Music & Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 59, 10 September 1891, Page 1

Music & Drama.

Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ?

According to promise I give this week some details (crowded out of our last issue) of the very successful concert at the City Hall under the auspices of Hunter’s Artillery Band. The attendance was by no means worthy of the excellent programme provided, but amongst those present in the dress circle were Major Goring, Captains Robertson, Geddes, and Tobin, Lieut, and Adjutant Grant, and Lieuts. Somers and Little. The Band, about 25 strong, opened with Round’s “ Nil Desperandum,” capitally rendered and heartily applauded. Mr. Dryland followed with Wallace’s “ Let me like a soldier fall.” This number was very successful, and the band accompaniment was especially good. Those established favourites —Messrs. Geo. Reid and T. M. Jackson —gave Cooke’s appropriate duet, “Army and navy,” winning a well merited encore, and singing in response “The moon hath raised her lamp above,” with equal success. Miss Alice Rimmer made quite a feature of Wallace’s “ Scenes that are brightest,” excelling herself, and in compliance with a tumultuous encore, singing “ Far away,” with much tenderness and sympathy. Members of Mr. Webb’s piano quartette class played a selection from Mozart’s “Magic Flute,” very creditably. Miss Harvie’s songs, Hatton’s “ Skylark ” and Meyerbeer’s “ Robert toi que Jaime ” were perhaps somewhat above the lady’s resources. She would, I feel sure, do better with less ambitious selections. “ Furisima,” a solo by Clementi for the Euphonium, played by Mr. J. Ewart was very funny and clever; the accompaniment was nicely rendered by the band. After the interval the band again displayed correct execution and good tune in Smith’s potpourri, “ Airs of all nations.” The duet for flutes by Kuhlan was excellently performed by Messrs. P. and A. McKean. Mr. F. Dryland acquitted himself very fairly in Adams’ “ Warrior Bold.” Messrs. W. Hunter, J. Ewart, W. Green and A. White effectively rendered a quartette for brass instruments, “ Return of Spring ” by Round. Miss Alice Rimmer sang Tito Matei’s “Dear Heart,”

and in response to the inevitable encore, delighted her audience with Wallace’s “Sweet spirit hear my prayer.” Mr. T. M. Jackson, in splendid voice, gave Adams’ passionate song, “ Mona” with care and true feeling, receiving an enthusiastic encore. The band wound up a capital programme with a gallop, entitled “ The chase of the lion,” by Dubois. This is a fine work, and proved decidedly the best performance by the band, which however played every piece in excellent style during the evening. The attendance at the dance was not large, but those present enjoyed themselves thoroughly, capital dance music being supplied by the quadrille band, composed of Messrs A. R. Hunter, cornet; Rout, piano ; B. Plummer, ’cello; W. Hunter and J. Ewart, violins. Altogether the promoters are to be congratulated on providing a very successful and pleasant entertainment.

Last week—on Monday and Tuesday evenings, —the Auckland College and Grammar School gave some capital dramatic speeches and music in the large school-room. As the space available was not nearly sufficient for the many friends who wished to be present, it was found necessary to give two performances. Even so, the hall was not equal to the demands made upon its limited space, late comers with difficulty finding a corner. But the courteous and efficient stewards, as far as possible, overcame all obstacles, and short of rendering the walls elastic, worked miracles. An excellent orchestra of boys and girls belonging to the school, ably conducted by Mr. Trevithick, comprised twelve violins, piano, harmonium, and drum and triangle. The overture, “ Les Marionettes, by Girlitt, went smoothly and in good tune. 'Robert Walton followed with a violin solo. On the Monday evening he played De Beriot’s first air with variations. The young violinist, who I am unformed is only in his fourteenth year, displayed tone, tune, execution and musical sensibility to a degree which fairly amazed me. With perseverance and earnest study he will follow in the footsteps of Miss Otie Chew. In response to the ovation which greeted his excellent work, he repeated a portion of the solo. On the Tuesday evening he played Hartog’s transcription of “ Home sweet home” very successfully, but I thought his performance on the Monday in every way superior. Some scenes from Moliere’s “ La Comtesse d’ Escarbagnas ” capitally dressed and acted in French by the elder girls, proved that the teaching of that graceful and precise language goes far beyond the proverbial “Stratford atte Bowe.” One or two slight solecisms in pronunciation might here and there be detected, but taken as a whole the performance deserved high praise. Miss Winnie Dudley acted with especial verve, and spoke her lines very distinctly. The scenes from “ Le Mai de Imaginaire ” were given in English by an entirely different cast. Miss Trevithick, as the hypochondiac dressed the part admirably; and acted throughout with intelligence and spirit. As Toinette, Miss Annie Stewart was a perfect little soubrette, and provoked peals of merriment from the audience. The other parts were capably filled and in every case the performer appeared to be letter perfect. I had wondered what purpose two wires were stretched across the stage were intended for. But when the curtain rose for Hayden’s Toy Symphony, the puzzle was at once solved by the performers stepping forward, fixing their several music sheets on the ingenious and convenient stand, supplied by the double wires. Aided by the very efficient orchestra, the toys rendered a good account of themselves, and Haydn’s quaint and melodious strains delighted everybody. The trumpets, nightingale, dog, drum, triangle, starling, cuckoo, etc., were scientifically handled by the performers. The lady who played the Cuckoo was handicapped by a defective instrument, the interval being incorrect, but it is always difficult to find toy instruments without some imperfection of that nature. So delighted were the audience that a peremptory encore necessitated a repetition of the latter portion of the symphony. Barring that the tempo was perhaps’ rather slow, I have nothing but praise for this number. The scenes from Sheridan’s Rivals” gave the boys an opportunity to display their histrionic powers. Sir Lucius O’Trigger (Mahon) and Bob Acres (Mays) covered themselves with glory. The former has a splendid stage voice and presence, and

his conception, presence and acting of the part stamp him as an actor of first-rate promise. Similar praise is due to “ Bob Acres,” who made quite a hit. Davy (Upton) and Captain Absolute (Latta) filled the minor parts satisfactorily, and, although comparisons are odious, and it may seem ungallant, I must award the palm to the lads, and place the lassies a good second. To Mr. Carson especial praise is due for the excellent scenery and mounting of the piece. He was deservedly called before the curtain, and received quite an ovation. The performance concluded with a brace of minuettos, by Saint George, neatly and carefully played by the band, and after “ God Save the Queen,” the audience dispersed in high good humor.