THE REMENYI CONCERTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7271, 9 March 1885, Page 5

THE REMENYI CONCERTS.

There was a good audience at Monsieur Remdnyi's concert on Saturday evening, which thoroughly appreciated the masterly playing of the great virtuoso, and warmly applauded him throughout the concert. The first violin solo waa the " Othello " fantasia, which is perhaps, the beat Ernst ever wrote. It is certainly a most exacting piece, for the composer was one of the greatest violinists of his day, and his technical knowlodge of the instrument he was writing for enabled him to introduce into it almost every conceivable difficulty. Monsieur Reaaenyi did it ample justice, and afterwards played "The Marsellaise Hymn," and "The Last Rose of Summer" as an encore. The second solo was his own popular arrangement of "Auld Robin Gray" and "The Campbells are Gomin'. " After it was finished in vain did he appear and bow. The audience would insist upoa having another piece, so ha concented them by playing " Annie Laurie" and "Charlie is My.Darling." His concluding solo was a very elaborate improvisation on "The Carnival of Venice," an ever popular theme with violinists for such purposes. The beautiful variations with which he adorned the melody delighted everybody, and some of the whimsicalities he introduced were so quaint and full of humour that many of his hearers could scarcely refrain from laughing out loud. He was of coarse warmly applauded, and gave as an encore a magnificent rendering of "God Save the Queen." Miss Downing sang with marked success Welling's "Some Day," followed by "Down on the Swanee River" as an encore. Her last song was Gilbert's " Maid o' Dundee," after which she was twice recalled. Mr. Himmer sarjg Balfe'a well known song, " Come into the Garden Maud" and " SheWore a Wreath of Roses," in his usual fine style. He was recalled after the conclusion of the last song, and gave as an encore a beautiful rendering of Lassen's, "It Was a Dream," which seems particularly well suited to his fine sympathetic voice. Mr. Luckstone played , a transcription of Bftcherini's, famous rhinuatto, The Courier," by Kitten, and his own arrangement of Meyerbeer's " Fackel Tanz," -in • a very musicianly manner; and the concert terminated with, the pleasing duet,. "A; Night in Venice," excellently sung by Misa Downing and Mr. Himmer. To-night Monsieur Rem6nyi will play, by special request, "Paraphrase do Concer" on a theme by Schubert, composed for violin alone, by Remenyi; the "Dead March in £aul," and the " Cappticcio," by Paganini.