MISS AMY CASTLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2511, 30 April 1902, Page 57

MISS AMY CASTLES.

It is now definitely announced that the Dunedin public is to have the pleasure of hearing Austialia's celebrated singer, Miss Amy Castles on Thursday night next. Mr Harold Ashton, formerly with Mr Wilson Barrett, and one of Mr J. C. Wiliamson's well-known touring managers, arrived in Dunedin on Wednesday last to make arrangements. It is now a matter of history to music-lovers how Miss Castles went Home a. little under three years ago, after great successes in Australia, and studied under the best masters in England, and how she recently made a most successful debut before the most prominent critics at Home. In fulfilment of her promise, she is now visiting Australasia, and the furore she has created in Sydney and Melbourne has been unprecedented in Australasia. Unfortunately for the public she is limited to 20 concerts in Australasia, and of these Mr J. C. Wililamson has reserved six for New Zealand, which accounts for only one being held in Dunedin. Mr Williamson is paying Miss Castles more than has been received by any star artiste under his management during the time he has been catering in Australasia, and his great success with her will be pleasing news to the theatrical public who recently sympathised with their old friend m his losses through the big fire in He* Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, when the scenery of " Ben Hur " was destroyed. Already Miss Caßtles has given three concerts in Melbourne and four in Sydney, when phenomenal business was done. The plan waa adopted, which Mr Ashton will follow out here, of the issuing of coupon tickets, on the principle of first come, first served. In Sydney it was announced that tickets would be issued at 6 a.m., and at 4.30 a.m. 20 people were waiting to secure tickets, and one man had arrived at 3.50 a.m. By 6 o'clock 120 tickets had been issued, and at the hour of opening the plan (9 o'clock) 430 had been distributed. The day's results totalled j over 4000 seats at 63 each for the first three concerts, a record for the city. There seems a slight difference amongst critics as to the calibre of Miss Castles's voice, but the great test of public approval has been a unanimous verdict for her magnetic rendering. On Monday night, according to a cable, thousands were turned away from the huge Sydney Town Hall, and this waa the occasion of the third concert of the four allotted to Sydney. Mr Williamson brings a very fine combination with Miss Castles, including three young Australians, Miss Una Bourne (solo pianist), Miss Maud Dalrymple (one of Australia's best known contraltos), and Miss Nbrt M'Kay (a young Queensland violinist), who last year won first prize at tha Liege Conservatorium for her violin solos against all-comers, when the celebrated Ysaye was judge. Herr Benno Scherek will be the accompanist. Signor Carlo Dani, the Italian tenor, accompanies the company. His great success with Williamson's Italian Opera Company in Australia will be remembered. A short time ago it was stated that the quality of Miss Casfles's voice had changed, but this is given an unqualified denial by the best of Melbourne's critics. One of Melbourne's best musical judges says : " Miss Castles never was and never aspired to be a dramatic soprano. She always was, and still is, a soprano leggier o. In the first place she has not the physique for a dramatic soprano. Australian reports state that the timbre of her voice is silvery, and with -the slightest mixture of nasality, is extremely sympathetic, while tie range and breadth are ample, and may still grow. Her repertoire is an extensive one, but amongst her successes in Sydney may be mentioned Ophelia's mad scene from Thomas's Hamlet," which famous aria was received with an ovation, " The four-leaf clover " (Willeby), "' Home, sweet, home " and " When we meet " (Temple). Signor Dani's programme included Gounod's " Salve Dimora " (" Faust "), Donizetti's " In Spirto Gentil " ("La Favorita"), and "La Donna c Mobile."

The announcement of the opening of th«» plan for the Amy Castles recital on Thursday evening resulted in a unprecedented rush for tickets at the Dresden Piano Depot yesterday, and it is evident that the talented Australian singer, " Victoria's nightingale " as she has been picturesquely styled, is to be greeted by a packed house in Dunedin. At 5.80 a.m. 12 people were waiting at the door, and at 6 o'clock 126 coupons were issued in a very short time entitling the early ones to first choice of seats, according to the number of their coupons. Before 9 o'clock, the hour at which the plan was to be opened, there was a large crowd waiting, and two policemen were in attendance to regulate the passage of the people in and out. The eager music-lovers included all sorts and conditions, from the hoary city father to the factory girl, and in three-quarters of an hour over 400 seat 3 had been booked. The booking then proceeded quietly throughout the day, and at 4 o'clock over 500 6s tickets had been sold, and since noon 260 4s tickets. Today a plan of a few more reserved seats, on the- floor of the hall, at the rear of those already booked, will be opened. In addition to the artists previously mentioned who will assist Miss Castles in her concart on Thursday evening next, there is also Mr E. Needham, baritone, who has been appearing in Sydney with very great success. Miss Castles will make her debut in the aria from '" Hamlet " — Ophelia's mad scene (Thomas), ai:d will subsequently be heard in " Jerusalem " and in the famous duet from "La Traviata " entitled " Parigi o Cara ' (Verdi) with Signor Carlo Dam. The latter singer, whose advent is also being looked forward to eagerly, will sing the ana ' Salve Dimora " from Gounod's " Fuiist, the romaiiza. " Spirto Oentil " from Donizetti's "La F&vonta, and with Miss Castles in the duct mentioned.