NOTES BY PASQUIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1895, 16 March 1888, Page 28

NOTES BY PASQUIN.

I mentioned & week or two ago some particulars as, to the opera company Miss Amy Sherwin will lead at the close of her New Zealand tour, and as there is a chance that they may visit New Zealand early next year, further information on the subject may be of interest. The principals, who will very shortly arrive in Melbourne under engagement to Herr Gorlitz, are Miss Clara Poole, priraa donna alto, Messrs Bassett, first tenor ; Stoddait, baritone; and Vetta, bass. Miss Sherwin herself will, of course, be prima donna soprano,' and Miss Mina Fischer will be the mezzo-soprano. The following is a portion only of the repertoire that will be gone through each season :—" Faust " (for the opening), "Lucia di Lammermoor," " Maritana," •• The Bohemian Girl," " Mignon," "La Somnambula," "Martha," "Les Huguenots," "The Flying Dutchman," and « The Magic Flute." Now as to the Amy Sherwin concert season, which was without doubt the most brilliant financial success that there has been in Dunedin in the concert line sinoe the visits of lima di Murska or Camilla Urso. There were to have been four concerts only, but as matters turned out it was altogether too much like throwing away money to adhere strictly to this arrangement. Up to Saturday evening there had been no occasion on which a visitor five minutes late could get a decent seat in any part of the Princess Theatre. Under these circumstances what could any one have done_ but precisely what Herr Gorlitz did ; that is to say, give an extra concert on Monday evening and induce Miss Sherwin to offer a sacrifice to the gods in thankfulness for the great good fortune that had attended the opening of her New Zealand campaign. This thank-offering took a form suggested by Miss Amy Sherwin herself, and a distinctly happy thought it was. She gave a matinee concert on Monday, the proceeds of which are to form the nucleus of a fund for establishing a bursary of music in connection with the New Zealand University. Our university is already prepared to examine and grant degrees in music, so that there is much merit in the scheme. A small amount only was netted by Monday's concert, but similar entertainments will be given in the other New Zealand towns, and the result will be, at anyrate, to make a start, after which other help will be probably forthcoming. In justice to the originator this certainly ought to be called the Amy Sherwin Bursary. Of Mis 3 Sherwin's singing one can only speak in terms of the warmest appreciation. Sweet singer as she was nine years ago, intelligent study, cultivation, and the natural maturing of her splendid voice has worked wonders. Her singing was one continuous illustration of what can be done with a voice of first-rate quality, perfectly and easily under the singer's control. Her voice is sweet, clear, and vigorous, sufficiently powerful in every register, without a trace of hardness about it any where— a voice of finished pliability, managed with a gracefullness and ease that makes it a rare delight to listen to her. She takes pleasure in intricate passages, executing them with extraordinary delicacy and absolute precision, and throughout her intonation is as nearly as possible faultless. The rest of the company also became warm favourites. Miss Mina Fischer is a delightful ballad singer, with a sweet mezzosoprano voice, an attractive person, and an excellent method of singing, her phrasing and expression being particularly good. Mr Stockwell has improved vastly in his style of singing, and his voice seems to _ have mellowed. It makes one groan to think of the money value there is in this fine tenor if Mr Stockwell could only act a fifth part as well as he can sing. Mr Lemmonc, the flautist, proved to be a thorough artist in his way, although he was never allowed to emerge from the ranks of Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove's orchestra in Australia. He is a singularly clever, in fact a brilliant, executant. Miss Sherwin and her company left for Oamaru on Tuesday morning. They appear in that town on Wednesday, Tiniaru on Friday and Saturday, and Ashburton on Monday. The subsequent dates are as follows :— Christchurch, 21st March; Wellington, 30th March; Napier, 7th April ; and Auckland, 17th April, Miss Carrie Swain and company travelled down from Auckland this week and open in Invercargill on JFridfty evening for a short season of six nights before returning to Australia. Mr Tait is in advance.

Mr Frank Cates has arranged an attractive programme for his recital on Wednesday evening, but if. is too late for me to notice this week. The pieces Mr Cates has selectedto recite are the gravediggers' scene from" Hamlet," Lindsay Gordon's "How we beat the favourite," Albert Smith's " Goody Grim v. Lapstone," Hood's "Eugene Aram," Calvorley's "Govmini et Virgo," "The Seven Ages," " Sergeant Buzfuz's address " &c, &c, Several amateur vocalists are going to assist, and Mr Harry Norman will recite " Coeur de Lion at his father's bier."

Mr James Jago, one of our best known amateur vocalists (baritone), has accepted an engagement from HerrGorlilz, and leaves for Melbourne at the end of the month to join the opera company forming there. Mr George Leitch has received news of the death of his mother in England from paralysis. She had been totally blind for the last year, an affliction of which her son was in ignorance. Miss Jeffreys Lewis is playing in New York to first-rate business. They are kinder to her there than in 'Frisco.

Edmund Yates says the ghastliest ballad he ever listened to is the popular music hall ditty, " Two Lovely Black Eyes." An American mauager named Harry Miner find? himself in the disagreeable predicament of Iv.tving to pa) duty on a member of his dramatic company. In order to get Ah Fook, a Chinese actor, across the line into Canada with the rest of his troupe he had to pay SOdol on him for Customs duty. Ah Fook had a passport from the Chinese consul in New York asking the Canadian authorities to pass him free ; but it was of no avail. Furthermore, Manager Miner finds he will

have to pay extra duty to bring Ah Fook back to the States, and consequently is tempted to leave him altogether to the tender mercies of the " Kanucks."

A new historical drama entitled "The Knights of St. John," by Count Schack, is to be produced at the Munich Court Theatre.