Music, Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 151, 15 June 1893, Page 1

Music, Drama.

[By

“Orpheus.”]

Spectatum admissi risurn teneatis amici ?

Mr Harold Ashton’s Wednesday Pops.

The grand ‘ English’ night of Mr Ashton’s national series drew another packed house. Mr Hunter’s excellent quintette of cornet, violin, ’cello, piano and double bass opened the concert with a lively and tuneful overture played in capital style. Mr George Reid, in his best form, sang ‘The good-bye at the door,’ displaying admirable phrasing and management of breath in a taking cadenza. In response to an imperative encore Mr Reid repeated the last verse. Miss Lorrigan showed her taste and finish in the cantabile with the smooth and simple ditty ‘ Sing me an English song.’ Mr Horace Stebbing exactly hit the taste of his audience with ‘ The Englishman,’ receiving quite an ovation for his dashing interpetation. Miss Ruby Clifford was admirable as ever in her recitation ‘ The Reprieve,’ a powerful and pathetic selection which won an enthusiastic encore, Miss Clifford responding with a humorous satire upon the sweet insincerities of lady callers and their hosts. The incongruous asides reminded one of Punch's ‘ Perfect sincerity or thinking aloud.’ The last lines, ‘ Goodbye I I hope next time you’ll take your dinners. John, in future I’m not at home to the Skinners,’ gave the key-note of the recitation. Herr Zimmerman chose a popular salection in a fantasia on airs from ‘ Maritana,’ rendered in his best style. Being encored the skilful violinist delighted the audience with his own charming Landler. Messrs Tapper and Reid sang the patriotic duet ‘ O, Albion,’ very fairly despite the tenor’s manifest hoarseness. Mrs Walter Daw made her debut before a New Zealand audience in Horn’s favourite old ditty ‘ Cherry Ripe,’ and at once revealed that Auckland has made a notable addition to her roll of good artists. Mrs Daw is gifted with a pure and sweet contralto of moderate volume, cultivated in a good school. She is free from tricks and makes but a sparing use of the portamento. Her attack is a treat to hear, and her execution is crisp and accurate. Here and there her intonation was not quite perfect, but singing in a strange hall and one which is notably defective in acoustic advantages must fully account for any slight lapses. Being vociferously encored Mrs Daw sang the arch little ‘ Tit for tat,’ with charming piquancy. The first part concluded with a most laughable parody, by Mr C. Brown, entitled ‘ The English Band,’ enhanced by the introduction of a new wind instrument which the great composers have hitherto neglected in their scores.

Part 11. opened with a selection of ‘ English airs,’ or ‘ Gems of England,’ played by Mr Hunter’s quintette. Mr Horace Stebbing gave Jude’s stirring song ‘ Home, Boys Home.’ Miss Lorrigan followed with Bishop’s ‘ Tell me, my heart,’ taking the tempo rather slow, but otherwise singing very well indeed. Herr Zimmerman displayed his powers on that fine instrument the viola in Haydn’s ‘ Hymn to the Emperor,’ the double stopping being remarkably clever and effective. His rendering of the ‘ Prayer from Rienzi’ was another fine performance. Mr George Reid sang ‘ Tell me, Mary, how to woo thee,’ with refined taste, smoothness and sensibihty. Mrs Walter Daw gave Bishop’s ‘ Home, Sweet Home’ in a style which compelled an encore, ‘ Come, lasses and lads,’ another old English ditty, being substituted. Mr A. J. Tapper, whose hoarseness had to a great extent disappeared, sang Bishop’s ‘ Pilgrim of Love,’ with

unqualified success. The impressive recitative ‘ Orynthia, my beloved,’was well delivered, and the smooth aria which follows suited the singer to perfection. Mr 0. White caused not a little merriment with his character parody of the ‘ Dorothy’ ballad ' I’m waiting for him to-night’ (with a tomahawk). A programme quite up to the high standard which Mr Ashton has set himself ended with Buckstone’s comedietta ‘ Family Troubles.’ in which Miss Ruby Clifford, and Messrs. Harold Ashton andC. Brown found ample scope for their comic powers, and never allowed the fun to flag for a moment. One young lady in the dresscircle nearly went into hysterics. For last night an Irish national programme had been prepared, which I hope to notice next week.

Under the auspices of the Caledonian Society a very successful entertainment was given on Monday evening at the Opera House for the benefit of the family of the late Mr R. G. Sandall. A splendid attendance and an excellent programme combined all the elements necessary to ensnre a brilliant success. No less than fifteen items were given, many of which would have been encored, but the rule against repetitions was rigidly enforced, and the lengthy programme terminated at io p.m. Among those who kindly assisted were the Misses Clarice Brabazon, Wright, McLeod, and Featon, Professor Carrollo and pupils, Herr Zimmerman, and Messrs. Reid, Stebbing, Edwards, Tapper, Worrall, Menzies, Eady, Knight, Queree, Bartley, etc.

The People’s Saturday Nights. Mr Doran again rejoiced in a very good house on Saturday evening at the City Hall, when his minstrel and variety entertainment proved as successful as ever. The wonderful feats of the Tankard Japanese Troupe once more astonished and delighted all beholders. Mr Doran tells me that he intends taking this clever combination for a tour through the country districts, so readers of the Sporting Review may take ‘ Orpheus’ ’ tip and invest their money on the surest of ‘ dead birds 1’

The ladies and gentlemen attached to the Post and Telegraph Department in Auckland have formed a society which, judging by its opening entertainment should prove a triumphant success. The society has assumed the title of Whare Tapere, which I am tempted to translate into ‘ The Music Hall,’ but, I suppose, must accept the more poetical rendering of ‘ House of Harmony,’ which the promoters have adopted. A very good set of rules have been framed, under which the club meets once a month with an open night once a quarter. On Saturday, at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, the first open night was held. A large attendance of members and their relatives and friends listened with manifest pleasure to a really capital programme. The department can certainly manipulate other instruments besides the telegraph and the telephone, as their compact little orchestra proved, Messrs. Brown, Hemus, Plummer, Mathieson and Coney playing Rossini’s overture to ‘ Guillaume Tell,’ and later on a charming string quartette Reverie, by Dunkler, in capital style. Among the gems* of the evening were songs by Miss C. Stuart and Messrs. A. JStuart and B. Bollard, recitations by MissC. Nixon (‘The Women of Mumble’s Head’), and Mr R. D. Kelly (‘The Alarm’); solos on the clarionette and the zither by Messrs Hooper and Heinitz; and last, but not least, a most amusing political sketch entitled ‘ A Maori Member on the Classification Bill,’ by Mr Copeland. Light refreshments were served in the interval, good humour

reigned supreme, and the new society starts with every promise of a career as brilliant as those of its brother clubs / The Savages* and ‘ The Orphans.’

Fillis’ Grand Circus and Menagerie having established itself on a splendid pitch near the Raiway Station, was to give its opening performance last night. Our Melbourne correspondent, ‘ The Flat,’ has frequently bestowed the highest possible praise on the unique merits of the combination, and the Southern press with one voice endorses his commendation. Doubtless the company will enjoy a long and lucrative innings in Auckland.