Miss Alice Sydney Burvett.

Thames Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 7474, 18 April 1893, Page 2

Miss Alice Sydney Burvett.

Mies Alice Sydney Burvett, .the wellknown pianiste, and Mr C. 0. Montrose, the popular lecturer, gave their joint programme last evening at the Academy of Music. We were pleased to note that in Bpite of the heavy downpour of rain there was a good house, the reserved seats being unusually well filled. Those who attended enjoyed a thoroughly musical and intellectual treat, the programme having been selected with judgment as to refinement and variety. The applause throughout was frequent and enthusiastic from all parts of the house, both to the musician and the lecturer. Miss Burvett is indeed a marvellons performer, and last evening she added another to her long list of artistic triumphs. Her first essay was the magnificent Walsteiu sonata, played in its entirety, the rondo being exquisitely rendered, the crossing of the hands in this movement being also remarkable for extreme grace and precision. The grand fantasia on " Mose in Egitto" was a majestic rendering, full of power and deep feeling- Some grand variations in Spanish airs, composed by her eminent Parisian master, M. Kavina, were characterised by the passionate ardour of the Spanish temperament. Indeed, it has often been surmised, from the spirit and feeling which Miss Burvett infuses into this composition, that she is partly of that nationality, though we learn that in reality she is an Australian by birth, of English parentage, Sydney having the honor of being her birthplace. Field's angelic nocturne was played with all its' melodious sweetness, the fingers of the fair artiste seeming to caress the keys with fairylike tenderness. The popular taste was catered for with " Home, Sweet Home," " AuldLang Syne," "The Mocking Bird," " Robin Adair," and " Auld Folks at Home." Comparatively simple ! and familiar ss are these old favorites, Miss ] Burvett plays them with so much effect and infuses into them so much depth of feeling that in her hands they exercise a magnetic influence between the performer and the audience. We must not omit the mention of Gottschalk's "Dying Poet," a most pathetic conpcmtion, which was listened to with breathless attention, and the' same composer's grand fantasia in Brazilian airs, abounding in most realistic warlike drum effects, concluded the musical part of the programme. The extraordinary contrast bstween the numbers played was very noticeable, but in each she excels and seems to concentrate her whole soul in the performance. Mr C. O. Montrose gave a graphic and vivid description of the most stirring scenes in the Taranaki and Waikato wars, his description of the decisive battle of Rangiriri being remarkable for its eloquent wordpainting. Many laughable anecdotes served to relieve the more gruesome and pathetic pictures of* the stern realities of war. Such a graphic story could only be narrated by one who had been a personal and prominent actor in the scenes he described. ' <\ THE PROGRAMME FOR TO-NIGHT, j Miss Burvett and Mr C. 0. Montrose will appear sgain at the Academy of Music to-night, positively for the last time in this town. The programme will consist of the following pieces by Miss Burvett: Andante and rondo capriciosa (Mendelssohn), " Las j Love" (Gottschalk), Haydn's "Variations in Austrian Airs," Thalberg's arrangement of the " Last Rose of Summer" (a portion of which is played with the left hand alone), and the celebrated " Tarantelle" by Gottschalk, which Miss Burvetfc performed with the Victorian Orchestra at the Town Hall, Melbourne, before an audience of 2500, and which created quite a furore at her series of concerts in the Choral Hall, Auckland. Besides these she repeats from last night's programme '' The Dying Poet," "Home, Sweet Home," "Auld Lang Syne," and "Tbe Mocking Bird," the famous triumphal" Brazilian Airs," " Robin Adair," and the "Old Folks at Home" Mr Montrose will give an almost entirely new lecture, introducing fresh anecdotes and scenes from his varied experiences and reminiscences of the camp, the trenches, and battlefield. Tbe prices of admission are 2s and Is, and at such popular figures we hope that our visitors will be greeted by a crowded house to-night.