ENTERTAINMENTS.

Mataura Ensign, 27 January 1912, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MR BUCKLEY'S CONCERT. During the past few months Mr Baxter Buckley has been responsible for a series of delightful pianoforte recitals at Gore, and it can only be with a feeling of regret that one realises that the enjoyable recital of last evening was the last of the series. Mr Buckley having decided to take up his residence in Wellington. The recital last evening was in every respect equal to previous ones and was indeed in many ways superior. Mr Buckley again set himself a most difficult programme of pieces essentially classical. His recital opened with the ragged though delightful "Fantasia Cromatica et Fuga, D minor" (Bach), which was played with rare expression and understanding. At a later stage Mr Buckley contributed Schumann's "Grand Sonata in F sharp , minor, Op. II," which was enjoyable throughout, the rendition of the aria and the delightful scherzo being particularly pleasing. In the second part of the programme Grieg's "Grand Concerto in A minor" (first movement) proved most enjoyable, the music being interpreted in all its magnificence and grandeur. Miss M. C. Brett acceptably played the orchestral parts on a second piano. Mr Buckley cow-hided his recital with a series of solos—"Polonaise" (MacDowell), "Sehwauongosang" (Farjeon), "Nenia" (Sgainhat.j) and "Etude de Concert" (MacDowell), proving himself as much at homo with the more modern masters as with the older classics. In response- to demands for an encore Mr Buckley contributed Beethoven's "Adieu." Mr Buckley's exposition throughout was masterly and brilliant, his lingering and fine temperamental playing constituting a perfect joy. The vocalists last evening were Mrs A. Christie, who is well known at Gore, and Mr John Leech, of Duncdin. Mrs Christie was in particularly good voice, her delightful rendition of "When the Heart is Young" (Dudley Buck) bringing demands for an encore which were responded to with the contribution of "I Think." Mrs Christie's best number, however, was contributed later when she sang the immortal "Die Lorelei" (Liszt) with rare feeling and understanding. Her encore number, "0 Fair and Sweet and Holy" (Rubenstein) was also fully enjoyable. MiLeech, who is the possessor of a tenor voico of remarkable range and power, established himself firmiy before the evening was over. His first numbers were "Kashmiri Song" (WoodfordeFinden) and "Love, I Have Won You" (Landon Ronald), an encore being contributed in "I Hear You Calling Me" (Marshall). Later Mr Leech's singing of "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes" (Sullivan) met with warm approval and insistent demands for an encore. In response to a special request the singer contributed Gounod's magnificent "Lend Me Your Aid," but, although the number was enjoyable, it would have been better to have contributed it earlier in the evening, as the singing of such a song after other numbers must necessarily produce a strain and we are sure MiLeech did not do justice to himself. The solo met with most enthusiastic approval, however, and further encores being demanded Mr Leech contributed the delightful little Irish song, "To My First Love" (Lohr) with great success. Demands for more were still insistent but Mr Leech wisely declined. Taken all through the concert was a pronounced success, every item being enjoyable, and Mr Buckley is to be congratulated. ' »

MR JOSEPH BLASCHECK. Tn giving his impressions of Mr Joseph Blascheck "An Old Playgoer" says: "I had read somewhere (1 think it was in the 'Sydney Morning Herald') that 'Blascheck was a genius' and that 'he excelled in pathos and in humor and was perfect in both.' 1 must confess I read this with a grain of salt. Genius is a big word and I 'winked the other eye.' However, I was curious to see this entertainer who had taken the .town by storm, so I paid my modest shilling and sat with 'the gods.' On the stroke of eight, without any preliminary flourish of trumpets, a pleasant little gentleman with a merry twinkle in his eye stepped on the stage, leading to the piano a tall, handsome lady, who ran her fingers over the keyboard and the performance commenced. There was no fuss—no 'swank' (an ugly but expressive word), no posing for effect—but the two artists secured the interested attention of the audience immediately by a witty little duet touching upon some of the peculiarities of concerts and concert-goers. It waa cleverly done and served as an excellent introduction to what was to follow. We were then treated to a fine character study of,one of those lying old humbugs such as W. W. Jacobs has made us familiar with in his inimitable stories. Blascheck didn't paint his face or change his evening dress for a greasy jersey and a sou'-wester, but all the samo we saw and heard that rustyvoiced old beer-soaker pitch his untruthful but excruciatingly funny yarn as distinctly and as effectively as if that individual himself had just stept ned ashore from his dirty old coal barge. I commenced to realise that J was listening to no ordinary entertainer or humorist, but to a man < apable of putting the spark of life ir.to the dry bones of words which an anchor has to use to convey the creations of his mind. By this time wo (the audience) were thoroughly interesbul, and then like a flash the performer completely changed his identity and we found ourselves following the fortunes of a love-sick yokel who sent us into fits of laughter by an account of remarkable- versatility. It was startling. J . . . but it would take too long to enumerate in detail the feast of good things that were put before us. I can only refer to a few of the gems of characterisation presented by the gifted performer. The programme included, on the evening I refer to, Biascheck's marvellous study of an old Justice of the Peace—a wonderful presentation of an East End coster—the charming story of the "Little Red Ribbon" (all written and composed by the performer himself), and the most dramatic and original rendering of Marc Anthony's oration over the bodv of Julius Caesar that I have ever heard in my life. What a range of subjects—what an extraordinary exhibition of versatility! Yes, the man is a genius; there is not other word that describes him."