SIGNOR FOLI AT THE OPERA HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9011, 17 October 1892, Page 5

SIGNOR FOLI AT THE OPERA HOUSE

A genuine treat was afforded those who tool; iho opportunity of listening to the Foli Concert Company last Saturday night at the Opera House. Owing no doubt to the unsettled state of the weather, there was not a very large attendance on the part of the public. Signor Foli was in splendid form, and sung throughout in a masterly manner. He chose as his opening number the striking and majestic aria tor Sarastro in Mozart's opera, "Die Zauberflote," In Diesen Heil'gen Hallen," familiarly known on the concert platform by its English title, "In These Sacred Halls." To perform this successfully is generally the height and ambition of bass singers, and well it might be, for it is one of the most lovely and charming of Mozart's inspirations. Need less to say it was magnificently rendered. Great charm, variety of feeling, depth, and roundness of tone of the chest notes, and, above all, exquisite phrasing, were features of the performance. The low note, F sharp, vibrated with the greatest brightness, sounding like a reed on the pedals of a big organ. Signor Foli was, of course, recalled, and, in reply to his delighted auditors, he gave with tremendous power and breadth of style the pompous aria for Polyphemus in Handel's " Acis and Galatea," " 0, Ruddier Than the Cherry," with its accompanying recitative. In this ho was very successful. The recitative was a lino example of powerful declamation, whilst the flowing parts in the aria were given with great roundness and flexibility of voice, and his enunciation was most clear and distinct. So enthusiastic were the audience at the singer's interpretation of the solo, that, before the closing notes were given, they burst into a hurricane of applause. Most impressive was the delivery given of the popular German melody, "In Sheltered Vale," and, in reply to a tremendous encore, he gave " The Diver," by Loder. He was equally successful in the buffo song, " I'm Off to Philadelphia." Miss Rossow sang with notable charm and facility Tosti's " Dear Heart," the performance being so fine that the audience strove hard to get it repeated. Her next selection was the florid ballad by Ganz, " Sing, Sweet Bird," and as given by Miss Rossow fairly charmed the audience. In the legato passages she connected the notes most artistically, and the skip of the interval of a seventh, together with the cloving trill on the high note, Aflat, was most perfectly given. In the bravura passages she sang with great dexterity and skill, and the most correct intonation. In reply to an emphatic recall the soloist gave most elegantly the quaintly-written serenade "Oh 3 Beautiful Star." Madame Cole was heard to particular advantage in Horn's cavatina " I've Been Roaming," which was well suited to her style, and the singer entered fully into the spirit of the ballad, and infused particular charm and gracefulness into the performance. For this effort she received wellmerited applause, and, in response, gave a charming and finished conception of Molloy's pathetic song " Love's Old Sweet Song." Cowen's "Children's Home" was sung with great expression and feeling, while the closing part, " For the Ways of Men," was given with characteristic force and energy. The tenor, Mr. Middleton, was only fairly successful with his songs. He sang "The Garonne," by Adams, and the well-known and popular ballad, "My Sweetheart when a Boy." His intonation was not always perfect, and in the delivery of the high notes he was manifestly weak. His enunciation and phrasing are commendable, but a little more animation and power would add considerably to his endeavours. Piccolomini's beautiful song "Ora Pro Nobis," arranged as a duet, and Mendelssohn's "Graeting" was sung by Madame Uole and Miss Ros-, sow with the greatest success, the voices blending most exquisitely. Miss Wood's playing of the difficult piano solo " Rhapsodic Hongroise No. 2, in C sharp, minor, left scarcely anything to be desired. She proved herself an earnest and conscientious performer. Her touch was light and delicate, and the contrasts between fortissimo and pianissimo were obtained With the greatest success. A brillimt and acceptable rendering was also given of an arrangement of " Lucia di Lommerman" by Prudent. Herr Zimmermann, for his excellent execution of RofFs cavatina, received a double recall, in response to which he gave the "Souvenir de Haydn." Ernet's pathetic and lovely " Elegie," which he played in the second part, can be highly praised for excellent phrasing and neatness of technique. Tonight the third concert) i of the season will be given.