MADAME PATEY'S CONCERTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8582, 2 June 1891, Page 6

MADAME PATEY'S CONCERTS.

The fifth of Madame Patey's Auckland concerts were given in the Choral Hall last night, and again there was a very large and enthusiatically appreciative audience. In noticing, these concerts; morning after morning;/ and in always; saying of them what they deserve, it;.becomes necessary to maintain a continuous paean of praise to repeat all that can be said of high artistic talent, and to reiterate unqualified approval of all that is musically excellent. This unceasing commendation may seem a trifle monotonous; even the pure unadulterated truth becomes irritating, when too often and too persistently flaunted before our eyes; but, if soothe'blame must be laid at the door of Madame Patey and her assistants. So long as their concerts. are equal to those they have already given in Auckland, so long must their merits be lauded, so long must their praisee be sung, and ■ however■. flattering what is written of them msy appear, it can -only be considered extravagant by the unfortunates who have had no opportunity of judging. Indeed, as a matter of fact, the concerts seem to improve as the season pro-, ceeds, so that if many more were to come it would be difficult to conceive the pitch of perfection to which they might attain. At any rate the general verdict last night was that Madame I'atey sang even better than on any previous evening in this city, and certainly the ladies and gentlemen of her company performed their allotted tasks in faultless style. The programme opened vrith the trio, "I Na\'igante" (Randegger) by Miss Rossow, Mr. C. K. Jones, and Mr. J. G. Patey, for which the-vocalists secured hearty approbation. Mr. C. R, Jones then sang, " Eily Mavourneen" in capital 3tyle, his eweet, though not very powerful, tenor voice being heard to considerable advantage. Miss Bertha Rossow followed with "I Vespri Siciliani," her rendering of that beautiful but . difficult song being quite a revelation, a marvel of bell-like purity of toue. The song was so admirably rendered that Miss Rossow's efforts to escape an encore were unavailing, and she gracefully succunibed to the inevitable. Mr. W. H. Poole sang "The Village Blacksmith" powerfully arid effectively, and Miss Emilia Wood followed with a pianoforte solo, "Chopin's Nocturne in E Flat," in which she displayed extreme and cultured delicacy of execution. The first contribution which Madame Patey made to the evening's entertainment was the sacred song, "There is a Green Hill Far Away," composed expressly for her by.Gounod. The song has a most impressive, devotional- tone,. and , Us, influence was made powerfully effective by Madame Patey's magnificent vocalisation. In response to an encore the latter portion of the song was repeated, a treat for which all who enjoyed it were truly grateful. Miss Rossow's second song was Sullivan's "Let Me Dream Again," and with it she scored another great artistic success. This time, however, she*could not. be prevailed upon to givo another taste of her quality, but simply bowed her acknowledgements of the tumultuous applause. The second part opened with a- duet, "When the Wind Blows From the Sea,", by Miss Rossow and Mr. J. G. Patey, the harmony being exquisite, and the expression all that the most exacting could desire. Madame Patey's nexb song was " Rose, Sweetly Blooming," followed by "Here Am I to , Live' or I>ie" in compliance with the unavoidable encore. Each of these was given with all the taste and finish of which she is mistress, and later on in the evening she sang iria amusing trifle entitled "Needles and Pins," most piquantly and charmingly; y The latter was also ericored, and " The M instrel Boy " was then given with;an. effect'.which even those who have long,',be,ea familiar, with tho . 3ong., littlo dreamt ifj waa capable-of. MrJ. Jones' singing of " My Sweethearlj.When a Boy" was warmly received,.and ; another pianoforte solo by Mies' Wood was rewarded with quite an ovation. Instead iof " Oh, Steor my Bark t" Erin's 151e., ,, ; as .announced by the programme, Miss Rossow's; song in the second part was " Eillarney," jfyongalwaya' beautiful r and sung as' this: young ,, lady singa \i> f little short, of sublime.,,; , Again [' she.i •'encored, and;' in ■response sne repeated;. the-, last verse>* The' duet, „ "The /Moon •.Has . Raised? Her. ':[ Lamp. Above," by' . Messrs. ■. P&tejv and ; :Jbhes; : concluded ■theV^cttncerfc,: ■■ a concert which in point of true musical merit has seldom, if ever, been equalled in Auckland. This evening's concert will bo given in the City Hall, when Madame Patey will sing Handel's recicative "Armida Dispi6tata " and aria " Lascia Ch'io Pianga," and the songs "Alas, Those Chimes" and '.'The Quaker's Daughter." .Tomorrow, evening Madame Patey will sing for the last time in this city, the conceit again being in the City Hall.