Music, Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 150, 8 June 1893, Page 2

Music, Drama.

[By

“Orpheus.”]

Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ?

Mr. Ashton’s Wednesday’s Pops. The oft-told tale becomes monotonous — ‘ every seat occupied and numbers turned from the doors’ might as well be sterotyped by the skilful printers on the Sporting Review staff. Mr Hunter’s quintette opened the programme with an excellently rendered orchestral selection, in which the ‘fat’ was equitably distributed among violin, ’cello, cornet, double bass and piano. Mr Dryland followed with Gatty’s favourite song ‘True till death,’ to which Mr Hunter played an effective cornet obligato. Miss Short displayed a sweet soprano voice in •Laddie,’ but should be more sparing in her use of the portamento. Miss Ruby Clifford, in her best form, recited ‘ The Seven Ages of Women,’ a witty selection, which of course compelled an encore, ‘ The Courtship of Larry,’ a characteristic Irish piece, being substituted with even greater effect. Mr Tytherleigh, who has a resonant basso-cantanie voice, sang ‘ The Village Blacksmith,’ and met with a hearty reception. Herr Zimmerman chose a popular selection in the shape of a fantasia on Balfe’s ‘Bohemian Girl.’ His rare qualities of tone, tune, neat execution, tasteful phrasing, etc., were as usual displayed to advantage, and in response to an enthusiastic encore the violinist played a lovely minor. Miss Lorrigan substituted Millard’s ‘ Waiting' for ‘ Sing, sweet bird,’ which was the programme song. The singer scored an undeniable success, and as an encore gave ‘ The young recruit.’ Mr A. J. Tapper sang Sims Reeves’ pet song ‘ My pretty Jane,’ and had to repeat the last verse. Mr C. Brown, in a grotesquely humorous get up, gave a most laughable Dutch sketch, reminding me of Billy Barlow’s ‘Little fat Dutchman.’ An imperative encore being complied with the first part of the entertainment closed. The second part opened with a medley of Irish airs, well rendered by Mr Hunter’s quintette. Mr Dryland sang ‘ A warrior bold,’ and Mr Tytherleigh so delighted his audience with the effective rendering of ‘ Anchored’ that anchored he was. Mr H. Winklemann next introduced his sweet toned zither, and enchanted all with some original selections, which were duly encored. Miss Lorrigan next sang Gounod’s fine ‘ Salve Maria,’ assisted by Herr Zimmerman, who played the splendid violin obbligato in exquisite taste. The lady sang extremely well, and the number was one of the gems of the concert. A vocal trio, ‘ The three dreams,’ was fairly sung by Miss Short and Messrs. Tapper and Dryland. Gounod’s favourite ‘ Ave Maria,’ for violin (Herr Zimmerman) and organ (Mr Towsey), received an artistic interpretation. A really capital programme terminated with Byron’s delicately funny comedietta ‘As in a Looking Glass,’ in which Mr Harold Ashton, Mr C. Brown, and Miss Ruby Clifford again convulsed the andience. Mr Ashton is now giving a series of National Nights. Last night was appropriated to England,and in addition to such names as Misses Lorrigan, Mitchell, Ruby. Clifford, and Messrs Towsey, Reid, Tapper, Brown, Stebbing, Zimmerman, etc., Mrs Walter Daw, a contralto of reputation just arrived from London, was to make her first appearance in Australasia. Next week I hope to give a full notice of the concert.

On Monday, June 12th, a complimentary concert will be given in the Opera House for the benefit of Mrs R. J. Sandall. Professor Carollo, assisted by the best local talent, both musical and athletic, will perform a programme which should ensure a crowded house.

On Saturday and Monday evenings the City Hall was well filled and Paddy Doran’s efforts to please his patrons were crowned with success. Local talent shone brilliantly in the minstrel portion of the entertainment. Messrs Hayes, Oakes, Fort, and Ward made excellent corner men, and the former caught on especially, but where nearly every number was encored it is not easy to award the proemium virtutis. Madame Stella made a capital. interlocutrix, and helped the funny men to make every point quite a wealth of original jokes and conundrums. Mrs Seymour, the Misses Levy and Waymouth, and Messrs Hyland, Willis, Hewson, Hawkins, etc , etc., sang capital songs and ballads. The Tankard troupe of Japanese again astonished all with their unique feats of balancing, tumbling, wire

rope walking and contortions. They must be seen to be believed. The entertainment concluded with a really screaming farce, in which Paddy Doran, Miss Stella, and a lifelike man monkey made irresistible fun. The People’s Popular Entertainments are now an assured success.

Mr W. H. Webbe, who is shortly leaving for a trip home, received a complimentary farewell concert on Monday evening. Assisted by amateur and professional friends as well as his numerous pupils, Mr Webbe’s farewell took the form of a P.P.(Q.)O. The Choral Hall was well filled, and a lengthy programme including some excellent items was faithfully rendered. Picking out the plums of the evening I find deserving special mention the songs of Messrs A. L. Edwards and Horace Stebbing, who were both in capital voice and tune ; of Mrs Kilgour, with Miss Freda Marsden’s violin obbligato ; of the Misses Warren, Lorrigan and Rimmer, who all sang well. One of Mr Webbe’s pupils a very young lady, Miss Mabel Maxwell, is gifted with a remarkably pure and true mezzo-contralto voice. She sings without affectation and in very good style. I trust that great care will be taken of so promising a voice, and that the risk of spoiling it by excessive development before maturity will be shunned, Herr Zimmerman again proved himself a most accomplished solo violinist, and also played several obbligatos with exquisite taste and artistic finish. A compact little orchestra under Mr Eady rendered Chevalier’s brilliant and tuneful overture to ‘ The Golden Fleece ’ very pleasantly. The great composer Haydn came last on the programme, his ‘ Gipsy Rondo ’ tempting many to keep their seats. However, the piano and violin did not appear to coincide in regard to tempo, and an interesting race occurred, in which the ’cello was sandwiched between the ding dong pair. It was a neck and neck contest throughout, but I do not care to emulate Judge Kirkwood by placing the third horse first! Joking apart, the entire concert was a success, and Mr Webbe’s neat little speech of thanks was excellent in taste and unaffected simplicity.

At a concert recently given in aid of the Sisters of Mercy I was much pleased with the singing of Miss 0. Lonergan. She has a lovely sympathetic light soprano voice, no pernicious mannerisms, and is full of sensibility. I commend her to the notice of Mr Harold Ashton.

Before long we may expect ‘ The Albu Concert Company,’ of which critics in the South speak in flattering terms. The demoiselles Albu are said to be artistic singers. I think both are sopranos.

Mao aw. Antoinette Sterling, whose concerts in Auckland will be impatiently waited for, is yet another of England’s favourite singers of the calibre of Madame Patey, Messrs Santley, Foli, etc.