THE TREBELLI CONCERTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 39

THE TREBELLI CONCERTS.

Upon her reappearance in Dunedin on Monday eveniDg Mdlle. Antoinette Trebelli was greeted in the Garrison Hall by an audience which, by its large dimensions and demonstrative enthusiasm, showed convincingly that the exceptionally favourable impreesionß that were created by her several weeks ago, upon her arrival in New Zealand, have been fully retained. It would be strange were it otherwise, for Mdlle. Trt&elli has com«

to us in the complete possession of vooal powers such as are vouchsafed to few, and the opportunity of hearing her at this end of the world is, under those circunisttnocg, a. privilege which no lover of music should neglest. As Mdlle. Trebelli grows older she will perhaps grow leso good-natured. There wsb something like a disposition in last night's ' audience to impose upon her good nature. Her name appeared on the programme opposite four solos, two of which were of a trying character, but, including one repeat, she actually doubled the number of the items for which she was set down. The coolness with which those preoent retained their seata, after the prima donna bad sung the concluding number on tho programme, and waited for the encore was almost admit able. It was at all events justified by the event, which furnished a rich treat. The " Folacca " from " Mignon " (Thomas) was Mdlle. Tr«belH'o first solo, and in it the purity, sweetness, flexibility, and power of her voice wora effectively displayed. The difficult runs and swells with which the song is studded were executed faultlessly and effortlessly, and her interpretation of the number as a whole was extremely skilful. A choice eucore item was " The first meeting" (Grieg), which wag received with, as ii; merited, great favour. The next eofb wa« a composition of a different order, being Brass's serenade, "The angel's call" ([Mr Melitius playing a violin obbligato), and it was rendered with fine expression and conspicuous taste. This number was repeated by Mdlle. Trebelli. " The swallows 9 song" (Eva dell Acqua) is somewhat exhausting, being a particularly florid composition ; but it wae brilliantly executed, and evoked a furore of applause. The vocalist might faiily have been excused* from giving an encore, but the audienca wan not easily placable, and. returning to the platform a second time, she seat«d herself at the piaub, and, playing her own accompaniment, gave Guirand's "Soreate," exceedingly tastefully. Moore's touching eotig, " The last rose of summer," as rendered by Mdlle. Trebelli, was one of the most thoroughly enjoyable items of a very enjoyable concert. Singing it with rare expression, she reduced the audience to almost absolute silence until, as the last note was dying away, a great volume of applause bur«t out, and this was continued until Mdlle. Trebelli returned and generously supplemented her previous contributions by giving with exquisite taste "Home, sweet home." The other vocal selections jon the programme were given by Mrs J. H. Coomb,*, Meagre Arthur Salviui, and John Prouae. Mrß Coombs sang "By tho watwi " and " Swoet and low," her better effort being the latter, which was sung with taste and feeling. Mr Salvini contributed " Non c ver " and "My sweetae&rt | when a boy," and, while he was recalled for the former, received the compliment of an encore for his rendering of Wilford Morgan's song. Mr Prouse, of Wellington, has not been heard in Dunedin for some time, and was cordially greeted on his first appearance of th<) evening, which was to sing SaDtley's " Son of the ocean isle." This he gave with adtnirable efftci iv a declamatory style, and, beiDg recalled, he added " In sheltered vale," which wai much appreciated. " Absent yet present " (Maude V. White) was the solo allotted to Mr Prouse in the s«cond part, and it was vigorously rendered, but perhaps his chief success of the evening was achieved in the encore number, "The River of Years," which proved so acceptable that the vocalist was again recalled. Mr H. B. Melituß contributed . two violin solos in the praiseworthy manner that has marked his previous performances in this city. The first was a fantasia on airs from " Tannbauser " and the pecond an andante from a concerto by Mendelssohn, and each was played with felioity and expression. With the excftptiou 1 that Mr D. Cooke provided the accompaniment to the first violin solo, the accompaniments of the evening were played by Mr Timson, who is to ba commended for his very tasteful performance of them. Another cincert wa« given on Monday evening, when Mdlle. Trebelli ssng, among other items, "The Laughing Song," which she gave on her previous visit to Dunedin.