Miss Jessie Maclachlan at the Opera House.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8146, 21 November 1905, Page 5

Miss Jessie Maclachlan at the Opera House.

An Enthusiastic Audience.

The Opera House held an extraordinarily enthusiastic audience hist evening on the first appearance in this town of Miss Jessie Maclachlan and her concert company. Miss Maclachlan has been described by delighted admirers as the ;' Queen of Scottish song," and last night's concert was ample evidence that the title was well bestowed. Never before have the " auld Scot's sangs " been rendered in this town with such a wealth of musicianly feeling, and the audience last night felt that in truth added beauty accrued to the melodies which had been familiar to them since the happy days of childhood.

Miss Maclaehlan is the possessor of a singularly sweet voice of great range and power, and was heard to great advantage in the number she selected. Her openiffg numbers was a folk song, "The Auld Scots' Sangs," and being rendered iti a most feeling and hiking manner was provocative of hearty and prolonged applause. In response to an imperative recall Miss Maclaohlau sang " Comin' through the llye." For this also she was accorded generous approbation. Her next number contained the bracketed items "' Cronan" and "Blue Bonnets." These two songs formed a marked contrast the one to the other, and served to show the versatility of the singer to the fullest extent; •'; the change from the sweet tones of the lullaby to the martial swing of the latter item being a most distiuct one. This number roused a tumult of applause from the delighted audience, but though the singer was recalled no less than live times the strain of the declamatory effort had been too much and an encore number was withheld. Miss Maclachlah then sang an old favourite in the shape of " Killarncy," and in repy to an undeniable recall gave a charming rendering of " Barney O'llea." Her iirst number in the second part was a Gaelic walking song "Air Fal-al-al-o." For this she also was heartily encored, responding with " The Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond." As a. fitting climax Miss Maclachlau sang " Eule Britannia,'' and was accorded a tremendous ovation as the last rich sweet notes faded away, the applause lasting for some considerable time. During the progress of the performance the singer was made the recipient of several beautiful bouquets from delighted members of the audience.

Although, of course, the chief honors of the evening were taken by Miss Maclachlan, the selections given by Mr Robert Buchanan (the pianist) and Mr John 11 cLinden (the'cellist) were of a very high order. The latter gentleman, especially, gave a splendid performance, and received hearty applause. He is, unquestionably, a clever artist, and this fact was recognised last night by musicians who have heard such first-rate performers as Gerardy, Hambourg and Van Bienc.