MADAME PATEYS CONCERTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8583, 3 June 1891, Page 5

MADAME PATEYS CONCERTS.

Madame Patky, the distinguished contralto, and her concert company gave .the last but one of their concerts in Auckland last night in the City Hall, and they again drew a large arid very appreciative audience. The programme was, perhaps, somewhat difficult for most frequenters of concert rooms, but the musical taste was, we should think, fully satisfied. Benedict's trio, "The Hawthorn in the Glade," ie a very beautiful composition, and it grave particular advantages to Mr. Patey, who has manifestly improved in voice. Miss Rossow was natural and musical, and Mr. J ones apparently has gained confidence in the resources of bis own voice, for in this trio he sustained an important position with credit to himself and his musical training. He sustained his reputation also in the next selection, a solo, "I Arise From Dreams of Thee" (Salaman). This is a nice composition, well suited for a tenor voice. It has a pretty melody pervading the whole composition, and the harmonies are very artistic, and Mr. Jones appeared to have thoroughly infused into them a naturalness which made the whole successful. He was warmly applauded. Miss Eossow, the popular soprano, lias evidently established herself as a favourite, for on her appearance in the axis from the Daughter ofthe Regiment ." Convien Partir " she was received with rounds of applause, and her fine cultured voice did justice to Donizetti's music. Miss Emilia Wood gave some, of her master pieces. The first was "A Paraphrase,on Lucie." It was a finished piece of instrumentation and a perfection of execution, and the wonder of the audience was excited as to how one pair of* hands could produce the ringing rythmic music and keep up the hurly-burly of the fantasia. She was loudy applauded, and never was applause better deserved. Madame Patey, on appearing, was received with the usual rounds of applause, and she at once opened with Handel's recitative and aria, " Arraida Despictata" and "Lasciach , io The recitative is full of refined expression and grandeur, and it is followed up ,by the magnificent aria, which is not only eloquent m expression, but which tests tho capacity of the highest range of vocalists. Madame Patey's voice was equal to the calls on it, and her response to the lowest notes down to IP was as clear as resonant, and as distinct as in the higher notes. It is truly a wonderful voice. That an encore should be demanded was only to be expected, and the item selected was, "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep." This beautiful selection has already been before the Auckland public, and has been thoroughly appreciated, and again last night it was loudly applauded, the great depth and compass of the contralto's voice being again the feature. .Miss Rossow's song, "The Serenade" (Schubert), was charmingly rendered. Madame Patey, in Wallace's glorious contralto air from Montana, ".Alas! Those Chimes," was a revelation. There was no waiting Lazarillo or sleeping Don Csesar required to fill in the programme. I& was all conveyed in tho grand expressive music of the composer, and the eloquent production of that music by the greatest contralto singer of the age. An encore was demanded, and Madame Patey substituted "The Nightingale." MissKossow's song, " I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls," was a charming selection, and was so much appreciated that she had to respond to an encore, when she substituted " Steer My, Bark to Erin's Isle," which she gave to the audience with artistic feeling. Mr. Jones followed with the Irish air " Come Back to Erin," and then Madame Patey sang "The Quaker's Daughter," a pretty, marry, and popular air which thoroughly took the audience, and for which the usual encore was demanded. In response to this, she sang the beautiful Scotch ballad "The Land o , the Leal." A duet between Messrs. Jones and Patey closed tho performance. The final concert Of the Patey Company in Auckland will be given to-night, and we would recommend all those who have not yet heard this talented galaxy of musical artistes not to lose the only opportunity which will be afforded to them.