THE WATKIN MILLS CONCERTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13385, 11 September 1905, Page 6

THE WATKIN MILLS CONCERTS

It would seem as if tho public ot Duneclin was failing to quite realiso or appreciate the fact that a. rare opportunity is being offered it of hearing n quintet of musicians the like of whom are seldom heard within the four walla of any Dunedin theatre. Vocal quartet parties there have been in Ditnedin in the past, but it is very questionable whether there has been tho same close approximation to uniformity of excellence as is mot with in tho case of Mr "Wp-tkin Mills and liis party "of singers, It must bo quite an education to amateurs to hear the singing of Mr Mills's party, and they, unliko those who make no attempt to follow up music, aro in an excellent position to fully appreciate tho very high merits of tho performance, anil to profit by what they hear. Imitation is the siucerest form of flattery, nnd it ia quite possible that after the departure of tho quartet somo of the mora cultivated amateurs of Dunedin will bo found, as they have been on previous occasions where vocalists of high ability have visited the city, unconsciously applying to their singing, and thereby contributing to tho greater enjoyment of their; audience, tho methods of the singers constituting Mr Mills's quartet. It is conceded that example is better than precept; by which remark it is not intended to depreciato tho teaching of tho theoretical part of music, and muoh good must Tesult from visits of singers such as Mr Mills has a-soci-atcd with him. The pity of it is that the public sometimes fails to placo a tmo value on such visits, and though Saturday evening's audicnoo was certainly not small, neithor was it as largo as it should have been. Mons. Eduard Parlovitz opened tho programme with a " Polonaise" hy Chopin, for whoso compositions ho appeared to havo a preference on Saturday evening, as ho confined his performance entirely to them. Ilis second pianoforte solo was " Grand valse, for tho playing of which lie wrs not allowed to cscape without giving a third item. In everything Mots. Parlovitz played ho showed himself to bo tv thorough master lof tho instrument he has mado his study, and Ilia performance was a brilliant one, Owing to the tenor, Mr Harold Wilde, suffering from a severe cold, Mr Watkin Mills had to tako additional burtons upon himself.in order to keep as nearly as possible to promises made. His opening recitative and aria, "Hear me, ye winds and waves," from " Julius-Ca>sar" and " Scipio," a grand and majestic piece of composition, was magnificently treated, and ivas hailed with a storm of applauso. It was probably tho best of tho nrnny good things Mr Mills gave during tho owning, and tho audienco insisting on an oncorc, an amusing littlo song, "The pretty creature." was substituted. " The harper." by Monjc Gould, and a" nautical song, sung in succession, did not satisfy tho desires of tho audience, and Mr Mills gave a (bird song, the melody of which was eefe to tho words "If she be not fair to me." Taking Mr Wilde's place in the programme later on, Mr Mills sang "The mill wheel" very expressively. Miss Kdith Kirkwood's first song, tho waltz song from "Romeo and Juliet," was given with refined (lelioacy; and another treat was in store for the audience in the cradlo song hy liclimann, " You and I," which was sung very sweetly, and following it camo Ellen. Cowdell's " Mnytime." In every instance tile pretty softness of Miss Kirkwood's singing met with strong approval, a bowed acknowledgment not beine accepted by her audience as sufli-

ciont. Miss Gertrude Lonsdale, the oontrnlto of the party, is a vocalist of rare merit, and her magnificent singing of " Softly awakes my heart," from Samson and Delilah, cwinot ho referred to in too Ftrong terras of praise. Tho great, volume of Miss Lonsdale's voice could scarcely have bcon heard to better advantage than in this aria, tho singing of which was certainly one of the features of the evening, Miss Lonsdale later sang two compositions of a. widely different character, and was no less successful. Tlio?o were " Summer rain" and " Vanity Fair." and both were admir-, nhly treated. Like Mips Kirkwood, Miss Ijousdalo had to submit to reappearances, in 0110 caso singing a lullaby exquisitely. A duet,

" It was ». low and his lass," by Miss Lonsdalo and Mr "Watkiu Mills, brought tho first part of the programme to a close. The song cyclo "In a Persian Garden," in which the quartet appeared after a short interval, gave the audience a bare opportunity of bearing the tenor, Mir Wilde, who, aftcT singing a short solo incidental to tho cyclo, had evidently to abandon any further attempt to t-akepart oulsido the concerted music.' As a musical performance the cycle was undoubtedly very fine, but probably the mora enjoyable portion of tho concert, as far as most of tho audienco were concerned, was the earlier part.

Tile concert of tlie festival will take placo this evening, when " The Rose Maiden" will be given for the very first time in Dunfciiit. Contained in this work are some beautiful numbers', both for soloists and chorus, and never before has any choral work been 'given under such, favourable circumstances, when'it . is remembered. that, the solos are to bo takeribjr Mr^'Watkin-Milk's- English quartet party.' On previous occasions we' have had choral works performed with soloists from Home, but never before has the public been so fortunate.when a work is being performed for the time.as to hear, ladies and gentlemen of tlii!® standing of Mr Watkin Mills's English quartet party. Tho second: part of the concert will-be .devoted to the.rendering of Mr : 11. Lane Wilson's song cyclo " Flora's''Holiday," which contains some 'lovely gems.,