THE GLAUS AND EEKEL CONCERTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1160, 21 February 1874, Page 14

THE GLAUS AND EEKEL CONCERTS.

The first of the above Concerts took place on

Wednesday at the Princess Theatre. The present

Company consists of the celebrated and extraordinary violiniste Mdlle. Claus ; Mdlle. Rekel,

a soprano ; Signor Cecchi, who has sung before in this city ; and Mons. Rekel, pianist, who acts the part of accompanyist and performs solos on the pianoforte. The pi ogramme was very happily divided into three parts, each part consisting of four items, and introduced by an overture or instrumental introduction by the orchestra, which, although not a very strong one, nevertheless deserves credit, and was ably led by Mons. Fleury. We compliment Signor Biscaccianti, the conductor, for the punctual way in which the concert commenced, and on the reasonable hour — ten o'clock— at which it terminated. Slightly varying the words of His Honour Judge Chapman at the late amateur performance, punctuality in commencing a concert and a wise discretion in terminating it at a reasonable hour, go a great way to preserve our tempers unruffled, and to make us pleased and disposed to speak well of an entertainment. Owing, we may suppose, to the fact that yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the attendance in the Theatre was poor — at least in the Dress Circle, for the lower portion of the house was well thronged. It now becomes our duty to introduce our new arrivals to the public of Dunedin. Mdlle Rekel possesses a pleasing soprano, but nothing out of the way. We would hardly class her in the category of prima donnas. At the same time, as we have said before, her voice is pleasing, and wliatever shortcomings there may be in that direction are made up for by Mdlle. Rekel's earnestness and artistic singing. " Angels ever bright and fair," with a few minor defects, was very tas'efully given ; and " Comin' through the rye" with great naivetd. Signor Cecchi, we •egret to say, we cannot compliment on his performances last night. Though possessing a tolerably fair tenor, and able if he so choose to sing •with great force, as well as to modulate to a pianissimo, Signor Cecchi is careless and reckless in the extreme, and at the risk of inducing huskinessandcausingconsiderableunpleasantneßs strives to attain an altitude far beyond his power sand his register of voice. In conjunction with all this, there is an excessive freedom of mauner which is by no means agreeable. Mons. Rekel displayed considerable execution, and was invaluable as an accompanyist. In our opinion there was too much execution in the solos j we would have much preferred something of the nature of the pianoforte portion of the duet with Mdlle. Claus in Part 11.

The great successes ot the evening were the exquisite violin performances of Mdlle. Claus. This lady may be said to be the support of the company. Nothing could exceed the enthusiastic nanner in which tlie audience unanimously acknowledged her right to be enrolled among the greatest performers on the chief of instruments. The audience was fairly taken by storm, and loud and long was the applause after each of her performances. Mdlle. jClaus is undoubtedly an extraordinary performer on the violin. Complete mistress of that splendid instrument, she producos the most beautiful effects. All is smooth and liquid, nothing jerky, nothing forced, nothing stringy. The harshness that characterises the playing of the general class of performers, is entirely absent. Each note is clear, correct, and melodious, even up to the highest pitches, and clown to the lowest. The listener is indeed entranced. Throughout all, the most perfect taste is prominently conspicuous. The selections from " Martha 1 ' were, in our opinion, her best effort, especially that beautiful air " M'appari," and the music of "The Last Rose of Summer," which were exquisitivoly and faultlessly given. Mdlle. Claus shows her extraordinary power not only in the manner already pointed out, but also by the complete ease with which she is able to produce the effect of a first and second violin played together, with harmony nnd in unison. To those who have not heard Mdlle. Claus we say by all means do so. To her extraordinary talent will undoubtedly be due the success of the present concerts.

Duriug the week ending 14th February twenty-one patients were admitted into the Dunedin Hospital, and 20 discharged therefrom. The number of patients at present in the Hospital is 132, of whom 24 are women