Amusements.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 246, 5 August 1876, Page 13

Amusements.

THE DE MURSKA CONCERTS. Friday night's concert—-the third of the series —was, if there are degrees of success with Mdlle De Murska, the most successful of the season. Long before eight o'clock evei-y seat was filled, except those specially reserved for the Vice-regal party, who arrived about eight, and were received with the customary honors The singing of Mdlle. De Murska was grand in the extreme—whether in the soft and silencing melody of the finale to " La Sonnambula" or the more vivacious vocal waltz, " Per Sempre," her conception of the composers' fancy was equally faithful, and her rendering equally tasteful and artistic. The encore she received for the former was well-deserved, and in responding to it by giving the latter she but increased the enthusiasm of the audience. But the gem of the evening was, her song "Lo! Here the Gentle Lark," with violin obligato by Maestro Strauss Ilia. It was simply enchanting. In response to the inevitable encore, she again gave "Within a mile o' Edinbro' Town ;" and at the end of the concert, in reply to a demand for an encore after the grand duet " Crispino e la Comare," she gave " The Last Rose of Summer." Signor Rosnati was never in better voice than he was on Friday evening. In the aria " I Lombardi," and the aria Illustri Rivali," he was superb. There was no huskiness or reediness even at the top of the register, and no discordant falsetto noise, but each note was brought out rich and full from the chest. Signor Susini had got the better of his cold, and appeared to much greater advantage than heretofore. Donizetti's " Betly" and "La Calumnia" from Rossini's "II Barbiere" were exceedingly fine, and he well deserved the encores accorded him. The duets by Signori Susini and Rosnati were well appreciated. Of the pianoforte solos of Maestro Ilia little need be said. They are _ far and away superior to anything which has been seen by a Wellington audience for some time. His manipulation is a marvel of rapidity and accuracy. We would There was a crowded house at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Saturday evening, when the last of the first series of the De Murska concerts was given. As to the success from an artistic point of view, it was again splendid. The " Shadow Song" of Mdlle. de Murska was par excellence the effort of the evening, the ease with which this test song was rendered being remarkable. As was the case with her other pieces, it was enthusiastically encored. Signor Rosnati again sang—amongst other pieces—with a success equal to that which was achieved by him when he sang it on Monday evening, " Non e Ver." Signor Susini appeared to great disadvantage owing to his cold, but nevertheless met with a good reception. The instrumental part of the programme, Maestro Strauss Ilia's violin and pianoforte solos, was exceedingly fine, " Home, Sweet Home," one of the latter, creating quite a furore. In consequence of the great success of last week the management—which we may here state have during the past week given the greatest satisfaction by the able way in which the comfort of the audience was cared for—have now arranged for a new series of concerts for this week. The Napier people will therefore be disappointed for a short time, but the company will visit that place next. The second of the farewell De Murska concerts took place on Tuesday evening before a numerous and fashionable audience, and was in every way as successful in a musical point of view as its predecessors. There was the same thorough appreciation of the various items on the programme, and the same tumultuous applause to follow, and Mademoiselle herself looked and sang as charmingly as ever. In the mad scene from " Lucia" she gave a most artistic and brilliant rendering of the very elaborate and difficult music, displaying such powers of execution and sweetness as have never been approached here. Later on she sang BaKe's familiar English song, " I dreamt

that I dwelt in marble halls," and threw a degree of feeling and pathos into it that made her hearers clamor for its repetition. She afterwards gave the ever welcome " Una voce," and here again produced such notes as fairly spellbound her audience, finishing off amidst more demonstrative applause, and having to respond to a unanimous encore. Finally she took part in the grand trio from " Ernani," in conjunction with Signori Rosnati and Susini. Signor Rosnati sang in magnificent style two solos, for each of which he was encored in a most enthusiastic manner. His voice never sounded to better advantage. Signor Susini, though still suffering from a bad cold, which interferes with the volume of sound he can discourse, sang his solos very finely, and received wellmerited applause. His opening serenata, " Medje," went well, and his notes were sufficiently powerful to add a fine effect in the closing trio of the programme. Maestro Ilia added still further to his fame as a violinist and pianist by bis really wonderful mastery over each instrument, and more particularly was this noticeable in the subdued music of the "Berceuse" he played on the violin, which fairly brought down the house at its finish. In this, as in his previous performance on the pianoforte, he displayed ability _of the highest order, and surpassed anything yet heard in Wellington. Of course he was enthusiastically encored in each instance. _ Mr. Hadley increases in favor with his audience nightly, and plays an excellent accompaniment. The concert throughout was a thorough treat, and such as may perhaps never be heard again in this city.

In consequence of Mdlle. lima De Murska being attacked on Thursday with severe hoai-se-ness the concert announced for that night could not come off, and had to be postponed till Saturday. It was a great disappointment to the public, but under the circumstances nothing else could be done. It is pleasing to be able to announce, however, that she is quickly recovering from her indisposition. This being so, lovers of the divine art need not fear disappointment on Saturday, and as the audience will be swelled by those who intended to be present on Thursday, it would be wise to secure places at once. The programme for to-morrow night is a most attractive one. It comprises, amongst other items, the aria "Bel Raggio," from "Semiramis;" a Hungarian Pastoral Song (Doppler), with violin obligato by Maestro Strauss Ilia; the grand duo, "Crispino e la Comare," with Signor Susini ; and solos by Signor Rosnati and Susini; also pianoforte and violin solos by Maestro Strauss Ilia. This and Mademoiselle's benefit on Monday night are announced as positively the last two occasions on which the public of Wellington will have the opportunity of hearing unquestionably the finest singer as yet heard here. It may be many a day ere we shall be favored with such melody as is discoursed by Mdlle. De Murska, Signori Rosnati, Susini, and Ilia. THEATBE ROYAL. There are few plays in the whole range of the drama which have so frequently been put before us here as the dramatised version of Mrs Wood's novel "East Lynne." On Thursday however, Mr. and Mrs. Bates—for both deserve the credit —gave us such a really excellent rendering of it as to place their performance incomparably before any we have yet had in Wellington. Mrs. Bates' Lady Isabel is simply one of the best pieces of acting from first to last that we have seen on the stage here, and in the pathetic scenes last night she was really excellent. Her pourtrayal of the character of the guilty Lady Isabel, whose sole redeeming trait is her love for her children, was true to life, and evinced study and care in its performance. In the assumed character of Madame "Vine her disguise was perfect, and followed strictly the description given in the novel itself. The trying scene with Lord Mount Severn at the end of the third act, was most artistically worked out, as also was the dying scene, which was effective, without any of the exaggerations so frequently seen in it. Asa whole, Mrs. Bates may be congratulated upon having achieved a decided triumph in the part, and we hope ere long to see the piece repeated. Miss Lizzie Morgan (who received a perfect ovation on her appearance) played Barbara Hare very well, and Mrs. Stoneham made an excellent Cornelia Carlyle. As Archibald Carlyle Mr. Bates played excellently. He never forgot that Archibald Carlyle, though only a country lawyer, was yet a gentleman, and his acting throughout the piece was marked with a quiet ease and effect which materially aided in its suecess. Mr. Oily Deering, as Lord Mount Severn, and Mr. Metcalfe, as Sir Frances Levison, deserve notice for the care bestowed upon their parts. The scenery and appointments were excellent. After the drama Miss Lizzie Morgan sang the beautiful new ballad " Lullaby," with such success that a rapturous encore was demanded and responded to, " Whip-poor-will" being substituted. There was a crowded house in all parts.