DE MURSKA'S FIFTH CONCERT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4435, 6 May 1876, Page 3

DE MURSKA'S FIFTH CONCERT.

We are justified in saying that no artisb

that has ever visited Dunediu has met with

such uniform and Well-merited support as ""^Jldlle. De Muraka. There was no perceptible {ailing off in the attendance at the Queen's Theatre last evening, when she gave her fifth concert. The dress circle presented an animated appearance, and every seat in the lower part of the house—not the least appreciative portion of the audience, by the ■^y —was occupied. Few there are in Dun«din laying any claim to a taste for mußic of a superior class can let slip the present •opportunity of hearing the perfection of vocal art, rendered so by arduous and systematic training. The fame of Mdlle. De Murska has travelled far and wide, and her

name is familiar as household words to

■every musician, professional or amateur. It is therefore not surprising that the 'expectations of those in thiii city who •have never before had the opportunity

■of hearing this lady should be raised to the ■highest; and now that they havo listened to her, it is not too much to say that these expectations have been more than realised. There are some in Dunediu who heard lima

*de Mureka when she was one of the bright'

»est" stara of the London operatic stage. Doubtless vhe lapse of years has to Borne extent told on the "strength and quality of her ■voice, bat as regard executive skill and immense compass—to which she chiefly owes her high reputation—she stands alone as preeminent and unapproachable as ahe was a dozen years ago. The programme last evening was a choice one, including as it did selections, vocal and instrumental, from some nine operas. Perhaps the principal feature of the conoert was tho rendition of Bellini's happiest inspiration, " Cast* Diva " This is a grand composition, and it i 3 almost unnecessary to state that it was delivered by Mdlle. with corresponding grandeur. All that we have said in previous notices respecting this lady's faultless singing is equally applicable to the cavatina just named, as suuk by her, and we have never heard a more enthusiastic or unanimous burst of applause than was bestowed upon Mdlle. at its termination. Equally good was the rendering of the cavatiua "Bel raggio," from the opera of Stniiramide. This is one of the most difh'eult of Rossini's florid conceptions, particularly from the part ''omDitnc'iiH " DoWa: j't'iisiere," which Md'le. made even mure elaborate in its ornamentations by the insirliou of additional runa and tr>Us—('licul.iUa to ttst to the utmout tho murvulloiis.ability of her voice. These were

done with a finish and neatness which was quite surprising, and warranted the hearty applause elicited from the audience. The grand duo from " L' Eiisir d Amore" was given by Mdlle. and Signor Sußini with even greater success than on the night of the first concert, tho Signor's quaint humour being irresistible.

Signor Susini gave both his solos in a manner that deserved the high commendations passed on them. His duet with Signor Rosnati from Verdi'a " I Masnadicri" was specially good, rind bad to be repeated. Signor llosnati, who is quite a favourite with the audience, gave two cavAtinas, that from Ernani, "Come rugiada," with its preceding recitative, coming in for the largest amount of applause. The excellent flute playing of Signor Giammona was listened to as attentively as on the first night. He gave two selections, an arrangement of his own On themes from " Linda di Chamouni," in which opening and ante solo was played with great taste and finish. The other solo was Clinton's fantasia Un Ballo in Msschera, introducing the wril known Barcarole.

Maestro Ilia accompanied with his usual ability, and also gave one of Heller's solos-to the evident satisfaction of the audience, who insisted on his reappearing, when he favoured them by playing Thalberg's "Home, Sweet Home. This evening, the last concert of the scries will bo given, when a new and firstclass programme will be presented.