AMY CASTLES.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 96, 3 May 1902, Page 16

AMY CASTLES.

It is hardly too much to .sa> that everyone m Wellington is on the tip-too of eagerness to see, and above all to hear Ann Ca&tle^ At this end of the world we seemed doomed to hear only the w oild'*, gi eatest singers in the decline ol theur caieer, when their powers, aie well past then pum« But here is. an artist at the very outset of her caieer, with her fame already established, the world at her feet, and her \ocal gifte unspoiled by use. She comes to us fresh from her brilliant triumphs at Melbourne and Sydney, where !'oi visits have been like a royal progiess. Kulogies of the w armest kind have been heaped upon her All the leading critics unite in singing hei praises Heie is what the Argus'' sa\s — Mis>s Castle's \ oice l.s still what it hjs when she left Victoria It is a soprano of peculiarly captivating quality. Her \ocal tone is hnn, bioad, and lesonant Hei notes are insistent in acoustic effect without being too incisively penetrative The texture of the \ oice is —to use a tei m sanctioned by such a gieat musician as Thalberg- — ' velvet ." The tones caress the ear rather than strike it She gives yon the idea that she must sing though she die foi it Nature has favoured ' er with a mauellous gift and she ie\els in its use " Even apart from Mi&s Castles, the company which accompanies her is. one of musical excellence Signor Carlo Dam is the wonderful tenor of the Italian Opeia Company about whose singing all Australia has been raving. He has a voice of quite remarkable range, and of splendid sympathetic quality No such tenor has ever been heard here before Miss Maud Dalrymple is a powerful contralto. Miss Norah McKay a bulliant young violinist from Brisbane Mr R Noodham a good baritone, Miss Una Bourne, a talented solo pianist and, as for Hen Benno Schecrek, well, he is the best accompanist this side the line. Mr. Harold Ashton accompanies the tioupe as business manager. It was he who cabled from Wellington urging this visit, and it is to Mr J. C Williamsons spirited enterprise that w e owe its fulfilment. There will be only two concerts in Wellington — Monday and Wednesday next. The special boxoffice arrangements are set forth elsewhere. The box-plans open to-da\ a<the Dresden

Mr. It Keene leturns thanks elsew here for lus election a& mayor of Melrose The electors have chosen a keen man all right to look after their interests. In Karon the choice Mas between milk and aichitectuie and Tarr's milk of human kindness has prevailed, but still Farr was not far down the poll Out at Onslou . Mr R B Williams was of the light colour, and scores an easy win over Cavanagh, while Peptone still sticks to its Mothes, and Toomath will have to try again some other da\ Lo\ ers of high-class music will note with pleasure that Mr Maughan Barnett and Herr Hoppe ha,\e arranged to give a series of thiee subscription concerts at fortmghtlv intervals, commencing on Thursday week. A strong committee, with Lady Stout at its head has been formed to manage the pioject The last series of Barnett-Hoope concerts was so thoroughly enioyable that there' ought to be no difficulty in filling up the list for this one. The terms

die icmaikablv low a guinea entitles J| you to thieo tickets roi each of theij! tluee conceits. * The hist ot Miss Johnston's senesot popular conceits take* place at the Ex change Hall to-night (Fnda\), and ought fco command a bumped house. A really hrst-class progiainme has, been prepared. It includes the names ot Miss Paul, a solo pianist from New South Wales, Madajne Muller, who is down for two songs, Miss Ran dell, who contributes Mascagm's Aye Maria," and Miss Johnston herself, whose fine contralto wiil be heaid in "Alia Stella Confidente ' w ith violin obhgato by Mi . X J King Mi.G.Y Nicholls, baritone and Mr. Biyant, tenor, will also sing The ticketfc are only 2s and Is, and uia\ be procured at the Diesden Mr Hcibeit Rawson, a candidate foi election to the Seatoun Road Boaid, has qualifications that probably the iatepa\eis won't o\e-ilook to-day (Fnda\) The genial, businesslike qualities of this gentleman exactly ht him for the position Also, lie has picked up mam useful ooints m wanderings abroad He did not journey with his e\e,s closed, and he is full of good ideas Among his strong points are efficient sanitation and electric lighting He has an eye foi the beautiful, and he believes in leheving the landscape with tree*,. His well-known energy and experience are sufficient reasons why the ratepayers should seek hi.s aid as a mefber of the Board Messrs Seoul lar and Clusholm's oldestablished business ha& increased in a very gratifying way and to extend its operations),' and meet the demands made by the growing public of Wellington, the business has been transformed mto a hunted habih^ company. The company has appointed as manager Mr. 11. J. Walters, who has had charge of the Furmtuie Department of the D.I.C. for the past ninej ears. TheScoullar Company Limited is not likely to allow the grass* to grow under its feet, and under expert, management, the business done bv the old firm will be matenallv increased.