THE DOYLE CONCERT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1160, 25 May 1894, Page 26

THE DOYLE CONCERT.

The audience was large, very expectant, and in no way disappointed. It had assembled to hear Miss Doyle, who took possession as soon as she appeared, with the force, skill and brilliancy of her style, which sho made apparent with her first number—the “Fantasia Appassionata” of the great master Viouxtenips. It was an admirable selection, this composition of the famous violinist, one of the greatest of our time. The composition has intense pathos and passion, and the most enchanting variety of intricate execution ; it' abounds in passages of singular grace, it forces the executant to great efforts in every mood of the complicated art of the violinist, making the most exacting demands upon the highest technique, dwelling in cantabilc passages of deep sonorous tone, fiying to the harmonics, dwelling there in turn, and branching off ever and anon into passages of singular brilliancy of execution. The young violinist went through the whole composition with a skill and precision which justified amply the courage of her selection. The first thing that struck us was tho energy of her stylo, and after that came tho perfection of tho liquid tono which, without losing tho distinctive character which belongs to strings, beguiles the hearer nevertheless at times into the idea that he is listening to some soft, exquisitely modulated wind instrument, in every tone of which there is tho breath of a human soul. Then the faultloss execution, so delicate, so firm, so easy, impressed itself, and the whole audience listened with hushed delight, and greeted tho close with an honest burst of applause. Miss Doyle, thus established as a prime favourite, responded with a beautiful setting of “ Alice, Where Art Thou.” Her next number, Bazzini’s “ Caprice Fantastiquo,” was of quito different character, was performed with great vigour; much staccato and pizzicato work in it, all of it done with the greatest energy and an exactness of promptitudo worthy of highest praise. The applauso and recall wero again very marked, and the latter produced, through Miss Doylo’B kindness, a grand arrangement of “Tho Blue Bells of Scotiand.” Tho third violin number was different again, a most characteristic setting of the Spanish violinist, Sarasato, being tho selection. It was a “ Gipsy Dance ” with a long, quaint, graceful, intricate introduction, the dance coming after with uncommon vigour, freshness and fantastic grace. It was followed, the effect being of course tho same as after tho first number, with Schuman’s “Traumerei,” a composition almost religious in character, remarkable for strong, deep, sustained tones of rich velvety liquid character. In addition Miss Doylo played two obligatos, the first to Miss Kate Best’s singing of Braga’s well-known Serenade, and tho second to Faure’s noble air “The Palms,” admirably given by Mr MacKenzic. The latter had to be repeated, the performers giving tho last verso again in response to. a recall which would take no denial. To sum up, Miss Doylo roused her audience from first to last to considerable enthusiasm, and convinced all who can appreciate masterly stylo that she has a fine future before her. Her technique is absolutely perfect. Whether she has genius a 3 well as industry and perseverance time will show. Wo think there is not much duibt as to the response. The two singers of the littlo concert company are Miss Kate Best and Mr MacKenzie. Tho young lady has a pleasant very well tuned voice of considerable power and range. She has an excellent method of production, but she has much to learn. Sho lacks animation and experience,the latter fact made evident by the great improvement noticeable in her second verses and repeats, and by the increased confidence and power of her work when supported' by the violin obligato, and by tho voice of Mr MarKenzie. Their Braga’s Serenade and the Singing Lesson duet were her best numbers by 'far? Mr MacKenzie is the possessor of a baritone voice of great range, of clear ringing quality in the middle and upper register, as he showed well in Faure’s noble air, “Tho Palms.” His specialty lies in Scotch songs, of which he is master in many styles ; for instance, he was equally at home in “The March of the Cameron Men,” and tho old ballad of “ Bonnie Dundee,” and in songs of humorous character, like tho “ Laird o Cockpen ” and “ Ilame there Came,” which were received with roars of laughter; and his share of the “ Singing Lesson ” duet was much and deservedly admired. Miss Bessie Doylo was born in New South Wales, about 20 miles from Maitland. At a very early ago she developed a great aptitude for the violin, and her earliest lessons were taken from an artisan in her native village. • So rapidly did she progress, that her motner, who is a musical enthusiast, decided to take her to Sydney, where she was placed under the tuition of Herr Kretschmann, and where sho made her first public appearance at one of his pupils’ concerts When she ■was scarcely eight years of age, Remenyi was in Sydney, and from him Bhe took a few lessens, and at his advice she was taken by her mother to the Leipsic Conservatoire. Her progress here was very satisfactory, and one year after her admis- ! .c-ion she won a big scholarship, a success quickly followed by her taking the great Mendelssohn scholarship, for which there wero over six hundred competitors. In 1889 she made her first public appearance in Berlin, the leading musical papers being then unanimous in her praise. After this she went to London for a concert tour, and wishing to become acquainted with the different schools of violin playing, she took . lessons for 18 months from Cesar Thomson, the Norwegian violinist, at Liege, in Bel- ! gium. Returning to Germany, she continued her studies under the best masters, one of whom, Hans Sitt, was so pleased with her that ho took her on tour, I wo years ago she came back to her native land,

and gavo concerts with pronounced success. Sho went on a lengthened tour through India, Burinah and the Straits Settlements. Singularly in Java, tho Dutch-Javanese, who are not usually given to excitement, were worked up to a great pitch of enthusiasm, on more than one occasion paying for tho whole programme being repeated at one sitting. The New Zealand tour, which was inaugurated in Auckland, it is estimated will occupy another two months, when Bessie Doyle goes to the United States. Bessie Doyle is an indefatigable worker, and when time permits practises from livo to seven hours a day.