THE PALMER-BEAUMONT COMPANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2082, 18 January 1894, Page 36

THE PALMER-BEAUMONT COMPANY.

The Palmer-Beaumont Concert Company, who have been in the colony for the past three month?, having commenced their tour in New Zealand at Auckland in October last, made their first appearance in Dunedin on Friday night, and were greeted by au audience that was large and appreciative. Those members of the company who have previously visited this city were accorded a welcome so warm as to show them that they had certainly not been forgotten, and the strangers also obtained a cordial reception, which they justified by their artistic rendering of the items assigned to them on the programme. The concert as a whole was of a thoroughly enjoyable character, and the impression which the company created was so decidedly favourable that ifc may be anticipated that their stay here will be as financially profitable as it, without doubt, will be artistically successful.' A considerable period has elapsed since Mrs Palmer last appeared on the concert platform in Dunedin, and it is not improbable that there were those among the audience who expected to find a deterioration in her voice. Any such person must have been disappointed, for Mrs Palmer's rendering of her solos afforded convincing proof that she has returned in full possession of her vocal powers, which are mellowed perhaps but not impaired. The "Romance" from Weber's "Preciosa," her first solo, was sung with great ' Charm, and served to show to advantage the purity and sweetness of her voice, which she uses with great judgment, while her admirable phrasing and enunciation were also noted by music lovers. In response to an emphatic encore she gave " Home, sweet home," singing the familiar melody with a depth of expression that made the number unusually acceptable. Another solo contributed by Mrs Palmer was Cowen's "A world between," which she rendered with exquisito taste, and, being imperatively recalled,

she substituted a quaint story of courtship. Miss Maggie Stirling, who had not previously sung in Dunedin, chose for her opening number the aria, "Nacqui all' affanno al pianto," and the rondo, " Non piu mesta accanto al fuoco," from Rossini's "Cenerentola." She possesses a highly cultivated, flexible mezzo-soprano voice of considerable volume and extensive range, which she uses with noticeable facility. The florid munic of the aria was skilfully interpreted, and the vocalist was recalled by loud plaudits, when she sang " Polly, the cows are iv the corn," in a distinctly effective manner. Later oa in the evening she gave " Caller herrin' " very expresgively, and tho compliment of an encore being again accorded to her, she responded with a taking love ditty. Mr Armes Beaumont, as one of the old favourites of the Australian operatic stage and concert platform, was accorded a particularly warm greeting on his reappearance in this city, the applause with which he was met on coming forward for his first solo being loud and prolonged, and tho public testified the pleasure with which they again listened to the voice that had so often charmed them, by soliciting an encore after "The Blue Alsatian Mountains." Mr Beaumont, complying with the request, sang "The anchor's weighed" in a vigorous and effective style. Blumenthal's " Evening song" was his solo in the second part. Mr A. H. Gee, the baritone of the company, scored a success so pronounced and so unequivocal as it has rarely been the fortune of a vocalist to achieve on his first appearance in Dunedin. The song "Thou art passing hence" was the solo in which he introduced himself to the public. The admirable quality of his voice, his capital enunciation, and the facility of his production, whether of a mere whisper or of rich notes like those of an organ, at once disclosed in him a vocalist of great attainments, and his tasteful rendering of Sullivan's song was concluded by a display of enthusiasm on the parb of the audience which resulted in his reappearing, when he sang " Vanity ".with a greater degree of success than has bean achieved in it by any other person on the local platform. Of " The village blacksmith " also Mr Gee gave a very fine rendering, which secured for him quite an ovation, and for an encore number he sang " Simon the cellarer." Besides the vocal quartet just mentioned, the company includes two instrumentalists of recognised talent. Mr Walter Barker, A.R.A.M., who has not been here on any former occasion, is a harp soloist, who fairly established his claim to be regarded as taking very high rank. Thomas's "Autumn" was the composition selected for his solo, and in his performance of it he showed that he was a master of technique, while the delicate nuances of light and shade were cleverly observed. A repetition was demanded, and Mr Barker played a pretty morceau, which aIRO evoked most favourable comment. Mr John Lemmone was known to the bulk of those present as a flautist of great ability, his performances on the instrument during his last visit to the colony, on which occasion he was a member of Miss Amy Sherwin's Concert Company, beiDg skill fresh in the memory of many persons. His first solo — " Rhapßodie Neapolitaine" (Paggi) — was an admirable exhibition of technical skill, while the tone he produced was rich and pure. He was accorded au imperative encore, to which ho responded, and in the second part ho played a " Graceful Dance," a very taking piece, composed by himself. A duet for harp and flute by Messrs Barker and Lemmone, who played "The Dream after the Dance" (Bronstet), was one of the most enjoyable items on the programme, and was redemanded. Miss Stirling and Mr Gee were heard to great advantage in the duet "A Night in Vienna." Mrs Palmer, and Messrs Beaumont and Gee contributed the trio "Sweet is the Breath of Morn" (to which Mr Lemmone supplied a piccolo obbligato, in which an imitation of the notes of the feathered songsters of the early morning were introduced), and the vocal quartet part song Eaton Faning's "Moonlight," with the ever ' popular " Funiculi, Panicala" to wind up the concert, which, to judge from the repeated encores, was exceptionally successful. Mr Barker played the accompaniments acceptably. There were large audiences in the Garrison Hall on Monday and Wednesday nights, all parts of the building being well patronised, and the entertainments on each occasion were of a high order and thoroughly enjoyable.