. Patrick's Hall last evening, Mr. J. Kays in the chair 1 , anu was devoted to impromptu debates. A paper on Imperial federation evoked much discussion, is'ext Thursday evening "Original Papers" will be read, and the parts for "Trial by Jury" will be allotted 7 The Wellington members of the Gaiety Company and a few personal friends have sent a. handsome sqUd silver combination cigarette and sovereign case to Mr. P. R. Dix, whose birthday occurs to-morrow. New people who are to appear next week at the Choral Hall will be Master Reggie Reynolds, a local 12-year-old pupil of Sivroni, and the Tylers, who do a Risley act. • Last evening a "social" gathering held in St. • John's Schoolroom was made the occasion by the members of the Girls' Senior Bitjle Class of >making a presentation to Miss Glasgpw, their teacher, who is leaving fox Dunedin. After eulogistic remarks* by the Rev. Jas. Paterson and Mr. Wm. Hopkirk (a superintendent) both of whom expressed regret at the loss to the school of such a valuable teacher, Miss J.essie Thorburn, in the name of her class-mates, handed Miss Glasgow a, large group photograph of the . class. , Miss Glasgow made a feeling and suitable reYesterday evening the residents of Kha«dallah assembled in the local hall to make the preliminary arrangements in connection with the reception which it

is proposed should be accorded to Trooper James Nairn, of that place, on his return from' South Africa. Mr. Richardson was in the chair, and Mr. F. Twies was appointed Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. Trpoper Nairn is expected back in about a fortnight or three weeks. It was decided that a. presentation should be made at a- "social" in the hall shortly after his arrival. Those present" at the meeting last night formed themselves into a committee for the furtherance of the object in view. Another meeting will be held in about ten days, due notice of which will be given. Las.t night at the Oddfellows' Hall, Upper Hutt, a "social" was held in honour of Miss E. Haybittle, who is about to leave the district. Miss Haybittle has been organist -of St. John's .Anglican Church for the past four years, and the congregation took this opportunity of acknowledging her gratuitous work by asking her to accept a silver tea service. Mr. H. E. Rawson, as churchwarden, made the presentation, and at the same time handed Miss Haybittle a separate gift pn behalf of St. John's vestry. The annual "social" of the Kilbirnie Residents' Cricket Club will be held tonight. A large number of invitations have been issued for a garden party, which is to be held at the Girls' High School, in connection with the pupils' sports on Friday, the 30th instant.