Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 97, 10 May 1902, Page 16

Dramatic And Musical

By Footlight.

MISS Aim Castles made hci debut at the Opeia House on Monda\ mejit and was lecened with the utmo,t coidiaht\ The audience completeh filled the dress cncle and tlie downstairs pait of the house Theie weie .some seats vacant in the fanuh en cle where people are not used to paving six shillings, and only about half the stage chain, were occupied. Practically e\ej-v item on the programme was eiucored On the principle of reserving the bonne Douche for the last, Miss Castles' opening number was fixed at the \ei\ end of the programme. When all the other members of the company had in turn appeared, and given proof of their quality, there was % buzz of anticipation, and then, amid general applause Herr Benno Scherek led on the young pnma donna, smiling brightly 'and' waimlv as she acknowledged the greeting of the audience * • • Her first selection was Ophelia's mad scene, from the opera of "Hamlet," bv the French composer Ambroise Thomas. It affords scope for the display of vocal technique, and was probably chosen on that account The young orima donna had to cope with two disadvantages. She had not proceeded far when it became evident that a slight huskiness was asserting itself And there was too a certain tremor of nervousness about her which w as heightened by that fact. But, in spite of these hindrances Miss Castles showed that she possesses musical talent of a very high order, and that her artistic education is considerably advanced. » ♦ * Her method is both facile and refined. She sings without the least effort, her notes are fresh and limpid, and hei voice is of considerable ranee, and of sweet and even quality. Its flexibility, and the singer's perfect command over it, were manifested in the ease with which she executed the coloratura passages of the scena. The audience insisted on an encore. Three times the singer returned to bow hei acknowledgments, and, on the third occasion she shook her head with a pleading smile, and pointed significantly to her throat * • * But the cheers continued, and the young cantatrice at last yielded by giving a charming little Irish folk song bv Foote It was sung mezza voce, with captivating tenderness of expression. To the second part of the programme, Miss Castles contributed the fine romance from Bizet's "Pearl Fishers," and in response to another imperative encore, supplemented it with "Home, Sweet Home," which she invested with simple grace and natural feeling It went straight to the hearts of the audience The final contribution was the duet "Pangi O Cara," from "La Traviata," in which the voices of Miss Castles and Signor Dani chorded beautifully. * • * There are many people who ex pi ess disappointment with Miss Castles. They expected to hear a Melba or a Patti They forget that this young ladv i& still a student Her voice is not yet mature , her training incomplete. Make due allowance for these facts and take into account her nervousness and the huskiness against which she struggled, and then proceed to judgment. She is endowed with gifts which must win her distinction on the concert stage Signoi Carlo Dam completeh justified the reputation he won on the othei side afc the leading tenor of the Italian Opera Comnany He has a voice of splendid cantabile quality, rich sweet, and resonant, perfectly under control, and extremely flexible. The ease with which he can sustain a long note and then round it off with a crescendo, all on the same breath, and with the utmost artistic grace, is quite remarkable. Like most Italian singers, he uses the vibrato, but his voice needs no such meretricious aid. Its purity, sweetness evenness 1 , and capacity for soft and delicate expression are bevond cavil Signor Dam's contributions) were "Salve Dimora " from "Faust " and "Spirito Gentil," from "La Favorita." and, by way of encore, the delightful "M'Appari tutt'Amor," from "Martha," and "La, Donna e Mobile," from "Rigcletto." He produced a perfect furore with this well-known piece, and had to pav the penalty by repeating part of it

Unquestionabl\ , Da.ni is one ot the \ei v finest tenois wholuue e\ei been in this p<u t ot the hoi 1(1 * * * Miss Noia MeKa\, the wolimste ot the coinpam , is <i woith\ a.ssociate ot the two stats ' Although onlv a girl in short tracks, and with hei hair still down she is an artiste ot \eiv high qua! it \ She has been trained under Musm and has admnablj caught Ins fe t\le Her bow 1112, is free, bold, and confident her intonation is full and tiue and hei technique is exceedingly fine Miss Una Bourne is a, brilliant piamste, with rather too intense a style. Miss Maud Dalivmple a pleasing contralto with an attractive personality and a weakness tor dragging her notes, and Mi E Needhain a baritone whose enunciation is clear and who wins the sufhages of his audience veiy quick lV As for Ken Benno Scheiek, you could not desiie a moie artistic accompanist, and as musical dnector he is the right man in the right place. Bv the w a\ , Hen Scheiek and Miss Bourne o- a ve. on two pianos, a very fine exposition of Liszt's Hungaiian Fantasia " The second concert, on Wednesday night, was a still more pronounced success than that of Monday. All parts of the house were filled, and Miss Castles was in better voice. She sang "Qui la Vooe," from "I Puntani, and Gounod's "Jerusalem," and by wav of encore, "The Four-leaved Clover," and Foote's Irish folk-song. Signor Dam again raised the audience to a high pitch of enthusiasm with his operatic morceaux, both of which had to be supplemented. The duet, "A Night m Venice," was delightfully sung by the tw o principals # * * Miss Noiah McKay's, violin playing was again a charming feature of the programme, and Herr Scherek Miss Bouine Miss DaJrymple, and Mr Needham all contributed to the success of the evening, and shared in the popular applause The two lovely srand pianos used at both concerts were supplied by the Dresden Yesterday afternoon the concert party took thendeparture for Auckland * • * Paul Cinquevalh, who will be along here very soon now, is said to be the champion juggler of the world. He is a native of Poland, but, having been educated in Berlin, claims Germany as hia native land, and his residence' is permanently established in London, which he declares to be the finest city in the world One of his sensational tricks ib to throw a cannon ball high in the air, and catch it on his neck. * * * Despite strong opposition, Dix's Gaiety Company comes up smiling, and plays to big houses. At present, as always a dose of the Royal is an excellent pick-me-up, and tor a couple of bright hours one may revfci in freedom from care at the usual rates. Miss Lizzie Kirk, who is still the star of the constellation. 1S glittering along her festive way with witching brilliancy. She has nait-a-dozen perfectly new songs. Her "Awkward Moments," pourtraying many dread events, which fortunately don't happen to the average man except m song and story, is very good. Miss Kirk is enchantmgly fresh, and piquant withal, and her w inks is one ot the most artistic things the audience have seen for some time. ♦ * * Miss Alice Layton is a soprano ot very lugh merit, and her eminently^ artistic execution of the 'Carnival" is worth coming out on a wet night to heai. During the singer's encoie item "Annie Laurie," on Monday night a gentleman of the bucolic braggadocio type made more noise than was good either for him or the audience. A mild uproai ensued. The management doe<s not permit these idiotic interferences, and, as everyone knows, Dix's has a high reputation for order. The distuiber was ignonnniouslv expelled •» * * Fiank Leon gets a lot of fun and a clever dance out of his latest "Rip Van Winkle." Frank winds up as usual with his clog dance but he has a new scai let suit, and he isn't backed by the formidable champion cups and belts and things which we know bv heart now Miss Belle Ray's fine voice is heaid m "Ninon" this week, and Chailes Howard had. to sing "The One Word— Motliei " as a punishment foi singing "DolK Grey" reallv well « * * Maud Faning attacks her coon melodies with tremendous animation, and has to come on again, and warble as from Tennessee or other coon gorunds, while the ever welcome Wallace King, who is to farewell this week takes his audience with him through thiee songs before they'll let him go "I Hear a Voice" is given in Wallace's finest style and you have all heard him sing "Sallv Korner," of course 5 . • • * The "plain" comedian Jim Marion turned up to sing a coloured song uncorked on Monday. Jim's performance was undeniably pooi Later

when lie, togethei with the Lingard Sisteis, danced a remarkably good "buck" dance, I forgave him. Jim needs burnt cork all the time. Miss Belle Ray leaves tins week, as, well as Mr. Kim?. The Allisons, who bounded into popularity at once during their recent visit, turn up again on Monday. Ernest Bnukman, singer and occasional comedian, will stand bv to warble on the isame night • • » Mdlle. Antoma Dolores, formerly known as Antoinette Trebelh, is once moie amongst us, and gives three of her cliarming song recitals on Thursday Fnday, and Monday. It is almost superfluous to state that she stands in the forefront of her profession, anl that her singing is marked by the abounding charm of perfect artistic refinement Mdlle. Dolores' repertoire is rich with choice pieces that' have not been heard here before, and, of course, also contains the works in which she has achieved her greatest successes hitherto. She brings w ith her some curious songs of the earlv Crusaders, which she discovered at Paris a few years ago and she will also be heard in. some verv interesting Gipsy songs by Anton Dvorak. In fact, her programmes are replete with attractions. Mdlle. Dolores will be assisted bv that sterling singer Mr. John Prouse, and by Mr. Clarance Newell a pianist of whom report speaks very highly. * * * "The Rose of Persia," to be produced by the Pollard Opera Company, at the Opera House, on Tuesday evening next is a comic opera bv Captain Basil Hood and the late Sir Arthur Sullivan. It is a work that can be seen many times with increasing pleasure, and, as its name implies, it is an admirable vehicle for a lavish display of brilliant stage setting and piyuant costumes. In it the Pollards are said to excel all previous efforts. All the wardrobe and properties of "The Rose of Persia" were imported from England bv Mr. J C. Williamson. • • ♦ Miss Connie Buttel, a new pnncipail of the company, promises to become a great favourite with New Zealanders. Up on. Auckland she scored a great success as the Sultana in "The Rose of Persia," and Dolores in 'Florodora." She is said to have a fine soprano voice and a good stage presence. Mr W. Percy, as Hassan in ' The Rose of Persia," is described as funnier, if anything, than ever, while Messrs. O'Connor and Carter, both have good chances vocally, several beautiful numbers falling to' their lot The Pollards' season is for one week only, as they are booked to open at Dunedin on the 22nd instant. "The Rose of Persia" will be produced for four nights, giving way to a revival of 'Florodora" on the last two nights. * * * Since it became known that Mr. W. Percy is to be married at Dunedin shortly, he has been the recipient of demonstrations of congratulatory greetings wherever the company has performed, and the audience invariably rise 1 at the concluding night of the season, and cheer the popular comedian to the echo ♦ * ■» This month Madame Slapoffski goes to Brisbane to sung for the Liedertafel and she lias ako concert engagements to fill at Maryborough. Bundaberg, and Rockhampton. (Continued on pane IS )