AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14001, 6 September 1907, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

. the ALBANI concerts. His Majesty's Theatre -was ' again very largely attended last evening on the occasion ci tho second concert given by Madame Albani. and the members cf lier company, and, liko its predecessor, the event proved of a most superior order of musical exreHcr.ce. Madaiuo Allxuii had again a most enthusiastic reception, and her singing, whatever slight diminution her wonderful powers may have inevitably suffered with the passage of tho prolonged period during which she hits been one of tho world's vocal colebritios, will leave a very lasting impression in tho minds of those that heard it. Tho famous prima donna's selection of numbers was last evening well calculated to show .her .skill in all departments of song, and her forceful and expressive renderings deli"hied all, and woronrtistio to a degree. First among these cam© tho eonoert soonu "Nor Tenror" by Mozart -with violin obbligato by Mr Haydn Wood'. This was emig with great fluency and perfect mastery of plrrasing and style, despite its heavy demands on tho voice. As the inevitable encoro number tho singer captured the popular "taste with " Coinin' thro' the rye." Lator on eomo " Angela ever bright and" fair," tha beautiful air from Handel's " Theodora," a splcnald example of tho oratorio. work in 4lbifij jmj jo' Jgjg Ivsljj

«n;?rallcd plaoo throughout tho' Engliah,spoaikmg world Tlie dignity,' fervour, and fob simplicity of the rendering combined to .inafco the number in .nujiiy respects the mastorpJeco of tho evening. Ag an .additional solo Madamo Albani sang'fche beautiful Bacli- , Gounod " Ave Maria," also most acceptable Id .tho audience, The 1 concluding programme numbers woro,-Bdwd German's " Daffodils allowing" and tbo, waltß song from "Romeo audi Juliet." . Both 1 ■were delightfully interpreted, and the encore, which of course -followedj-'iook tho'form of Tosti's ' Good-bye," sung with great and unforced pathos. The approval of the audience expressed itself in redoubled applause, which sank to the silence of breathless attention, as Madamo Albani gave "Home, sweet home," in.- a manner that, "will linger, long in tho memory of all present. The other membera of tho company bad, without exception, most cordial reooptions, and tho length of the programme was doubled by' virtue of the | /additional items that bad perforce to be given. Miss Mildred Jones did full justice to such numbers as " Lungi dal oaro bene" (Seechi) and "The. gleaner's slumber, aong," tho last-named; baing the precursor of a double enoore. It is long; since so popular' a contralio singer visited Duuedin. • Mr William Green's fine tenor voice "was heard to fcvery advantage in Gounod's " Salve Dimora" and Blumenihal's uMy queen," and his noteworthy /Interpretations in each case appealed greatly to his liearera, Mr Haydn "Wood, tlie brilliant violinist of tho company, again- .'demonstrated' liis high technical- skill and..artistio sense in'variations on a Paganini'.caprice and in Bazzini's "Witches' dance," and Miss Myrtle Meggy's piano solos, /which . included Ohopin's "Scherzo in B minor" and .Schumann's "Des Abends," .found the high appreciation they deserved, each of; theso-artists having to give supplementary numbers. ./A-.notable item, with : which''a . nctablo concert- coneluded, wag the "II Trovaioro" duet by tha tenor and contralto ,of the company. Madame Albani and her concert party leave to-day for Ohristohurch.

POLLARD'S JUVENILE OPERA COMPANY. There, is something '-bright, and unaffected about the acting of juveniles on the stage which rarely fails to attract l&Tge audiences to ivitness a piece 'in, which ,one or 1 morechildren take a part;,and Pollard's Juveniles ate no exception to' the. rule, a crowded and enthusiastic house greeting' -the perfonneTS lost night, as oil every night so far in the season. "Bluebell in. Fairyland" jußt.teems with life and fun. The, children appear to enjoy the performance as much as the audience. Tho scenery is bright and'picturesque, and tho catchy music effectually sets oi! the brightness and charm: of the whole play. A farewellmatinee will be- given on Saturday afternoon for tho; /beneflt of children and country patrons, and on .Saturday night there will be' a complete change of all the items, incidental, to tho piece. -The final performance.of/the season will be given on Wednesday evening next.

ALHAM'BRA'THEATRE, '■ There was rather a good house at the Alhambra Theatre last evening, when Fullers' Entertainers repeated the week's programme. The present big draw at the ■ Cowling;street theatre are Morris and Wi'.son, who perform iicrobaiic feats that entitle them to. rank amr-ngst the very best seen locally.' Tho other artists on the programme give valuable' support. The company will appear as usual this evening.

Memters of the Loyal Orange .Lodge, No. 12, William Johnston,, .held,, their usual monthly meeting in. the Friendly . Societies' ■'i South Dnnedln, on Tuesday evening. A3 it was their open night, ■ the iißual lodpe business had to be- postponed, there bein'» three candidates to Receive tho first degree. It was decided to initiate the new members and suspend all other business for a fortnight and open tho lodge to the friends and members of sister -edges-, who were'awaiting admission. Senior';., Grand. Chaplain Bro Cumming occupied tho chair, and welcomed tho friends on behalf of No. 12/ The programme for the evening was contributed to by Bro. Sutton, Bro. L. Smith, Mr Amos Sis. J. Bryant, Bro. Ilutton, Bro. Paton Sis. Arudgc,; Miss L.- Buss, Miss Maudv i>ilS3, and Miss L. Bryant. Bro. Sutton kindly played the-accompaniments. It W a< decided to hold the annual picnic on November 9. .1

A very enjoyable social and dance was held m the Mornington Gymnasium Hall last Wednesday evening, and some 55 couples (representing tho Ladies' Physical Culture Oltib and the Mornington Gymnastic Club, together with friends) joined in' the " li»h; fantastic." The hall was very gaily, decoraled lor oocasiou with flags, festoons,- Cliinese lanterns, etc., kindly. lent for the occasion by Mr Robert Slater. The.Grand-March wa-t led off by Mi- W. Roberts (who, together with rJ. w , ood . acter as. M.C.), and partner, and. dancing was indulged in till the early morning. the evening the following rendered items, which were milch a.ppre°-ciated.-Miss Galloway, Mr A. Knox, and Mi J. Wood. At the conclusion the, .energetic and capable social secretary (Mr Keith Cameron) called for a vote of thanks fo the ladies for their generous support and assistMice, and to Mr S'a-ter, who had devoted much' time and attention to the' decocting of the hall, and this was carried, by hearty clleetl "£. The gathering broke ,up shortly after 2 a.m., all present acknowledging thoii indebtedness to tho M.C.'s and the committee for ono of the best socials ever held in the borough.