Music, Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 113, 22 September 1892, Page 3

Music, Drama.

[By

“Orpheus.”]

Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ?

Italian Concert Company.

This company gave their final performance on Wednesday night. I have already commented at length on the excellent programmes given by the company during their season here, and I will now sum up their performances by saying that perhaps the most important lesson to be learnt from such finished artists is that of “ opening the throat,’’ a secret which Italians possess above all other schools of singers. Colonial aspirants should also notice the rare use of the portamento, and the invariable crispness of attack as well as the perfectly distinct articulation of rapid and florid passages, whether staccato or slurred.

Lest my cup of praise should cloy with sweetness, it must be tempered with the amari aliquid. In my humble opinion several of the artists might with advantage be more sparing in their use of the voce ' vibrato and tremolo artifices. But in all other respects New Zealanders may with confidence accept as patterns of pure and correct vocalisation the gifted artists to whom I cordially say adieu and au revoir, with sincere thanks for eight delightful evenings. TO ITALIA’S SONG-BIRDS. Song-birds of Italy, Farewell 1 Mavis and Merle—Sweet-throated Nightingale ; The fragrant blossoms shaken by each trill And dainty spray of breathed harmony, Rest on our hearts, and lingering with us still Awake faint echoes of sweet Minstrelsy. Fain would I weave a net, or temper lime With subtle art—and glory in the crime— That held ye prisoners, to sing for me, Locked in a golden cage with golden key. Alas ! I can but weave a simple rhyme, And mix with tears an ineffectual lime. Impotent tears ! and flimsy, fragile spell! Song-birds of Italy, Farewell! Farewell! Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Gondoliers.” Did time and space permit I should like to philosophise on the decline and fall of our musical taste. Grand opera in New Zealand is a most risky speculation, while good opera bouffe, played by companies of such excellence as the one now performing here, invariably reaps a golden harvest. The struggle between highclass drama and spectacular trifles is a most unequal one. The plebeian knocks out the aristocrat in one round. Nowadays that which is easily “ understanded of the people ” pays best. Patrons are no longer equal to the intellectual pressure of striving to assimilate musical and dramatic pabulum which would improve their minds and elevate their taste. Twenty, nay thirty, years ago Auckland proved itself possessed of a more refined taste, and actually paid remunerative prices for the privilege of seeing operas like “ Don Giovanni,” “ Der Freischutz,’ “Il Barbiere,” etc. Signor Cuttica, however, expressed himself delighted with the appreciation of his not very large audiences, and promises to give New Zealand a chance of proving that the taste for grand opera is not dead but sleeping. That is my own view, for I will not despair of my country by joining in the lamentations of pessimists who re iterate “ ’Tis true, ’tis pity, and pity ’tis ’tis true.” Let Signor Cuttica come with a full company of all-round artists equal in calibre to those whose splendid singing has just opened the eyes and ears (and will, I trust, lead to a similar operation upon our singers’ throats) of Auckland audiences, and his success is assured. After this somewhat long digression I return to my text. The talented authors of the “Gondoliers” prove that they have not yet written themselves out. Of course the familiar characteristics of both author and composer are displayed passim, and suggestive echoes both in lines and music of “ Patience,” “ Mikado,” “ lolanthe,” etc., occur here and there ; but surely to rob one’s self is no crime. In my estimation the “ Gondoliers,” while not quite equal to the best work of its parents, must be assigned a high place in its class. Taking the company all round it is a really excellent one. Perhaps we miss old favourites such as Elsa May, Fanny Liddiard, Clara Merivale, Leumane, Immano, etc., but we still have Mr. Howard Vernon, whose Grand Inquisitor, small though the role be compared with that of Bunthorne, the Lord Chancellor, or Koko, is nevertheless a splendid impersonation. Then, too, among the other principals are artists who would make their mark in work of a much more ambitious aim, and among these Mr. Henry Bracy and Miss Violet Varley, whose fine voices and artistic singing tower above the ordinary bouffe standard, are especially noticeable. I regret that pressure of racing matter compels me to curtail my notice this week. Mr. Towsey’s benefit last week proved in every way a brilliant success. My notice, although in type, was unfortunately crowded out, and meets with a similar fate again. One of the features of the concert was the “ Liedertafel’s” admirable part singing. Admirers of Mr. Herbert Fleming, who acted so well 'vith Miss Janet Achurch during her famous season in Auckland, will rejoice to hear that he has made a hit in Haddon Chambers’ new play now running at the Haymarket Theatre in London. The play is named “ The Queen of Mawoa,” and Mrs. Langtry is the queen.

On Monday afternoon, at the Choral Hall, Herr Carl Schmitt invited the Press to hear one of his pupils, a young lady violinist, perform. Miss Milly Peak, accompanied by her brother Master Archie Peak, played Singalde’s fantasia on Verdi’s “1 Lombardi,” with accuracy of intonation, bowing, breadth, and intelligence of conception quite remarkable in a child of some 15 summers Herr Carl Schmitt may without hesitation introduce his young pupils to the public. They are are not mere precocious prodigies, but will afford real pleasure by their clever and artistic work. With study and perseverance Miss Milly Peak bids fair to follow the brilliant example set by Miss Otie Chew, upon one of whose violins, curiously enough, Miss Milly plays. The Amy Vaughan Company left here for Wellington last week, and will play a season down there and in the Southern towns.

The Dobson-Kennedy Company, after a successful season at Whangarei and Helensville, are touring the Auckland country districts and doing good business.