THE DOYLE CONCERT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2212, 22 May 1894, Page 3

THE DOYLE CONCERT.

Tho audience was large, very expectant and in no way disappointed. It had assembled to hear Miss Doyle, who took possession as soon ns she appeared, with the force, skill and brilliancy of her style, which she made apparent with her first number—tho “Fantasia Appassionata" of tho great master Vieuxtempa. It was an admirable selection, this composition of the fainous 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 tho complicated art of the violinist, making the most exacting demands upon the highest technique, dwelling in cantabite passages of deep sonorous tone, flying to the harmonics, dwelling there in turn, and branching off ever and anon passages of singular brilliancy of execution. The young violinist went through tho whole composition with a skill and precision which justified amply tlio courage of her selection. The first thing that struck us was | the energy of her stylo, and after that came the perfection of tho liquid tone which, without losing the distinctive character which belongs to strings, beguiles tho hearer nevertheless at times into tho idea that ho is listening to some soft, exquisitely modulated wind instrument, in every tone of which there is the breath of a human soul. Then the faultless execution, so delicate, so firm, so easy, impressed itself, and the whole audience listened with hushed delight, and greeted the 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 Fantastique/’ was of quite different character, was x j orforraed with great vigour; much staccato and pizzicato work in it, all of it done with tho greatest energy and an exactness of promptitude worthy of highest praise. The applauso and recall wore again very marked, and tho latter produced, through Mias Doyle's kindness, a grand arrangement of “Tho Blue Bolls of Scotland." 'The third violin number was different again, a most characteristic setting of the Spanish violinist, Sarasate, 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 the first number, with Schuman V'Traumeroi," a composition almost religious in character, remarkable for strong, deep, sustained tones of rich velvety liquid character. In addition Mias 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 “Tho Palms," admirably given by Mr MacKenzlo. The latter had to bo repeated, tho performers giving the last verse again -in response to a recall which would take no denial. To sum up. Miss Doyle 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 as well as industry and perseverance time will show. Wo think there is not much dmbt as to tho response,

The two singers of the little concert company are Miss Kate Best and Mr MaclCenzio. The 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. She iacJrsanimationand experience,thelatter fact made evident by the greatimprovement 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 the voico of Mr Ma> Konzio. Their Braga's Serenade and the Singing Lesson duet wore 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 ho showed well in Faroe's noble air, "The Palms/' His specialty lies in Scotch songs, of which he is master in many styles; for instance, ho was equally at homo in “The March of the Cameron Men/' and . the old ballad of “ Bonnie Dundee/’ and in songs of humorous character, like the " Laird o’ Cookpen ” and " Hamo there Came/' 1 which were received with roars of laughter j and his share of the " Singing Lesson " duot was much and deservedly admired. The Orchestral Society gave the immortal “ Egmont " overture, and the ballet music from Ruhenstein's " Feramorz ", in excellent stylo under the conductorahip of Mr HUI. We notice that they are to take part in to-night's performance, at which the piece de resistance isto.be Mendelssohn's groat “ Concerto " with Mias Doyle in the leading role. That will be worth going to hear. ..