ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9034, 21 April 1888, Page 5

ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

MISS AMY SHERWIN'S CONCERT SEASON.

Miss Amy Siierwin, after an absence from Auckland of nine years, during which she has made for herself a world-wide reputation, made her bow to Auckland again last night, supported by a small bub thoroughly characteristic group of vocalists and musicians. There wore numerous counter attractions, but despite those there was a splendid attendance in all parts of the house to welcome the popular cantatrice on her return to Auckland. We hardly know how to deal with the performance as a whole, except to say that it was a pronounced success. In addition to the prima donna, we have Miss Fischer, a lady who possesses one of the purest soprano voices we have ever heard. It is soft, sweet, not powerful, but intensely musical and sympathetic, and her selections were eminently suited to the display of these qualities. Mr. H. W. Stockwell possesses a cultivated and even tenor voice of great power and compass, and Mr. Arthur Sherwin is the happy possessor of good bass power, of which he knows the use, and he exercises it to advantage. In addition there is Mr. Lemmone, a flautist, and no better selection for a small company could have been made. By the way Mr. Clutsam was the accompanist last night, and admirably he performed his duties, which could hardly have been better if he had had scores of rehearsals. Now we have introduced the whole of the performers in the concert except Miss Amy Sherwin, and we think on the whole it is better to leave this reception to the popular vote. The concert was, as already stated, drawn up with consummate care. The first number, the duet i " The Fishermen," introduced Mr. H. W. Stockwell (tenor) and Mr. Arthur Sherwin (bass). The former gentleman at once established his claim to recognition. He has a rich and powerful voice, well modulated and controlled, and very expressive. Mr. Sherwin, who, in addition to a good stage presence, has a voice of good depth and compass, and he well knows how to use it to the best effect. The selection suited both voices, and gave a very successful introduction to the concert —the artistes having to bow their responses, and narrowly escaped an encore. Then Miss Minna Fischer appeared. The lady has a good stage presence. Her first selection was "The Beating of My Own Heart," a purely sympathetic air. The introduction, "I Wandered by the Brookside," was sufficient to show that an accomplished songstress was before the audience, and, as the beautiful melody was followed up, the exquisite sweetness of the voice was most pronounced. The air could not have been better selected to display the charms of her voice, nor could the great composer, Macfarren, have anticipated that in the Southern hemisphere his beautiful air would have been rendered with such purity. On this, her first appearance, Miss Fischer created such enthusiasm that mere bowing of acknowledgments was not sufficient, and she had to respond to an encore. What the name of the plaintive ballad which she sang was, or who the composer, we do not recollect. It was the plaintive wail of a child for its mother, and was full of poetry and expression and beauty. A great feature of Miss Fischer's singing is her thorough distinctiveness of enunciation, and in this class of song Auckland has never had a more expressive delineator. Now we come to another feature, Mr. Stockwell in the " Death of Nelson." This is not usually set for a tenor, but Mr. Stockwell adapted himself well to it. The recitative was very expressive, and the air itself was given with effect and spirit. In fact, he fairly took the audience by storm, and although he tried to evade it, he had to respond to an encore. He substituted the national song, " I'm an Englishman," and this was as effective as the other, so much so, indeed, that a large number of the audience wanted another encore, and thia was only evaded by repeated bows. But now approached the climax. Miss Amy Sherwin, after her nine years of absence, was led on to the stage, and was received with the heartiest applause. Without loss of time she proceeded with the recitative and aria, "Comme per me" (Sonnambula), Bellini. To attempt to describe the effect would be impossible. The composition is one of the most beautiful and difficult in the grand opera of Bellini, and no better introduction could be afforded to the Nightingale, for her voice rang through the house in the most exquisite music, thrilling the audience by its melody, the wonderfully sustained thrills, the pure, sweet, and powerful notes, and the sweetness of expression entrancing the audience, and at the close of the number, which was listened to with the most breathless attention, a storm of applause arose which must have satisfied Miss Sherwin of her power over Auckland audiences. In all but one respect, like Oliver Twist, they wanted more, and Miss Shorwin acceded to a demand which she could hardly evade. She substituted the quaint ballad, " Swanee River," and never in Auckland, or perhaps elsewhere, has this quaint negro melody been so rendered. It was the jierfection of pathetic feeling, and beautiful in its simplicity. Miss Sherwin had again to appear to bow her thanks and receive the bouquets hurled towards the stage. It was, however, in the second part of the programme that Miss Sherwin achieved the triumph of the evening, in the song, " Lo ! Here the Gentle Lark" (Bishop). In this she was accompanied by Mr. Lemmone on the flute. This remarkably beautiful composition is known to every person as one of the most brilliant airs composed, and withal the most difficult to give expression to, but with Miss Sherwin's beautifully clear voice the wonderful thrills and effect and the combination of the obligato, the audience seemed bewildered and unable to ascertain which sound was instrumental or which was vocal. The fact is it was one of the most wonderful musical combinations imaginable. Applause and showers of bouquets greeted Miss Sherwin, but they were not done with her just yet. No, an encore was demanded. She responded with the coquettish song, "No, sir," which only seemed to intensify the enthusiasm, and she had again to appear. This time her selection was " Home, sweet Home." While this air enthralled the ears and feelings of theaudience there was noother sound to be heard, but when Miss Sherwin's voice died away to a whisper on the last syllable, there was a simultaneous outburst of applause such as we have hardly ever heard before. It was enthusiastic and heartfelt, a full and spontaneous recognition of the power of music. Miss Minna Fischer sang " When the Roses bloom Again," and, in response to an encore, substituted "Allan Water." Mr. Stockwell sang " Queen of the Earth" (Pinsuti). Mr. Lemmone played a fantasia on Welsh airs ; and the trio, " Through the World," from "The Bohemian Girl" (Balfe), was sung very brilliantly by Miss Fischer, Messrs. Stockwell and Sherwin; but the feature of the whole perform ance, and that which aroused the enthusiasm of the audience to the explosive point was the spinning • wheol quartette from "Martha" (Flotow) in which the whole vocal power of the company was exhibited to the greatest advantage. Any attempt to picture the beauty of this quartette in words would be inadequate. There is a rich and beautiful combination of voices. It is so full of vivacity that the laughter is infectious. It is so musical that one is almost afraid to laugh for fear of losing some of its beauties, and it is altogether so hearty that it is thoroughly enjoyable. A new programme is prepared for this evening. The entire first act of " Martha," introducing tho great gems "The Last Rose of Sammer," and "Little Bird So Sweetly Singing," will be introduced, theee brilliant compositions being sung by Miss Sherwin.