AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13958, 18 July 1907, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

THE CA.BRENO RECITALS. Many things come to those who wait The world seoms a. smaller place, and our own special niche therein less one of its remote back waters, when the names oi its great artists include those of individuals who are actually within our gates, and when a WaJ theatre that has echoed to the music of a Paderowslei resounds again to that of a Curreno, Juliet's query,. "What's in a name? has never yet had definite answer, for ail depends on circumstances. Music the most subtle, the most moving, the most ev&twscent of the arts, has made many a name great, whether by reason of the verdict ol the _ authorities among ita votaiies, or oi the irresistible pronouncement of popular a-wtomation. A pianist in a colonial city one reads, wa ., nearly heart-broken the other day because he only managed to pjay continuously for 4GJ hours before collapse overtook him. Ha<l J, e finished a Wo days performance he would have nude a name of a sort for himself. Musicians howem, make a name for themselves other than by sheer physical strength, which is a matter for rauoh gratitude. We have nil toughed over Jud Brovmin's description of Bubinstein's playing. That familiar story makes a wide appeal, for it. expresses tho feeling that a great many people have towards, what may be termed a great ruusW peitouiiiiice. It is the fascination of prodigious skill, of concentrated semidernisemiqufivers that conetftutes hall the attraction admiration for the sheer executive power of ten fingers which the eye can never follow try it ever so hard, ft oaiuiot be entirely oltnunsM always, it is true, this menial suggestion of a musician as an astomshine mechanism; but it.is after all but a small suggestion, and harmless. To a great musical performance we give our enthusiastic admiration, it is true, perhaps, for more than what we actually hear. A. lull appwewtion thereof is dictated by the trained ear and tie knowledge of all that goes to'give the sum total of whit we listen to-the composers genius, tho .musician's triumph over the technicalities of the instrument on which he elects to interpret that genius, the manner m which his playing reveals liis - mm se] , animating the dull, cold marble of perfect harmony with the breath of poetry and passon. The inspiration of the musician, the intuitive understanding of his theme, that is what we look for and applaud most however much we may ma-rvcl mt his dteil*] accomplishments, and we recognise it quickly enough when he strikes that unwritten responavp dioid of sympathy. Then, and tmen only, however muck the composer has done to aid him,, does he give us Nature's- , own music. . A. flock ol sparrows chirping on the eaves,, a. skylark singing somewhere nigh Heaven s gate, the wind moaning anionr the branches and rustling the autumn leaves Iho weird note of the senbird lumtl the deep bass 01 the waves beating on some coastal Kcyboftrd-tJieso .examples of Nature's grand orc-h-sstiration strike a note the musician may possibly never quite reach, but they- have over been, his inspiration. The musician, achieves bis triumph when his hearers have forgotten him in hie music. So much has bc-en already said of Madame Teresa Carrcno that one might ba pardoned for reluotance to add to the total. In effect, however, onco the. spell of the pianist's wonderful powers have been. experienced, there is an actual danger of yielding to the temptation to say too muoh and exhaust the adjectival capacity pf the language. Madame C&raeno gave hsr first D.uncddn reoifal at His Majesty's Theatre last evening in the presence of" a large audience, and achieved an immeasurable success. • Report, lavish as it has been, has not endowed her with a single gift too many. s>llo is truly a magnificent artist a musician of arresting powers, «, memorable person aJiiy, Unquestionably last evening's recital a,t His Majesty's Theatre will.rank as one of the yery highest of the imisienT events which have taken place in this city. It may be that musicians of the very highest attainments and genius occasionally suffer a certain penalty of greatness, but there is thaib about foe art of such a pianist as Madame Carreno that must inevitably appeal, not to a united class of the musically-educatcd only, but to all in whom musical appreciation has the faintest glimmerings. The musician who can rouse a Duncdin audience to -refit enthus.asm has as experience has shown, aotoved mnatlnng of a feat. Madame ™ I carned 1101 audience irresistibly wA her from the outset, an* th 3 wt a, programme of delightful ■ variety ence hung upon the notes of the a compliment even more speaking than its vociferous pkudits, H lu*U» thai " m t \ 'I 5 P i* n,st ' but what «VM instrument she had chosen upon which to express herself S l,e must stiii have been a grlat •rt»t. To hew her in such a programme pf. music as she contributed last even™ is no small part of a liberal education itself! TTMim tu .TT 1 * the unattainable and Ultima Ihnle to the average student of music it is, in the na'.ure of the indispensable lesson. A pianist of superlative powers of astonishing virility and superb technique, •Mme. Carreno is yet a wonderfully sympathetic player, and has an eloquence of touch .that is it..e short of a revelatioa. Her executive brilliancy alone and her crisp, strong, unerring touch would not allow hor to play na she does upon the susceptibilities of her hearers, but she combines, as the really great artist must, mechanical perfection with the imiight that makes music live. Her treatment is not merely of (he punitivo order In all the schools of music represented in her programme last evening Mme Urreno seemed equally to excel, She began with the famous •• Sonatn appassionata" of Beethoven, and probably no reading of this great work ever given previously in this city has bsen characterised by an equal insight or so uniformly elevated a conception. Th« restraint marking the interpretation was one of its noticeable feature's, yet the whole performance vibrated with feeling. It represented the attainment of the happy mean between insipidity and mean- ;,<lesa frenzy. The opening movement was worked up to its climax with immense power, while the andante wat; infinitely jrraceful and tender. The finale was one of those masterly interpretations that leave an ineffaceable impression. It roused bho audience to great enthusiasm, and was superbly vigorous and impetuous in character. To hear ifme. Carreno a few minutes later expounding the poetry of Chopin was to ln&rvcl at hex versatility, for nothing could have been more sympathetic Mid fuM of the pure witchery of melody Ihnii tiie "Prelude" and the 'Nocturne. ,, 1 ben came the "Etude in 6- flat." by the same composer, the epitome of lightness, a perfect Ariel's flight, which evoked a salvo of applause that constrained its repetition. The composition in question is 'somotiniee termed tho " Butterfly etude." and not altogether inaptly. The fourth Chopin item was tile great "Polonaise in A flat," which was «■ magnificently brilliant contribution. Artists such as Sfme. Carreno give realisation to the words of the poet, who says " the soul of music slumbers in the shell.' The rendering of the "Polonaise" aroused such further demonstrative appreciation that the pianist could not escape without an extra contribution, which, in the shape oi Yorgricli'a "Staccato caprice," was a delightful interpolation of mo3t popular order. In the second part of her programme Mme. Caireno was heard, in music by Kubinstein and Liszt. The poetic " Honianza" and delicate " Barcarolle in G major" of Rubinstein were both most interesting selections, and were succeeded by Liszt's transcription of Paganini's " La Campanello." The last was a marvellous example of sheer brilliancy ol execution and dazzling mastery over technical intricacies that fairly took the audience by storm. The inevitable encore number was the welcome " Tremolo,' by Gottschalk. To conclude with the pianist gave a bracketed trio of compositions by Liszt. The first of these' was the delicate " Connetto del Petrana," in which the artist's feeling for Hie dramatic quality of Liszt's work was apparent. Th* "Etude in ft flit", folltrod,

the difficulties ot ■which were overcome with unfailing sureness, and finally Mine. Carrono launched • into the remarkable " Rha-psodie Hongroiso No. 6," tfct. astonishing octave passages in which were manipulated with no less astonishing case, while the olimax was rendered witli aitnply amazing power and brilliancy. A groat ovation followed from the audience, but lime. Carreno contented herseH with repeatedly bowing her acknowledgments, and those present lelnctsmt'y dispersed. Mine. Cerreno's second recital -will be given this evening, when the programme will include Rubinstein's " Grand concerto in U minor , ' (to which Hcrr Benno Scherek will provide an orchestral aocompanimeut on a second piano), and Beethoven's "Wnldstein sonata."

ALHAMBEA THEATRE. The usual Wednesday house greeted Fullers' Entertainers last evening in a new and bright programme. Mr Cnriton Coopor, Miss Lorraine Tanslcy, tho Qncilys, Sam Wilson, the iioynards, Kitty Delavale, the Ablbsrgs, and other popular favourites appe&r to advantage in new and breezy tons. DUNEDIN BURJJS CLUB. The montWy meeting of tta Dunedin Burns Club, held in the Choral Hall lust evening, was very largely attended. Dr AV. M. Stenhouse presided, and, in a few introductoiy remarks, mentioned that during the last few months ha had received letters front Scotland and other prte of the world congratulating the Dunedin Burns Club on its efforts to maintain a Scottish sentiment in this distant land. ; Tho address of the evening was delivered by Mr J. Davidson, who gave an interesting and, at times, sympathetic sketch of Ilio life of Robert Tannahill (the Paisley Hβ also referred to the corning visit' of Miss Jessie M'Laohta-, and hoped iiienibeis would extend their assistance to her. The musical programme provided was in many icspects an excellent one. Several part songs were rendered by the choir; while songs wero contributed by Miss Leyland, Misa Liddle, Miss Sienherd, and Messrs Shepherd. E. Donaldson, R. Kinnaird, and J. Davifteon, also a. quiirtet by Misses Leyland and Shepherd and MeesTS Shepherd 1 and Kinnaird, a Highland fling by Mies Ethel Oarttay rocitations by Miss A. Burt, and violin soli by Mr C. Lowo. All the items were most favourably received.. Miss E. WrigM acted as accompanist.

"HUMAN HBAETS" COMPANY. To-night, at the Princess Theatre, will witJitss the initial production in Dunedin of tie oelcbrated comedy drama "Human Hearts" (by Hal Raid, the foremost American writer of the d'ayj, and the first, appowajioo in Durjedin of ! Mr Ernest Leicester (the distinguished London aclor). Tlija '"lay of "hearts and souls "is faid to have obtained a magtiotio hold on ttieatrgoers both in England and America. It is described as baing powerful, ent.hrallins, and of intense human interest, and in order to -afford the irorkcvery chance of success a splendid combination of English, American, and Australian artists ba-s been en-, iiged for iti lepresentation. Tlie play is infour acts, the.scenes being laid in Arkansas and Now York city. Tie cast is aa follows :- Tom Lojran, Ernost Loioester; ifoanette Logan. Miss • Valentino Sidney; Frodcriok Armfdalo, George R. Montford; Jem Mason 0. M. Berkerley; Moses Jones, Lloyd Earle' Linipy Morgan, Arthur Say; Jimmy Lo°*n, ■Dui-dapWnlker; Edward Brown, li, St Cl&ir Richard Markiiaon. G. M'Kenzio; S&miw'l Ixigon. Oswald Ford, Itike Corrio-an H M'Lellan; Hcrtert Shaw, Eric Vallailge; Deputy-wa-rden Wcs-ton, Cecil Fleming- Ruth Larkins, Miss Bva Guildfard QuinnSamsntlm Logan.. Mwa May Hesford; Grace Jjcgan, Little Alma Palmer. The production is undcv the direction; of Mr Ediwin Geacll nnd by arrangement with Mr J. C. William' son. The plan is at the- Dresden, and the day sales are at Jacobs's.

A " mutual" evening wns held in 'the Cavorsli«m Gymnasium on -Monday evening. iepresrtatives from nil the gymnastic clubs dmforming nt the.appnratus work. Mr J. Wilron opened the prodfcdings, mentioning'thai the object of the gathering was to foster mutual feeling between members of all olubs and to Jet members see what could be done V visiting twid advanced gymnasts. Some of the perforilpnces were really perfect, while JMhewe's work was regarded with admiration. After the gymnastic work the visitors were enterfamed at supper by the Caversham Clirt >Z\ during the evening severn.l items were -given «d much apptaded. Messra J. M' B fora J. TOton and D.'SVw»«m w ,a, £££ pr». remarks regarding the iur.ction and gymnastic olubs in general.