Oddfellow's hall.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11879, 10 November 1893, Page 2

Oddfellow's hall.

Palmer-Beaumont Opera Company. They nime to Ms heralded by our contemporaries as artists of great merit; thoy came, indeed, as favourites of the Muses, gifted wiLh the divine power of mußicandof song,— and were they overestimated ? No, not in one iota. From the beginning to the emd, in every item and encore piece, wore the unmistnkeable signs of refinement and cultare plainly visible, not only in tho art professed, but woven in the very movements of the individual artist. Tho poetry of motion imbued the words, the notes, we were going to say Iho Haiosphere itself, with a living reality. And yot, withal, there was a homeliness permeating the whole that breaks completely away th.it frequently impassable barrier between the company und their patrons. There is one th'ng which must not be forgotten, even though wo have to descend to commonplacedness to Bpeak of it: Tho public of the day want, and will have, value for their money — and, strangely enough, they judge of that value mare by quantity than quality. And, above all, it must be cheap — the consequent nastiness is cuddled in solitude and is rarely mentioned. The largo audience that gathered in the Oddfellows' Hull on Wednesday night had value, for once, both in quantity and quality. For almost the whole ' of the sixteen items had to be responded to, not. in the usual amateur style of the last verse over again, but sometbkg fresh and equally as charming as its predecessor on every occasion. Mrs Palmer and Mr Armes Beuvmont recalled the memory of many an old patron to pleasant days gone by, especially when associated with such grand old songs as " The Blue Al- j satian Mountains " and " I Cannot Mind My Wheel," while the others, Miss Maggie Stirling and Messrs Barker, Gee, and Lemmone, brought the programme into touch with the present. Of Miss Stirling it would be difficult to speak too highly. In hbr opening Bong, Hossini's aria and rondo "Nacqui all' affanno al pianto," an operatic selection, Miss Stirling had full oppoitunity for [the display of her magnificent voice. For her effort she was asked to respond, and Bang, in excellent contrast to the preceding number, that prfitty song "Polly, the Cows are in the Cora." "Caller Herrin'" was her task in the second part, and, in response to anothor recall, "I Conjdn'fc, Could I?" was nicely sung. One o£ the grandest pieces of emotional vocalisation that has been given on this local stage was Sullivan's " Thou art Passing Hence, my Brother." The audience were spellbound, and when it is remembered that the song itself iB an actual expression of the feelings of a man who had sat the night through be3ide a dying and loved brother, and had in the morning given his pent-up feelings play in lines that shall live while song shall last, it will easily be seen that the impression created was profound, "Moonlight " and " Funicali, Funicala," the opening 3nd closing quartettes, as sang by Mrs Palmer, Miss Stirling, and Messrs Beaumont and Qae, wore excellent, and received due acknowledgement. Tho aria "Kotnance" given by Mrs Palmer in the first part, was provoiativo of a decided re-demand, and in response the undying "Home Sweet Home " was sang. When that, heard on. Wednesday night, fails to deeply move an audience, then singing will ba no more. Why was the harp abolished ? Surely there can be no answer. At least after hearing the beautiful solo ' Autumn," as played by Mr Walter Barker, A.R.A..M., we are at a loss to find an answer. Mr Barker is master of his instrument, and it obeys his touch with melodies of beauty. Mr John Lemmone, too, with his flute solos " Ebapsodie Neapolitaine" and " Graceful Dance," as well as in his duet with the harp, "The Dream after the Dance," showed a standard of merit in keeping with his colleagues. We cannot touch on every item, but the trio " Sweet is tho Breath of Morn," by Mrs Palmer, and Messrs Beaumont and Gee, with piccolo obligato by Mr John Lemmone, v wns too good to pass without mention. In conclusion, Eiifllce it tosiy that expectations wero more than ri'uised and that the visit of tho Company uho now occupy the Hall will long be rein 3mbered as au epoch in the musical history of Wanganui. Last night's performance whs in no way infer'o." to that of the opening bill, and the large audience left thoroughly satisfied with the endeavours of the various performers to cany through the numerous items of a splend'd programme. Space will not allow of a lengthy report of the individual effort 3of the members of this talented combination. Suffice to say that one and all sang and playoi as only tbosa who have reached the top round of the ladder in the musical profession can. Uproarious and prolonged applause greeted the completion of every number, all of which, with the exception of four, were encored. To-night the Company appear again, when a programme of high merit, and at the Enme time new, will ba given,