ABBOTT'S OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6421, 16 June 1882, Page 5

ABBOTT'S OPERA HOUSE.

ME. MARTIN SWALLOWS CONCERT. The new theatre was well filled last night. The interest was occasioned by the announcement that Mr. Swallow was to appear for the first time as a vocalist. The programme comprised several of Mr. Swallow's compositions—(a) "The Auckland March" (played by the Artillery Band), (b) an "Ave Maria " (duet for tenor and baritone), sung by Mr. Swallow and Signor Antonelli, and (c) "The Ngatimaniapoto March." The other numbers were in the hands of pupils, with the exception of a ballata, "Non Torno,- , by Mattel, sang by Mrs. Kevitt, who also sang Arthur Sullivan's song, " Lut Me Dream Again." Both performances were loudly applauded, and the lady only escaped having to repeat them by the notification at the foot of the programme that " no encores would be given." Signor Antonelli sang the aria from "Traviata" ("Di provenza il mar ") amidst quite a storm of rattier derisive applause that was anything but complimentary. The "AveMaria," duet, by Mr. Swallow and Signor Antonelli, was well harmonised, and accompanied by piano, flate, and clarionet. The principal feature of the performance was the "grand scena" (tenore), from "The Lady of the Lake," by Rossini. Mr. Swallow singing the recitative, "Eccomi a voi"; (b) the cavatina, "Ma dov '6 colei che accende "; (c) the cabaletta, "Sea'miei." The accompaniment was by pianoforte, flute, clarionet, and cornet. The scena was sung in the original key. "It embraces a compass of two octaves and a major third—from'low A flat to the top chest C." Mr. Swallow was very hoarse. That was an evident fact. In any case, while feeling surprised at the ■ range which was fairly taken, the vocal

timbre did not strike us as being very musical or even sonorous. In the presence of the apology made by Mr. Swallow, subsequently, for not singing "My Queen," this must be a provisional opinion. But in the pianoforte solo, " Mose in Egitto" (Thalbefg), Mr. Swallow was all himself. He is a performer on this instrument who is not justly dealt by when compared with other accomplished pianists. Great proficiency of any kind is rather distinctive than comparative. His style is his own, and it is excellent. We could wish that it were altogether free from affectation. Mr. Jackson, a young clarionet player, and a pupil of Mr. Swallow, quite surprised the audience in aduet, "II Sogno" (piano and clarionet), and a duet from "La Sonnambula," arranged for two played with Mr. Levy, another pupil of excellent promise. Miss Ratjen, Mr. Cleave, Mrs. Lambert, Mrs. Munday, and Signer Antonelli all sang or played well as pupils. Miss Ratjen's performances on the piano were very good. The duetto from "Faust," "Ma il ciel," by Mr. Swallow and a gentleman amateur, was perhaps the most successful performance of the evening. A good deal of amusement was created by the expedients adopted to escape the encore loudly demanded. The audience would take no denial and it had to be repeated. The programme was too long. To enumerate all the members would fill the space at our disposal. As a teacher's concert, it was excellent in every particular. No pupils could have been more successful in exemplifying the skill and pains of the instructor. In any other sense the concert was very much mixed in regard to -merit.