AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3728, 1 May 1899, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

ERNEST TOY CONCERT COMPANY

’ The .popular programme presented ny the Ernest Toy Concert Company at tlm Opera House on Saturday night proved highly enjoyable. The violin solos ov Mr Ernest Toy were an artistic treat, and tin; audience showed their appreciation or them by spontaneous outbursts of applause. His first number, Bazziiu s quaint and weird "Witches’ Dance." was sufficient to prove his thorough mastery of the instrument, and the feeling with which he played, as an encore, Mascagni s "Insecured for him a most complimentary Equally acceptable was his rendering of a "Romance ’ and "Serenade Neapolitan,” by St. George, and so pleased were his hearers with the sympathetic manner in which he played a charming fantasia on that old -bal'ad, "The Old Polks at Home,” that they promptly encored it, being treated in icsponse to a similar rendition ot "The Harp That Once Through Tara’s Halls. The. pianoforte playing of Miss Renee Lees was an admirable feature-of the conceit, her performance of the "Eaust Valso, byGounod, being particularly so. In reply to an unmistakable encore, . the accomplished young pianist favoured, with "La Serenota,” hy Moszkowski, which was lisj tened to with great pleasure. Miss Maud Dalryniple quickly gained the good esteem of her audience by the feeling she imported into the singing of the charming 1 bail ad “Home, Dearie, Home,” for-which, being recalled, she substituted a humorous ditty entitled "I May, or May Not.” Equally acceptable was. her singing of Behrend’s beautiful song, "The G•ft,” the last verse of which she was oblig-wl to repeat. Miss Alice Simmonds’s strong flexible and highly trained soprano voice was heard to excellent advantage. in "Sing,: Sweet Bird” and "Dear Heart,” for both of which she refused an encore. Mr Harry Smith’s finest 1 effort was “The: Bedouin Love Song,” which Jie sang with much feeling. He also gave-an excellent intem"3tation of Tosti’s "Beuty’sEyes.” and being encored, gave Adame’s “My Life F ,r Thee,” in both of which he scored a distinct, .success. . A first-class pi-o-j gramn ? has been arranged for this ercnl ing, n"d it’is to be sincerely hoped that! the mi .sic-loving public of Wellington will not le ; the opportunity pass, of hearing; what in one of the best concert comphuieS that. <h .s ever visited Wellington.- , ; >

Pine-Vs. comedy, "The Cabinet Minis-; ter,” v ill be played at the Opera Housej on the 10th, ilth and 12th instant by the ; Well in ton Dramatic Students to benefit the fir da of the New Zealand Academy otj Fine / rts. j