PROFESSOR ZIMMERMANN'S CONCERTS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 244, 14 October 1891, Page 2

PROFESSOR ZIMMERMANN'S CONCERTS.

Lasfc evening the first of Herr Zimraermann s series of threa subscription concerts took place at the Provincial Hall. The audience was of very satisfactory dimensions considering the number of rival attractions, and was moreover both sympathetic and intelligent. They had a musical treat of high quality, and they seemed to recognise the i'aofe in a manner that must have been gratifying to the beneficiarie, Herr Zimmermann own selections were out of the beaten traok, and were oerbainly new to the great majority of the audience. la the first part he played a sonata by Grieg, which Lady Hallo has lately been makiDg familiar to Sydney audiences. Grreig'a music doe3 not please everybody, but if it seldom rises to any great height of inspiration, it is, when followed carefully, exceedingly interesting and clever. It has a distinctive character of its own, and if it does not satisfy like Beethoven, we musb re-* member that there is but one Beethoven. Herr Zimmermann played the sonata finely, and was well accompanied by Miss Greenwood. Sohumann supplied the rest of the violinist's repertoire (except for the " Mar« sellaise"); - three ' Fantasiestiicke," and a lovely movement from the Grand Sonata, Op. 121, being the selected portions from that master. The former were very difficult, especially the third, and Miss Jackson and Herr Zimmermann shared the honours of an exceedingly brilliant performance. The sonata movement was exquisite, the melody opening in pizzicato, and being repeated with the bow. Miss L. Fell played the accompaniment with great taste and delicaoy. The solo vocalists were Mrs Houlker, Mrs P. Adams, Mrs Patterson, and Mr Lucas, Mrs Houlker chose "Che Faro," the well known lament in Gluck's " Orfeo." The song is a favourite with great singers, but one might travel a long way without hearing a purer or richer rendering of it than that given last night. We certainly doubt if such singing has ever been heard iu Nelson. Mrs Houlker responded to an encore with a song which we did not recognise. Mrs Adams was very successful in a bright -and piquant Gipsy Song from the operetta " Rival Beauties," the difficult aocompaniment being oleverly played by Miss Jackson. The song was repeated. Mrs Patterson sang " Sohuberb'a " Ave Maria " with a cultivated voice and good style, and Mr Lucas was pleasing in "My Life for Thee." There were two vocal concerted pieces, the trio "I Naviganti " by Mrs Houlker, Rev J. P. Kempthorne, and Mr Graoe Crepeated), and Pinsuti's quartet, "In this hour of softened splendour," by Mesdames Houlker and P. Adams and Messrs Fell and Grace. Both pieces were familiar, but were none the lees acceptable. The orchestra had the opening and closing of the performance, the first piece being selections from "Maritana," which went with a good swing, and the last an arrangement by the conductor of the "NympHe de Diana" ballet, whioh so fetched the audience that it was redemanded. We have to thank Herr Zimmerraauu for a most interesting evening, and we hope that the remaining concerts of the series may be equally, if not more, successful,