REMENYI'S FIRST CONCERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7267, 4 March 1885, Page 5

REMENYI'S FIRST CONCERT.

The expectations raised concerning Monsieur Edouard R.m€nyi's talent as a solo violinist were all fulfilled by his per for mace at the Theatre Royal last night. ■ His appearance was greeted with the applause of a very good audience, and before the first part of the programme had ended it was clear that the great artist had made a thorough impression upon his hearers. He has been well styled the Rubinstein of the violin, for, like the great pianist, bis execution is simply titanic. We plays the most brilliant passages with ease, and yet can be as gentle as a dove, for his cantabile is full of tenderness, and his tone round and full. The first piece he played was his own fantasia on the Huguenots, and Meyerbeer's beautiful melolodies seemed to gain a' fresh charm in his hands. It is no ordinary fantasia, for it carries upon it the stamp of originality, and notwithstanding its'great difficulties Monsieur Remenyi played it with ease ; and, indeed, his violin seemed literally to sing the melodies. During the performance of this piece the ' audience were very enthusiastic. At one moment they would bo carried awayby the performer's tours deforce, with their Wealth of double-stopping and harmonics, and at the next would be spellbound as he exquisitely phrased some cantabile passages, 'and they burst into applause whenever they could decently do so without interrupting the solo player. Monsieur Rem6nyi played as an encore an excellent arrangement of Schubert's beautiful Serenade, which formed a very effective contrast with the fantasia, and was equally highly appre- . ciated. The Hungarian melodies 'were perhaps the most interesting feature in the programme. All great Hungarian musicians love the national melodies of their coantry, which certainly, possess a peculiar melancholy charm entirely 'their own ; so it may easily be imagined that the rendering of the Hungarian melodies was to Monsieur Remenyi a labour of love, and that he interpreted them as only talented Hungarian musicians can. Unfortunately he had to pause in the middle of them, owing to his being interrupted by one of our local brass bands, which chose that unhappy moment to march past the theatre to .the sound of drum and trumpet. The Hungarian melodies were followed by an ingenious arrangement of " Auld Robin Gray" and "The Campbells are Comin," as an encore, which were very much applauded. The last violin solo "was . a "Cappriccio" by Paganini, which is a peculiar weird composition, and like everything the great Italian violinist has left us, abounds with difficulties. Monsieur Rem6nyi played it faultlessly, and gave as an encore his own "Liberty Hymn," which he composed at the time of Hungary's struggle for independence, when he was but a youth of eighteen. Mr. Isadore Luckstone appeared to great advantage both as a solo pianist and an accompanist. His solos were Greig's Norwegian Wedding March, Chopin's well known Polonaise in A, and Liszt's Faust Waltz, to all of which he did ample justice. In his accompaniments he managed to accomplish that moat difficult of' all things, viz., to suppress himself, and he carefully regulated his tone and style of playing to suit the solo voice or instrument, in which consists the true art of accompanying, for it is a well known fact that many brilliant solo players are very poor accompanists. Miss Hatty Downing possesses a-plea-sant well trained soprano voice. She sang "Non fu Sogno " from Verdi's " I Lombardi" very tastefully, and was recalled. Her reudering of Welling's "Dreaming" was excellent, and she sang as an encore the ever-popular Scotch song, "Within a Mile o' Edinburgh Town." Mr. Rudolf Himmer possesses a fine tenor, voice, and sang Tours' well-known song, " The Angel at the Window," Bradski's "Flowers," and as an encore Lassen's "Resolution. " ' He appeared to great advantage with Miss Downing in Lucantoni's duet, "A Night in Venice," which suited well both voices, and terminated one of the most interesting concert that has ever been given in Auckland. M. Remenyi gives another concert tonight, when there will be an entire change of programme. '