MUSIC, DRAMA, ETC.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 46, 11 June 1891, Page 2

MUSIC, DRAMA, ETC.

Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amtci ?

It is always pleasant to welcome old friends. Mr. Hugo and Miss Priscilla Verne open a minstrel and variety entertainment at the. Opera House on Saturday next. I hear that they are Strongly supported, and a successful season is assured, as their entertainment will be a pleasant change from the more serious musical menus we have recently been devouring —almost to a surfeit.

On Monday next at the City Hall Madame Cora opens a short season of six nights. This lady, some may remember, visited Auckland about 15 years ago, and astonished and delighted large and enthusiastic audiences by her marvellous illusions and feats of prestidigitation. Since that time Madame Cora has discovered and developed rare mesmeric powers, in addition to which she has deeply studied the modern developments of hypnotism and electro-biology. She spent some five years in oriental countries, which have been the nursery of the occult sciences. It will be remembered that the principle of sleep by suggestion was first taught in France in 1814 by the Abbd Faria on his return from India. Dr. Brand of , Manchester in 1841 reduced the phenomena to a practical method, which he called hypnotism. Madame Cora has travelled over all quarters of the globe, astounding in every place large throngs with the extraordinary feats she achieves •in her own special line. She above all other mesmerists is genuine, and succeeds in asserting her influence over a very large percentage of the subjects who submit themselves to the test. So large indeed is the percentage that suspicion Of collusion must at once be dismissed. The notices of Madame Cora’s perforinances in the Press are highly flattering, and I feel sure that the daily increasing interest in psychical science will ensure her large audiences and fair play., Mr. Arthur Fawcett —Madame Cora’s representative, who has accompanied her in her Asiatic tours —assures me that much food for Reflection will be afforded by the approaching entertainments.

I attended the' revival of “Little Monte Christo ” at the Opera House on Monday night. I can conscientiously award high praise to all concerned in this very creditable local production. Misses Vaughan, Travers, Wizard, and Thornton among the ladies, and Messrs. Tom Mackanini, C. White and Max Rinkle among the gentlemen, are extremely clever and amusing. The piece is capitally mounted and some of the local hits are telling and mirthprovoking. ,M. LEON DRIVER. SOLO PIANIST AND COMPOSER. This virtuoso gives a recital and concert in the City Hall on Friday next, 12th June. He will be assisted by Mrs. Kilgour, Miss Rimmer, Mr. T. Jackson, Mr. S. Jackson, etc., etc. M. L£on inaugurates at Auckland the recital and concert tour which he is about to make through New Zealand. I have heard him play on several occasions, and unhesitatingly pronounce him to be far and away the greatest genius on his especial instrument that Auckland has heard —>at any rate since Henri Kecten visited our shores. As M. Ldon gives but one per-

formance here I strongly advise everyone to go and hear him. His specialite is in work of the fantasia order, which he renders with a fire, dash, power, accuracy, and facility of execution truly astounding. But he is equally good in the chaste and classical school. His favourite composers are Liszt and Chopin. Of the former composer he plays no less than 20 pieces, including his transcriptions of operatic melodies, the 6 Paganini-Liszt studies, and his rhapsodies. His repertoire consists of 53 pieces, including in addition to Liszt, selections from Chopin, Thalberg, and Beethoven, which he performs wholly from memory —a most remarkable feat. He performs the Abbd Liszt’s great solo “Il Travatore.’’ This piece, is seldom attempted by solo performers, as it is a most exhausting composition, and requires an artist of phenomenal powers to play it. It abounds in fearful technical difficulties, and none but an artiste of exceptional ability would attempt to perform it. Melbourne Life in speaking Of his performance of this solo says : “ It was in Liszt’s grand fantastia on ‘ Il Trovatore ’ that his great success was achieved. The manner in which the most intricate and rapid variations were played, especially with the left hand, and the clear and legato manner in which he overcame the greatest technical difficulties, embracing chords, intervals, and octave passages, while at the same time the melody was distinctly and clearly brought out, proved beyond doubt that Leon Driver is a thorough artiste, and that for brilliancy of execution and delicacy of touch he stands far ahead of any performer who has appeared in these colonies. His tours de force are marvellous, his execution phenomenal, and he elicts a fine, clear, and resonant tone from the piano, yet he plays with great fire and vigour. We shall be pleased to hear him again in Liszt’s solos.”

The Auckland Amateur Opera Company are still busy rehearsing “ Princess Ida.” A provisional caste has been sketched out, but the soprano has not so far been chosen. The piece is a strong and popular one, and will doubtless draw large audiences when put on the stage and performed in the excellent style we are accustomed to expect from the club. Orpheus.