WATKIN MILLS' CONCERT CO.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 8909, 25 October 1905, Page 8

WATKIN MILLS' CONCERT CO.

The return visit of this quartette of great artists had been eagerly anticipated by the people of Hawera, and the audience that assembled at the Opera House last night must have shown the company that although they have often had larger bodies of listeners, they have seldom had more enthusiasm shown in appreciation of their work. Each of them was at the best and gave a performance that will long be -remembered with keen delight by every one who had the pleasure of hearing it Mr Watkin Mills' first number was that fine song from Mendelssohn's operetta ("Son and Stranger") "I am a Roamer," and he sang it in a way that took his ai-dienee. by storm His enunciation in this quasi- "patter" song was perfect. He was enthusiastically recalled, and added the patriotic "Plymouth Hoe" and the listeners -would fain have had another. A fine song was "The Trumpeter," and this •was eung with grand effect. Before his listeners would let him go, he had to give them "Richard of Taunton Dean,"' in his own inimitable style and the lovely song. "The Sweetest Flower."

Miss Kirk-wood, the soprano, charmed every one with her singing. Her voice, though light", is clear as a bell, and has a quality in it that seems to be quite her own. ' The way she used her voice was a perfect treat. Her art., too, is beyond reproach. Ellei Cnldwell's lovely song, "April," suited her well and she sang it- in excellent style. As an encore she lepeated that little song ''Ninepenny Fidel," which was such a favorite at the foimer concert. In her second number, two braketed songs, "Fairy's Lulaby" and "Love's Echo," 6he fairly excelled herself, singing the latter especially in exquisite taste and with dainty effect. "Scottish Blue Bells" was added for an encore. Miss Lonsdale's singing served to add to the good opinion heJd of her excellent quality of voice. While it is good all through her range, it is particularly rich and full in ihe middle registe-r. Possessing a power of expressing deep feeling, she was very good in her Tendering of Bossi's "Doubtful Lover," winning heiself an enthusiastic recall. She added the pretty song, "Come Close, Beloved." Her great success was achieved bj' her singing of "Melisande in the Wood," and the "Happy Song.'' Both of these gave her opportunities of showing to the full her range, power, and fullness of tone. The old ballad, "Allan Water," was her encore number.

Mr Harold Wilde was recalled for his finished singing of the lovely air, "0 Vision Entrancing." His second .number, "Ailsa Mine," was sung with great feeling and well deserved the encore he received. "The Death of Nelson," included by special Tequest, was very finely sung and appealed to the patriotic feelings of the audience.

No member of the party was listened to with keener appreciation and delight than M. Ediwrd Patlovitz. Always graceful and finished in his playing, he seemed lastnight to play with more spirit and the result was that he roused his audience to a great pitch of enthusiasm. In the "s'loskowski" valse and the "Irish Rhapsodic," he 'was equally good. His technique is perfect, he has brilliant execution and exquisite touch. Encored for both solos, he added ' two little pieres, each called ".Butterflies," one by Gr.ieg and the other by L Olsm. The latter was a perfect! gem and left the audience wishing for moTei, His accompaniments, too, wore a feature of the concert. He appears never to forget that the singer has the 6010, and subdues his part, making the accompaniment exactly what it should be, the complement, of the song. The song cycle, "Persian Garden," altered from the "Flora's Holiday" at the request of some Hawera enthusiasts, pTOved even more popular than the cycle given at the former concert. The music is very pretty and suits the words exactly. The opening quartette "Wake! For the Sun," is a bright, attractive piece of concerted music and was sung in a joyous and spirited style. Perhaps the most effective quartette was the last "Alas! that Springs .should vanish," the unaccompanied portion making one wish that more of their work was so sung. In the solo -work, particularly good were the contralto. "I Sometimes Think," the bass, "Ah! Make the Most of What We yet may Spend." t-bo soprano, "I sent ->iy Soul," and the tenor, "All! Moon of My Delight." In this last Mr Wilde scored his greatest success of the evening. ,The opening bars of the quartette. "They say the Lion," for tenor and bass were very fine, and the duej> for soprano and tenor, "A Book of Versos" showed the two voices in jieriect blending. The- pianist, had a very good piano on which to perform, a Lipp, from the Dresden Company. The tone was full and rich.

All 1 the members of the quintette have been charmed with their lour of New Zealand. They are enthusiastic over the country, and think highly of the reception given them wherever they ha.vc performed. They leave by express train tonight for Auckland, en route for America. Wo wish them bon voyage a.nd express the hope that it will not be long before they return to the colony for another Umr. •when they may expect an even more enthusiastic welcome tnam was given them on the present occasion.

Wharipakanga, a native, was Irrouglit before Messrs Robbins and Bayley. J.P.'s. this morning, at the court, and charged with drunkenness and damaging a bicycle, the property of L. Joseph. The offences were committed on Tuesday. Accused was fined 3s 6d for damage to the machine and 2s 6d for being drunk, and a prohibition order to take effect in the Patea and Hawera districts was issued against him.