AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14000, 5 September 1907, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

"HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ' MjlDiStE AißkNt. ; The visit to Du-nediin. of so distinguished a vocalist i as Madamo- Albani marks an epoch in tho musical history of the city, and ono that is not likely to be readily fori gotten. . Many here have heard of tho. famous soprano, but few have been privileged to hear her sing until last evening, notwithstanding tho lady's long career bsforo the public, a career that has been a succession of 'triumphs, nnd of which Madame may justly feci proud. It is almost unnecessary to say that His Majesty's Theatre, where tho first' of tho two concerts was given, was very liberally filled by aA nudiance not only anxious to hoar tho gifted songstress, but, as it turned out, anxious to accord her the rigiht ' hearty her genius derives. A great, reception was accorded-Madamo Albani on making fcer first approach to tho footlights, applause being continued for several -minutes, during which Madame bowed profoundly to the enthusiastic audience that confronted her. Her opening effort.' 'was-' the aria "L'Amero," from Mozart's "lire Pastore, 1 ' which, was magnificently sung. The first thing that impresses anyone listening to Albani's singing is the whole-heartedi manner in which she abandons herself to the musio sho has set herself -to. interpret. She appears to be completely. wrapt in her music, and dt is only after , her closing bar sho exhibits any consciousness of tho presenco of her audience. The second impression is lb»t a great and gifted singer is performing, ion© exceptionally endowed by. Nature as far as voice is concerned, and ono that has developed the talent given her in the" highest degree. The next sensation experienced is that tho singer is of exceptional artistio temperament,- anil thisj becomes a conviotion when tho, method of Madame's treatment of the music she sings is fully realised, and it' is not * very long before this stage is reached. It is impossible k listen to the great soprano'for imuiy A minutes without feeling- that one is' in- the presence of a thorough artist ill all. the. departments of. her profession.. Songs previously heard biar a different character and develop a beauty hitherto unknown, ;or unnotioed, and a cliarm is imparled to tho simiwst ballad Madamo sings. Thcro is an expressiveness about her singing that appeals with irresistible. force to the listener, and tho audience last evening was to bo pardoned if it passed all bounds in the matter of encores, for,this very reason. The; aria just referred to was on j of the most artistically treated items ever heard from a Dunedin stage. It called for great, executive power, and was sung in perfect style, 'i'He audience was quite en- • raptured with it, and was not to bo shaken in it-3 resolution to hear a. supplementary .number. Madame Albani accepted . tho in- 1 evitable in' tho cud, and was 'rewarded by having •, handed to her soma very,.'choice flowers, tastefully arranged. "Crossing the bar," Tennyson's well-known poem, sot • to music by Willeby, was rendered most im--pressively. ' The singing of it : was anj exceedingly fine pieco of. descriptive vccalisa•tion," and it - was given with great dramatic n'ower and splendid effect. Encored, again, "fadamo Albani vAug " Wi!,h,m a. mile' o' Edinburgh ,tocn " with complete ; success, andi was compelled to give &' third song. The singing of consecutive items, in this way. is particularly .trying to a singer, and- a:' voice that bad not been well and property cared for might, have shown some evidence of the strain put. <ipoti it by the vocalist,, but, it made no visible impression in the case of Madame "Toani, whose last .songwas equally * well sung with tho first. Madame made her final appearance' when she sang t.lie two bracket©! items—" Songs' my mother .taught me" (Dvorak)'and "Rosebuds" (Ardiii). The first was sung'with exquisite taste, and the other, a pretty waltz song, was charmingly rendered. Madame showed every inclination to decline the encore, but the audience .was not to be baulked/in, its desire, and a. very touching and sympathetic interpretation of " Home, sweet home," was the resu.lt of the per-' sistent ap'p'aupe. Madame Albani,/is very well supported by a. violinist, a solo 'pianiste, .a contralto, and a tenor singer., every one of 'whom is a thorough artist. The violinist, Mr Ilavdn Wocd, judging 'from his youthful pnrearanoe. has not yet wholly entered lipon his musical','-'career, yet .has attained an. extraordinary degree of- proficiency. He plays' with- consummate'.-skin, and is thoroughly versed; in'all the departments of violin playing. He exercises a complete mastery over tho instrument, and plays brilliantly and with refinement and finish. Some of'the music played by Mr last-evening was by no means devoid of difficulty, -.yet ho accomplished everything he did with'.perfect case. He played Hitbay's ""Plevna. Nota," a nocturne by Chopin,, and a gipsy, danoe by Sa-rasato,' and was repeatedly encored. Miss 'Myrtle Meggy is tho solo pianiste,-and a brilliant: performer on, the instrument. Her playing of Liszt's " Ehapsod-ie ' Hongroiae" was a treat to listen, to, and » waltz by Cliaminade,' a moro popular item, was an equally,.' meritorious piece oi work,' amd stamped Miss Meggy as one standing high in the musical. profession. Redemands were . acceded to. >in both .instances. Madame Albani has with her a'singer of a very high orclcr .in Miss Mildred Jones. The young lady possesses i a contralto voice of exceedingly fine quality, and her singing is irreproachable. ." The enchantress," by- Hatton, was in! itself, quite sufficient to pto'vo that Miss Jones is a cultivated singer, and "Three fishers," with which sho supplemented 1 it .on being encored, was a finished piece of vocalisation. Later on in the evening Miss Joiios sang Bunning's "Where' deivdrops sleep," and'had again to submit to r..n encore. Mr William Green sang Beethoven's "Adelaida" with signal success. Ho has a "tenor, voice of vigorous type, which he ' manages, skilfully, and lias the gift, robust as his', voice is, of keeping it in subjection when- necessary, and singing with great softness and sweetness of expression. He gave a fine rendering of " Come into tho garden, Maud," but his "Macgregor's gathering," yfhicti ho - gayo. 09 an encote, was not so good an effort. Miss 'Meggy and Mr Wood played a duet for piano -and violin, and' Miss ■ Jones and Mr Green contributed a. vocal duet, during the evening. Mr Wood also supplied violin obbligalos to come of Madamo Albani's songs, i Tho accompaniments .were most effectively played by Mr Theodore Flint.

The. remaining concert will be,given this evening. Thsre is, of course, an entire change of -programme, the. principle being still observed,- equitably balancing, the -masterpieces of the olassics with the dearly-loved popular music of the masses. Madame 'Al-ba.ni is .to sing another of the grand Mozarteam arias, "Neil Tomer," with violin obb!igato, and as her second important'item the 1 immortal "Angels'ever bright andfair," •'by: which Handel is'better known to the psople than by. any other of" his. works. The great soprano is also on the ptogramme for a final bracket of lighter and brighter iterpS, " Daffodils a-blowing" (BiL German),- an arch-favourite with present day English concert audiences, arid the splendid waltz • song: ;from "Romeo and Juliet" (Gounod). ■ " ...

POLLARD'S JUVENILE OPERA COMPANY. " Bluebell'in Fairyland" drew another large and appreciative audience to the PrincessTheatre last evening, when the popular and charming little musical composition, with its setting in elegant costumes,' bright and sparkling spectacular effects, and crisp local allusions, was staged in the same elaborate and complete manner as -on previous-even-ings. The; choruses and dances incidonta] to the play maintained their juvenile freshness and vivacity, and the concerted music throughout was effectively rendered. Recalls were frequent .and were liberally and promptly respond to. .The orchestral music was excellent. " Bluebell" ,will be repeated this evening. • ' ' •' ■

ALHAHBRA THEATRE;'. The performance at the Allambra this week is nn excellent, one. in every respect, the programme being • bright' and interesting throughout. Morris and Wilson give 'a clever exposition of the art of tumbling, while the irresistible comedy element which they introduce into tlieir turn evokes perfect screams of laughter. ...The Yaldenes (trick cyclists), Amy Blackie,-Kildie and Davis, Octavia and AVarne,. Lucy Lavinia. Itud Peterson, Sam Wilson, and Walker and Hughes still continue members of an excellent combination. FresH attractions arc announced for Saturday'night; when the usual change of programme takes place. ALLIANCE LODGE CONCERT. The tenth. anniversary . concert of the Alliance Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was given last evening in the ;Soutli Dunedin Town Hall before a very ■ large; audiciice. Tho W.C.T. of tho lodge occupied' the chair. The following was the excellent /programme presented:— Over-' , t'uip, "..Misa If. Thfffflpaflu; «®g,' "Pswa.

the old . Swanee," Jtr •W, Wjrlie; song, "Always in tho way," Miss M. Owens; rcoiUtion, Mr W. Mac Lean; humoirous song, Mr sloir; violin and piccolo duet, •" Doublo eagle,"' Messrs Ferguson; l ..sang;.,"Lovo. mej and!tho .world ismirio," Miss .Lulu Bonnet;; brass. quartet, "Town/and country.". Messrs A. Patterson, H. .Freeman, D. T. Patterson.' and W. M'Kindlay ;: song, " The, low-backed car,." Miss -Mazengarb; ;song, ,Mr: Johnson; mandolin selection; Mr. Stakes and party; song, "A bunch of Irish shamrocks," Miss Cooper; monologue. "The football match." Mr Kennedy; and the whole concluded with % a vc-y funny farce by Mr S. C. Brooks and parly. Miss M. Taylor actcd as accompaniste. •