MUSIC

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XXIII, 3 December 1898, Page 725

MUSIC

-< »and grama.

The following is the programme for the opening day (To-morrow, Thursday) of the Auckland Exhibition:—After the National Anthem has been rendered by the choir and orchestra, the Primate will deliver a prayer. This will be followed by the ‘Old Hundredth,’ by choir and orchestra, and the President’s address, and the Governor’s speech, after which will come the ‘Hallelujah Chorus.’ An organ solo, ‘Zadok, the Priest,’ from Handel’s Coronation Anthem, will conclude this part of the proceedings. In the evening will be given the grand opening concert- of the Exhibition, Sullivan’s ‘Golden Legend.’ Professor Carl Schmitt- will conduct, and Mr Arthur Towsey preside at the organ. The soloists on the occasion will be Miss Large, Madame du Rieu, Mr J. W. Ryan, Mr John W. Hill and Mr John I’rouse. There will be an orchestra of fifty instrumentalists and a choir of 200 voices.

On Friday evening a free concert will be given in the Exhibition Concert Hall. On Tuesday evening ‘The Creation will be given in the Exhibition Concert Hall, and will be open to visitors to the Exhibition without extra payment. This day (Wednesday) week Mr A. Towsey will give an afternoon organ recital from 3.30 to 4.30 in the Exhibition Concert Hall. Harmston’s Circus is doing good business in the South. The Perriers were recently in Wellington. The Knight-Ferrar Company will open in Wellington on Boxing Night. Dante expects to be back in this colony next January. He will probably open in Christchurch on the 31st of that month. ‘Prospero,’ the dramatic critic of the Canterbury ‘Weekly Press,’ gives qualified praise to the Pollards' production of ‘The French Maid.’ The piece, however, proved immensely popular in Christchurch. Arrangements are well forward for the opening next week in Auckland of the Amateur Opera season. Firstclass performances of ‘The Mikado" and ‘The Gondoliers’ are promised. Mr Williamson expects to be able to produce the Maori comic opera in Melbourne or Sydney early next year. Mr Harry Rickards' variety company have been playing to excellent Imsiness in Adelaide. The season closed ten days ago. when it was expected arrangements would be completed for sending the company to New Zealand. The members of the company will join a steamer at Melbourne. Amongst the plays which Mr Williamson contemplates introducing to Australia next year (says the Sydney

‘Daily Telegraph’) is Gillette’s American war drama ‘Secret Service.’ This is the piece whieh attained such remarkable prominence in America and afterwards at the Adelphi in London. It occupies quite a distinct position from one point of view especially, and that, is that the amount of detail in the play is infinite, a circumstance whieh, of course, makes its production no light undertaking. This was the piece, it will probably be remembered, that the late Mr William Terriss was playing in at the time he was murdered. Another new play in the repertoire for the next dramatie season will probably be Mr Wilson Barrett's dramatised version of Mr Hall Caine's book. ‘The Christian.' A suddenly revived interest in dramatic versions of Damns’ ‘The Three Musketeers' is reflected here, and is very likely to result in the Knight-Ferrar Company playing a dramatisation of it in Australia Two plays built on this novel are running in London now. Mr Bellew appearing (as d'Artagnan) in one. and Mrs Potter (as Miladi) in another. The book has long been a favourite one with American dramatists, however, and in the Republic Mr George Fawcett Rowe earned a great- reputation as the Gascon d’Artagnan. It is just possible that Mr Williamson, if he decides on encouraging the ‘Musketeers’ boom, will use an American version.

‘The Geisha’ is to be the Christmas attraction at- the Princess, Melbourne. The Organ Recital given in St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral. Wellington, on Tuesday night by Mr Robert Parker, was enjoyed by a large number of people. The items for the evening’s performance were as follows: Jules Grison’s ‘Grand Offertoire’ in C Minor, whieh was followed by the Adagio from Beethoven’s ‘Sonata Pathetique.’ Chopin's ‘Prelude’ in B minor; Theo. Dubois's ‘Offertoire’ in D flat; and next came Sir John Stainer’s ‘Reverie’ in A flat; H. M. Higgs’ ‘Pastorale’ in G, and Sir Robert. Stewart’s ‘Fantasia’ in D. Two bass solos were well sung by Mr J. Prouse. It is hard to say which item was the most enjoyable, as each was so grand, and the recital was as successful as Mr Parker’s always are. There was a very good attendance on Monday night at the entertainment of the Auckland Banjo, Guitar and Mandolin Club, and the programme was an excellent one. The vice-regal party were present.