SAPIO-URSO CONCERT COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9582, 6 August 1894, Page 5

SAPIO-URSO CONCERT COMPANY.

Another delightful and irreproachablt performance was given last Saturdaj evening, at the City Hall, by the Sapio Urso Concert Company, and was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience judging by th< applause bestowed on each artist. MatlattH Sapio's famous rendering of the passionate love song, " Caro Nome," from Verdi'i 3pera, " RiKoletto,'* earned for her th« reputation of being one of the first dramatic lingers of the day. This aria, whioh is no! done remarkable for its delicacy and rich less of melody, bub also for the brilliancj >f its bravura, was interpreted with greal lexibility of voice and passionate intensity, Che rapid flights of notes were given Witt perfect purity and resonance, and the skip! >f sixths, uwlulatory passages, and etnbelishments were brilliant displays of finished vocalisation. In the touching and excessive aria from " The Messiah," " J £uow that my Redeemer Liveth," Madame LJrso was especially pleasing. It was sung ,vith deep pathos and devotional feeling, ■vhich made a profound impression on hei isteners. After the delivery of each of >hese numbers the singer was enthusiasticdly applauded and recalled, and as repeats >ave Francesco Berger's ballad, "Only Thy"elf/'and Weber's aria, "Bolls of bbaValley. Vladamo Urso still continues to be as great i favourite as ever. After each of her solos she was accorded an ovation, which ended n extra pieces being played, while all ;h rough she was listened to with much ittention and delight. Honri Wioniawski's exacting composition on Russian airs, the utricacies of which are made the more diffisulb owing to tne great speed with which it ms to be rendered, was interpreted with •emarkable agility, precision, and transcenianb feeling. The artiste's flexible bowing whs quite a study, and the astonishing :learness with which the harmonic passages awe played, and the full and noble tone produced in the rapid parts, proved her to lave a perfect command over the instrument. Minkowski's "Ballade" was her )ther solo, whioh also received a masterly ielivery. As encore solos she gave Ernst's '.' Blepie" and the "Old Folks at Home." Kerr Scherek, the" pianist, distinguished limself in his two piano solos, " Kossiglot" (Liszt), and Widor's " Caprice," and Dlayed ' Madame ' Urao's accompaniments u a manner worthy of the music. SignorSapio's delicate phrasing and singng quality of tone attained in his performance of Papendieck's piano "Minuet in Sl flat" was much admired, and won for him i very hearty recall; in answer to the same le gave his" Pompadour Gavotte. Those ,wo pianists also afforded the audience a genuine treat in their interpretation of two luos, the first rendered being the allegro novemenb from Mozart's "Sonata in D," ;he second Satter's " Danse Gracleuse; mch was executed with perfect smoothless and oneness of style and feeling which eft nothing further to be desired. As an mcore to the last-named, they played St. kens'. " Danse Macabre." The singing >f Pill's ballad " How Sweet to Dream,' jy Madame Sapio, to a delightful violin >bligato. by Madame Urso, terminated a /ery enjoyable concert. At to-night's perontnance Madame Sapio is to sing the wellmown polonaise- from Thomas's opera ' Miguon." Madame Urso is down for the idagio movement of Spohr's " Ninth Con:erto." Herr Scherek play's Chopin a ovely "Marche Funebre," and Signor 3apio plays in two piano duos.