MADAME PATEY'S CONCERTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8584, 4 June 1891, Page 5

MADAME PATEY'S CONCERTS.

TiiE-last of the concerts given •' in Auckland by Madame Patey and her company ' took place yesterday evening at the City. Hull.' There was again an excellent ' audience.' ;The programme; included several Citems which were ; heard previously during the season. A trio by the Florentine composer Luigi Gordigiaoi, " Vieni al Mar," sung by Miss Rossow and Messrs. Jones and Patey, and after Mr. Jones had rendered " Love's Proving," Miss Rossow repeated the wellknown aria, " Angels Ever ' Bright and Fair," confirming the good impression which - she made on Saturday night in the Choral Hall, and returning to acknowledge the marked applause. The celebrated aria, : "Non piu Andrai," which; closes the first act of '• The Marriage of Figaro," was well sung by M Patey. 4 One of those who was present, at the first rehearsal of the, opera tells of the scene when this song was given by Benucci, the Italian basso who created Figaro's part. The composer of the work, Mozart, wearing a red i furred coat and 1 gallooned hat, stood on the stage giving; the tempi. Benucci sang "Non piu Andrai" with the utmost vivacity and full strength of his voice, Mozart all the . while exclaiming in an undertone, "•Brava! brava ! Benucci," but when the singer reached r. the fine passage *' Cherubino, alia vittoria, alia gloria militar," and j gave it in stentorian voice and most reso- I lute style, the effect was electrical, both on I the singers on the stage and the musicians j in the orchestra. Transported with delight, they repeated enthusiastic " bravas" for."il grantle Mozart." The aria is one of the best known in. the music of standard operas. Miss Wood's first pianoforte solo comprised two pieces by Kowalski—one " The Birds in the Wood," in which the melody 1 is given out <; by the left hand, whilst the right sustains a soft running accompaniment in the treble, and the other a spirited *' March Hongroise." These were admirably k played, Madame Patey ; rendered, in that accomplished style which , has delighted so many lovers of sweet song, Gounod's Quando a to Lieta," and in .reply to the usual encore, Giordani's , well-known "Caro Mio Bon." - Watson's > charming English' ballad, " Our >; Dear Old Home,' was most impressively given sby Madame Patey, whose reading was artistic in the highest degree. There was an imperative encore, to which the great contralto singer responded with. "The Banks of Allan Water." The arch little song, "The Bailiffs Daughter "of Islington, was followed by another recall, ; Madame - Patey replying with Home, Sweet Home." Miss Rossow's selections, beside that already mentioned, were ' "Robin Adair," ana " Sing,' Sweet, Bird," her remarkable trill-. ing in Oariz's song arousing the audience to, great enthusiasm. The second pianoforte solo of Miss Wood was Liszt's "Rhapsodic Hongrcise," No. 10 ; but it did not receive half th 3 applause it deserved. The song " Fathor O'Flynn" was given by Mr. Patey with such a sense of humour and hearty good feeling that ho was recalled. Mr. Jones 1 kewise was encored for the " Death of Nelson," part of which he repeated. The duets "Crudel, Perche Finora," by: Miss Rossow and Mr. Patey, and " All's '.Well," by Messrs. Jones and Patey, completed the programme. The accompaniments were played with rare taste by Mr. Hermann ; Morris, who during this enjoyable series of j concerts has proved himself most capable | in this respect.