CONCERT.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1549, 11 May 1885, Page 2

CONCERT.

Those who attended the concert given by s Mdme Pauline Rita and Mr Radcliff, assisied by Mr Clutsam. on Saturday evening, in the Oddfollows’ Hall, were amply repaid for the disappointment many of them hid experienced on Thursday evening, when the late arrival of the train pre« eluded the performance announced for them taking place. The three whom we have named are indisputably the best trio of artistes who have ever visited the locality, •i verdict that was endorsed by all who ' heard them. The concert was opened by a species of descriptive lecture on the history i of the flute, given by Mr Radcliff. This lecture ran through the greater part of the evening, interspersed with the scJvernl items on the programme. Commencing with the subject of the pipes of the Early Ages, Mr Radcliff traced their history through the Middle Ages down to the present time. In the course of his remarks he exhibited his rare collection of pipes, and produced on each a sample of the music which they gave forth in the hands of their original owners. Amongst these was, first of all, a human hone pierced with two holes, found near London Bridge, and supposed to be the earliest known specimen of a musical pipe ; and later on a Hungarian pigskin pipe, the supposed original of the bagpipes, a pipe of the days of Shakespeare, a Chinese flute, designated a “ Tye a Malay flute, which was adapted to do extra service cs a weapon of offeuce ; another Cnioese flute, whose tones resembled strongly the comb and paper of boyhood’s days; a New Guinean flute, and some twenty odd others, many of great va’uc from a c dlecior’s point of view, down to the beau'ifully-toned and highly finished instruments with which he has won his renown as the best flautist in the world. Following the first section of his discourse in flute lore came a pianoforte solo by Mr Ge rge Clutsam, tho “ Pas de Sibots.” Mr Clutsam is without exception one of the most promising pianoforte players we have heard. Quite a lad, yet he has shown that the talent whicli made him a name as a boy at Dunedin ouly a few years ago, has been hroughtout iu an extriordinary degree by his training in the Royal Academy of Music at Home, and there is even indication that at some future time he will hold a proud position in the profession he has adopted. Equally good was his pianoforte s-ffo at the opening of the srcoqd part, KowaLki’s “Marche Hongrojae.” The sq >g, ‘‘T ie Bird that came iu Spring,” which was composed specially for Mdme ILu'ine Rita by Sir Juloa Benedict, with flute obligato by Mr Badcliff, had all the great oharm of a fine voice most artistically used, aud so impressed the audience as to secure several h-arty rounds of applause. Another solo cnnti ibuted by Mdme. Rita was Sir Henry Bishop's beautiful “ Lo 1 here the gentle Lark,” also with flute ob’igato by Mr Radcliff. The warm applause which greeted it on its c inclusion was most deserved, and Madame Rita had to respond to an uncompromising enc re. In no other of his works has Verdi lavished so much melody of the pure Italian school as in “ II Trovatore,’’ and in no other l|a« he been so regardless of tho voices of those who might be called upon to fill tho principal parts. He wrote the opera not restricted by tho compass of any particular singers, but give full vent to his genius, leaving the music, as writt n, to those most capable of executing it. In the “ Miserere,’’ the tC3t scene of exponents of the part of Leonora, MMarne Paulina Rita was particularly pleasing, and scored a success that will not readily ba f irgot-en by those who were foitunate enough to be I resent, Mr John Ridcliffe then favored the au lienee with the famihar Si-neb melodv, “ Auld Robin Gray," < n )>.: the bass flute, which was giivn in his be-t style, evoking hearty applause He *hei gave an “ Irish Fantas a ” on the u> lin l-r flute, which was as w-il appreciate! 4s bj.j previous selec inns. As a ftiiah, be rendered >' J caunot tell woat this love may b--,” wl “The M’lgie C.iurn,” fion> “ patiejc-,"

Madame Rita playing the accompaniment on the pianoforte. This morceaux seemed to hit the popular taste, and everyone went home well satisfied with the night’s entertainment.