THE REMENYI CONCERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7269, 6 March 1885, Page 5

THE REMENYI CONCERT.

There was a good audience at Monaieur Remdnyi's concert last night, notwithstanding the heavy showers which fell during the earlier part of the evening. The great feature in the programme was the andante and finale from Mendelssohn's violiu concerto. Like Beethoven, Mendelssohn wrote but one for this instrument, and it is undoubtedly a very popular composition. Monsieur Renicnyi played exquisitely. His violin seemed to sing the beautifully sustained melody of the andante, and he did ample justice to the tinalo, which is lyrical in style, so as to contrast effectively with the slow movement. This is the firat really classical work the great virtuoso has played before an Auckland audience, and we sincerely hope it will not be the last. At its conclusion th a applause literally shook the theatre. In voin did Monsieur Remenyi re-appear and make a bow, for the audience would insist upon having an encore, and their perseverance was rewarded by a magnificent rendering of his own " Hungarian Melodies," which Moneieur ReßacSnyi played con amore. His next solo was an ingenious arrangement of "Auld Robin Gray" and " The Campbells are Comin'," made by himself, which was followed by a very spirited rendering of ♦'The Marsellaise Hymn." The "Homage a Paganiui " is a remarkable piece of his own composition, which he played by himself, and indeed auy accompaniment would have been quite superfluous, so well was the harmony sustained by menus of double stopping and pizzicato. Monsieur Remenyi's "Liberty Hymn " was the encore piece, which he interpreted in his very best and most enthusiastic style. Mr. Isidore Luckstone played a nocturne, an etude, and a polonaise by Chopin in a very masterly manner. All Chopin's music ie difficult, and his etudes are perhaps the hardest things to play he ever wrote ; but Mr. Luckstone was quite equal to the occasion, and he proved himself to be a sound classical pianiat. Miss Downing saug "Waiting," by Millard, which was enthusiastically appauded. She then sang " Down on the Swaiiee River" as an encore piece. Her next song was Gounod's well-known serenade, which is admirably suited to her sympathetic voice, and upon being again encored, she sang the ever popular Scotch air, 'Coming through the Rye." Mr. Rudolph Himmer sang "Kathleen Mavourneen," which so pleased his hearers that he was recalled. His other *ongs were Schubert's " \Vandern,"and " Haidenreslein," to which hisi fine tenor voice did ample justice. He sang as an encore Mr. Isidore Luckstone's "On the Blue Pacific," which is a song of great merit, and shows that Mr. Lucketone can compose good music as well as play it. The concert terminated with Verdi's wellknown duet, "Si la Stanehezza," from "II Trovatore," which Miss Downing and Mr. Rudolph Himmer sang to perfection. There will be a complete change of programme tonight, when Monsieur Ren:6nyi will play pieces by Kriiat, Vieuxtemps, and Delibes, as well as his own transcription of Handel's famous "Harmonious Blacksmith."