AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13733, 24 October 1908, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

MISS AIXSLEY'S CONCERT. The concert which Miss Irene. Aiuslcy gave in the Theatre Royal only fairly attended,- considering* of the fair Songstress,' and ; her talented company. The audience ,werj>-enthusiastic throughout and as every appearanc«'>led to an order to repeat the artistic success of tha entertainment need not be further commented on. Miss Ainsley lias * contralto voice of; rich resonant timbre, full in both registers and well under control. Her production i? remarkably free, her dramatic power well developed. - Hev fii\«t sonp "Mon Coeur S'ouvri a ; ta voir" (Saint Saeus), was replete with that; passion that belongs to "the artist, and it was erven with that insistent firmness.'-.that .nhovs the power behind it. Responding to demands " Annie* Laurie" was added. On her next Appearance three bracketed songs were taken "The Night has a Thousand Kyes" (Metcalf) being the fin«r. The air was simple and graceful, and 4t; received appropriate treatment. In Mctcalf'i " Absent" th> creative - treatment was much in evidence.' The'tone" drew the imagination to the shadows on the grass, and the witching of feeling pourtrayed, made the accompanying words "Fyes grow dim with tenderness ".an extravagant and us-clews corollary. An '■ Invitation" (Katli- , erin* Barry) was next taken, - it.» br.Wk movement, showing the power, delicacy and command,of the ypcal chords,attained bv the singer. Her other numbers wer».; Clarke's "Take Your Lute and Sing" and. Sullivan's " Lost Chord." Tho lae* named admirably suited the voice, and it \va* tlung out with a studied recklessness, tlint was most effective.- Her-* final notes werw magnificent it) their dominating power and althoueh s l|e had been gencroiM nil niirut still hud t<v - rcsiwnd - again. Mrs*' Ern-> »•!.■ H. Qnerrce. the pianist ofthe party. ' retidi-rcd IluhensteiiiV well-known concert .study and "Gavotte de -Concert" (CwelliFriedonthal'. Her tone is good, ■ and exe.

cution nil that am be "defiirwl. Tn the first luimlwr her?!' playing of themelody with /the left hand \\m tastefully worked, i»»»d ihe presto towards the final was also well done.

She is perhaps slightly heavy, occasionally in solo work, but her accompaniment tolay l int» showed a -tactful appreciation relative volume of tone required. Mr :M. Hamilton Hodges;'« baritonesoloist,'rendered "The Tojreador" from Carmen, !"Ihy Foe" (Rlumenthal) and tbrea ; onaUer songs. His voice- is light aneb when not forced of pleasing quality. H« sings,. »ntb fire and his appreciation and opposition of the idea which 1 wanted expression was always eorrcct.. Tho concert, wan most, enjoyable: a programme of such merit is seldom heard. VALENTINE'S RED SEAL PICTURES. The Theatre- Royal is to be Tfiopened today, when Mr Valentine iutends giving R matinee for the benefit of the younger children. The main feature of this'enter-tainment-is to> educate as-well as.to amuse, and the programme; has been specially arranged to suit' the younger gen<!rat.ion. Mr Valentine has been twnplimented on the educational valo<«of -lite matinee performances, bv tsrhoolmnsrtcr* from-all pait-i o( New Zealand, and? the prices charged should ensure a large librae..