Music, Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 161, 24 August 1893, Page 1

Music, Drama.

[By

“Orpheus.”]

Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ?

The Wednesday Pops. —Miss Ruby Clifford’s Farewell.

It must have gratified the fair beneficiare to see her popularity proved by a bumper house, and an audience whose enthusiastic reception of the gifted raconteuse surpassed all previous ovations. A specially bright and varied programme opened with one of those capital selections for which Mr A. R. Hunter’s compact little band always wins kudos. Miss Lily Warren in good voice sang a tripping morceau, ‘ Oh, how delightful,’ and as an encore the favourite ‘ There’s no one like Mother to me.’ Miss Jessie Glover very effectively recited ‘The Christmas Guest,’ a somewhat sombre selection, but chose as an encore a capital contrast ‘On Fools.’ Mr George Reid made a hit with the quaint and melodious ‘Bunch of Cowslips,’ and for an encore gave with equal success ‘ His true Love’s Heait.’ Herr Zimmermann being engaged elsewhere was much missed. Mrs Kilgour’s ‘ The Nighingale’s Trill’ displayed that lady’s facile execution to great advantage, but an encore was declined. Miss Clarice Brabazon showed her skill on a rather indifferent instrument with Kowalski’s characteristic ‘ Tambour Battant,’ which won a tumultuous encore, the young lady responding with a fantasia on Balfe’s ‘ Marble Halls.’ Miss Florence Holloway substituted a taking ballad for ‘ The

Better Land,’ and sang with great taste and sensibility, but was not in her best voice. Mr A. J. Tapper, although manifestly hoarse, sang Sullivan’s ‘ Once Again ’ remarkably well, save that the passionate phrases lacked fire. Hutchinson’s '■ Some day ’ was the encore. Mr L. Dix quite convulsed the house with ‘ Miss Brady,’ and his clever imitation of that young lady’s pianoforte gymnastics, and gave another funny song in response to an undeniable encore. After a selection from II Trovatore, well played by Mr Hunter’s quintette, Miss Holloway with refined taste sang ‘My Heart.’ Mr A. Elliott followed with a flute solo, purposing to be ‘ Airs from Marjorie,’ but sounding suspiciously like variations on ‘Ta ra-ra.’ Miss Lily Warren sang Tosti’s ‘ Good-bye ’ very fairly. Miss Ruby Clifford, in her best form, gave ‘ The Amen Corner,’ and receiving a double encore and quite a garden of flowers, recited ‘ A Country School ’ and ‘The Sequel.’ Miss Featon, with great intelligence and taste, sang Wallace’s ‘ Sweet Spirit,’ and as an encore a quaint and charming song, I think by Sam Lover. Miss Brabazon again created a furore with ‘ Alice, where art thou,’ and as an encore played a setting of ‘ The Maid of the Mill.’ Mr George Reid sang with dash and fire ‘ True to the Last,’ and Mr C. Brown sent the audience home in high good humour with one of his inimitable comic sketches. The band played the audience out, which is an admirable expedient to prevent crushing and hustling on the part of so large a crowd. As usual, Mr Towsey played all the accompaniments and acted generally as musical director with his wonted efficiency.

The Albu Concerts.

‘ Orpheus’ at least has thoroughly appreciated the artistic work of the cultivated singers who have by no means received from the general public the support which they merit. ‘ ’Tis not in mortals to command success ’ finds one more illustration. Returning good for evil, however, the company, not content with giving a rare treat to the patients at our Lunatic Asylum, most generously lent their aid to the Institute for the Blind by giving a splendid concert at the Opera House on Friday last for the benefit of that deserving charity. One of the best of the season’s programmes was prepared for the occasion and a large audience thoroughly enjoyed it. Mr Thomas Wood and Mr S. Jackson made their wonted success with Weber’s brilliant duo concertante for piano and clarionet. Miss Rose Albu, with exquisite taste and sympathy, sang Denza’s ‘ Call me back,’ with a violin obbligato charmingly played by Herr Zimmermann. The last verse had perforce to be repeated. Mr John Fuller’s pure voice and winning style were heard to great advantage in Birch’s ‘ I am waiting.’ As an encore Mr Fuller made an appropriate choice for the occasion in ‘ Total Eclipse,’ from Samson, displaying his command of oratorio with impressive effect. Miss Julie Albu gave a splendid interpretation of the great ‘ Roberto tu c’ hai adoro,’ and sang as an encore a humorous little ditty, ‘ This and That,’ which proved an admirable foil to the grand operatic selection. Mr John Fuller in ‘Come Gentil (‘O Summer Night ’) chose a morceau which suits him to perfection, and won a tremendous ovation for his delightful rendering. The duet—or rather, consecutive solos —‘ He shall feed his flock’ proved that the Misses Albu have studied the traditional ways of oratorio. Their smooth and elegant phrasing won a storm of applause. Mr S. Jackson, ably accompanied by Miss Harding, played a fantasia on Scotch Airs by that splendid master of the clarionet Lazarus, and was recalled. Miss

Rose Albu, with faultless expression, sang Mozart’s immortal ‘ Voi che Sapete,’ and of course had to submit to an encore. Herr Zimmermann, in conjunction with Miss Harding, played a magnificent sonata (Beethoven) for violin and piano with consummate taste and skill. I hope at future concerts to hear the same performers in similar classical selections Herr Zimmermann also delighted the audience with his own charming ‘ Landler.’ Miss Julie Albu made a great hit with Craickshank’s ‘ Three Fishers,’ a setting not so well known as Hullah’s, but quite equal in merit to the more familiar music. As an encore ‘ Swannee River ’ won an enthusiastic reception. Mr John Fuller’s dainty and sympathetic singing of ‘ Sally in our Alley ’ met with another ovation. I am pleased to hear that Mr Harold Ashton has secured this fine tenor singer for his next Wednesday concert. Miss Harding’s accompaniments throughout were faultless as ever in accuracy and taste.

The Cogill Bros. Minstrels arrived from Sydney on Tuesday, and opened at the Opera House last night too late for the performance to be noticed in this issue.

The Columbia Rink, under the careful management of Mr Farrington and Professor James, continues to be popular. Good attendances are rewarding the efforts of the promoter. On the Thursday Club night a very pleasant evening was spent, and the set of lancers was skated gracefully. Among the double set I noticed Mrs Rathbone and the Misses Wilkins, Kilgour, Ireland, Von Sturmer, Atkincon, and Messrs Patterson, Kenderdine, Donald, MacCormick, Lockhart, etc,, etc.