AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14976, 23 April 1909, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

TH E, ? (ELBA CONCERT. Evon those who do not see eye to eye with the adorators of the greatest dramatic soprano of tho day in the matter of temperament have never hesitated to admit fully and freely that hoi- vocal equipment and her technique are beyond all praise, and it was with the comfortable certainty, bred of a previous experience, that she w-ould provide a memorable treat that the city sought, its way to His Majesty’s Theatre last, night. That false, spendthrift jade, Memory, for once did not deceive them, but had iu store for them the pleasure of hearing a Melba who had left some of the old faiths and come nearor to perfection. Any notice of the diva’s singing must, of course, bo more in the nature of an appreciation than a criticism, and metaphor and simile have long since been exhausted in attempting to put into words some Teileotion of a voice that is “ pure as tho dawn, pathetic as the sea. and true as is the sunray to the sun.” That horrible person, the musical expert, will talk of the frontal quality of her voice while admitting its marvellous precision, its perfect balance and production, and its splendid ease and flexibility, and then having exhausted the set terms of description will fall to penning pretty comparisons, and will come away telling now' she filled the hall with ringing as the skylark fills the sky with the olden, golden-tea need song, familiar, rich and strange. Little masters make a toy of song till grave men grow weary of the sound of rhyme, hut the transcendental artist in the end idealises himself. It is iu between theso extremes that Melba finds her niche. Those “ sooth-sayers in a tea-cup ” who claim that her voice is articulate laughter, that, her artle«sness is the artlessneas that only art commands, that tier's is a. perfection, that will not recur, and that the beautiful distractions of her ringing are the union of the soul of music and the soul of passion, can point to the peak-tops of attainment in support of their contentions, and there is no answer for them save the one tiny reservation that that voice is sometimes sacrificed at the altar of the villa, resident in ringing compositions which are utterly unworthy of its splendour.. 1 Song is not necessarily Truth and not necessarily Wisdom, hut it is “tho rose upon. Truth’s lies and the light, in Wisdom’s eves.” But, it becomes neither when Melba wilfully melodramatises Tosti’s “ Good-bye.” and tells the story of her “Cornin’ Through the Rye.” For the rest., there cannot he a sufficient, appreciation of her magnificent and. riotous wealth of music. The marvellous flexibility of her voice, its absolute pureness, and its sweet and liquid clarity were heard to perfection in the richlv-coloured mad scene from “Lucia,” whilst her singing of the dramatic recitative and air, “Ah tors' o Ini,” showed that the warmth and feeling which some of her critics have denied her are an essential part of her lordly gift. It is not necessary or desirable to follow her note by note through her elaborate programme. She gave largesse of her beautiful voico unsparingly, and in her dramatic numbers there was more than a. suggestion of what a. wonderful woman she must bo when the mise on scene of grand opera is added to her talent. Miss IJna Bourne, the solo pianist of the company, is a clean and clever player, although she is somewhat lacking iu breadth. Tho better of her numbers was tho Chopin “ Polonaise,” although some portions were played far too quickly. The Liszt “ Rhapsodic ”is a. tour do, force a little trying for her. Away in the misty past somebody once invented a reference to “ the tunc that the old cow died of.” Nobody seems to know exactly wbafc the tune was, but the inevitable poet, has written: It sleeps well, that honied head, AVo poor lads, ’ties our turn now To hear such times as killed the cow.

It is not, perhaps, tho most elegant suggestion in the world, but it serves to point the protest that must be made against so many singers who fail to realise that their gift of song is given to them for better uses than to waste upon the scores of trivialities which flow with sickly iteration from the minor composers of tho hour. Mr Frederick Ranalow, the baritone of the concert party, has a really fine voice of rich . quality and full round tone, which ho uses admirably, but lie quite ruined its effectiveness by selecting a. series of thin and pinchbeck ballads for its exploitation. His most successful number was the opening one, ‘‘l Hear You Calling Mo.” He at. once established a strong sympathy with his audience, and scored a triple encore in the second part of tho programme. Mr John Lemmone, the flautist, retains his well-remembered silver purity of tone, and there is assuredly none like him at this end of the world. He played a tricky Caprice, which is really a story in ononiatopcnia, entitled “Wind Among the Trees.” To-night an entirely now programme will tie presented. COLOSSEUM. The Wide World Picture Syndicate can fairly claim to possess a large number of friends. The audience which was attracted by the weekly change of programme to tho Colosseum last evening was an exceptionally largo one, and people were sitting even on the floor, while numbers were turned away, unable to gain even standing room. The programme comprised a large number of exceedingly good pictures. Among tho pictures of educational ” value were ‘‘ Coffee Cultivation,” “India of To-day ” and “ The Principles of the Gyroscope.” “ The Lighthouse Keeper ” was a film of considerable dramatic interest, and a lino effect was produced in it by a representation of the launching of a lifeboat. “ Winter Sports in Savoy” was a picture that described very clearly skating and sleighing feats accomplished in the neighbourhood of Mont Blanc. The programme included a wealth of comic pictures which found high favour with the audience, “ A Cure for Bashfulness ” being a particularly laughable one. Other humorous films that were very well received were “Mr Fearly doesn’t like Policemen,” “Why Father Learnt to Bid©,” and “Weary Willie goes to a Carnival.” The programme will bo presented this evening. OPERA HOUSE. There was a good attendance at the Opera House last night, when a number of attractive biograpli pictures were shown, including some very good humorous films, which met with hearty applause. Tho oinephone added mucti to the success of the entertainment. Tho programme will bo repeated this evening. THE CLNQUEVALLI SEASON. Mr Harry Rickards’s company of vaudeville artists, most of whom are new to Christchurch audiences, will appear this evening at. tho Theatre Royal. The company arrived last night by the express from Dunedin. The programmo will include many novelties that may bo expectod to provide excellent entertainment. Tho company comprises prominent artists of the vaudovillo stage who for tho most part were engaged by Mr Rickards during his last visit to England, America and Europe. Paul Cinquovalli is already known and admired in Christchurch. Frank and Jen Latona, American musical specialty artists, have been successful elsewhere, and it is said of Jen Latona. that she is one of the most popular comediennes of the day. Ball-punching and trick cycling will bo the features of a turn by Lawson and Namon. Mackkinnon’s Scottish Moisters, Guest and Newlyn, Mr Thom Dawson, MLsa

Fanny Powers, Miss Nellie Maunsell and Mr Arthur Harris-will complete a programme of considerable variety. The box plan is at the Dresden, and early door day sales tickets are obtainable at Mr Woodward’s.