Music and Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXII, 25 November 1899, Page 964

Music and Drama

“The Belle of Netv York" had a wonderful run of luck in Auckland. The piece was played for a fortnight, and at the last was as strong a favourite with the public as at the start. It was replaced by “La Poupee” on Saturday, which has been running for three nights, and to-night (Wednesday) “Girotie Girofla” will be staged for three evenings.

The performances of the Gaiety Company at the Auckland City Hall continue to amuse the public thanks to Hie frequent change of programme and the introduction of fresh attractions by the enterprising management. The new Opera House at Wanganui, erected by the municipality, is rapidly approaching completion. It will be one of the largest theatres in the colony.

Fuller’s Waxworks exhibited in Christchurch during carnival week and drew crowds. The figures of President Kruger and Dr. Jameson were the chief centres of attraction. 1 understand that Mr Ben Fuller is going over to Australia to engage an entirely new company. The Auckland Gaiety Company (No. 2) has been doing good business in the Taranaki district.

Mr Walter Kirby announces a song recital in Christchurch Choral Hall on Thursday.

Bland Holt closed his Christchurch season on Tuesday last and flitted northward. Wellington will enjoy Bland's rare company for a month and Boxing Night will see him in Auckland.

John F. Sheridan has made a big hit with “Little Christopher Columbus" at the Lyceum, Sydney, anil there is no mention of a change of programme.

Mdlle. Antoinette Trebelli opened her Sydney season of three concerts last Thursday. She gave/nine recitals in Melbourne, singing more than 70 different pieces.

Miss La Ila Miranda. ,the brilliant Melbourne soprano, has made a great success at the production of Massenet’s opera “Cendrillon” at the Grand Opera House, Brussels. In an article dealing with Sunday concerts, London “Truth* says: —lt is true that most people of sense and experience will agree with Sir Arthur Sullivan in failing (under certain restrictions as to the words) to discriminate between sacred and secular music. It is a well-known fact that Handel, perhaps the most popular sacred composer who ever lived, indiscriminately used his music for sacred and secular purposes. Moreover. hymn tunes have been formed out of love songs, and tor many years "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes” was a popular tune in churches.

Several people in Sydney (says the “Sydney Morning Herald”) have received elaborate silver-lettered cards slating that “Mr George Bullough, of Kinloch Castle, requests (their) company at the marriage of Eileen O'Moorc to Robert Mitchell, on board the steam-yacht Rhouma, at Loch Soresort, on Thursday, October 12, at 10 o’clock." It is hardly likely that replies from Australia, which were to

be sent to “Isle of Rum. By Oban." will arrive in time. Austaliau concert goers may remember that “Eileen O’Moore" was the name taken by Miss Bessie Doyle, one of tiie most brilliant violinists Australia has produced, for her concert tour in England and on the Continent. When Miss O’Moore appeared as soloist at an orchestral concert at St. James’s Hall. London, on April 23, 1897, the London “Standard” remarked that in the adagio from Spohr's Concerto No. 9 she "displayed beautifully finished technique, and a command of phrasing and general style that could not easily be surpassed;" closing with the words “. . . she is already an artist of high rank." Miss Bessie Doyle’s romantic disposition will be well remembered by those who knew her, and it can be imagined that one of her most soulful aspirations was realised by marriage on a yacht in one of the beautiful lochs of Scotland.

Mr George Rignold, who is now making his last appearances in “Man to Man” at the Criterion Theatre, leaves Australia for Loudon early in 1900. His absence is partly due to important family affairs which require him at Home; but while in the Old Country he will be busy professionally, acquiring new plays for Australia. The Parnell (Auckland) Musical Society gave their last concert of the season on Friday last. .Among the soloists Mrs Kilgour, Mrs Coates, and Mrs L. Bloomfield, Mr A. L. Edwards and Mr F. Upfill. Miss Sybil Lewis (violin) played Gounod’s “Meditation” on Bach Prelude and Wieniawski’s “First Mazurka,” while a .i io for piano and two flutes was contributed by Miss A. L. Colegrove and Messrs F. Colegrove and Harrison. The members of the Society gave five part songs, “Summer and Winter,” “Moonlight and Music,” “Gipsy Life,” “Sleep, Baby,” and “Good Bye, Farewell.” Mr Leslie Hunt conducted and with Mrs E. B. Sealey played the accompaniments.