The STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 328, 5 November 1896, Page 11

The STAGE

[By

Orpheus.]

Auckland Choral Society.—On the 27th ult., a packed house listened with manifest pleasure to the society’s rendering of Weber’s melodious mass in G and Sullivan’s scholarly, if not very popular, “Prodigal Son.” Thp performers, both instrumentalists and vocalists, mustered in large force, and quite surprised regular rehearsal attendants.by the marked improvement displayed all round. The chorus sang crisply, and with good volume of tone, due observance of nuances being notable. The band played well, ensemble and tone being far in advance of the usual standard. Mrs Chambers (soprano) displayed purity of tone, facility of execution, and refined taste, but might be a little more emphatic in ma/rcato points. Miss Gilfillan (contralto) manifestly suffered from nervousness, but, nevertheless, acquitted herself very well. She possesses greater volume of voice than she has yet produced. Mr Ferriday (tenor), although not quite so clear as usual, sang with vigour, intelligence, and effect. Mr Astley (baritone) has greatly improved since he undertook the parts, and scored a success. The ensemble singing of the quartettes was on the whole good, barring a few lapses in intonation. Herr Carl Schmitt conducted with care and vigour. Dr Cox rendered good service as leader of the band, Mr Yates as leader of the second violins, and Miss Harding as pianist and organist were steady and efficient as ever.

The Chevalier de Kontski.—On Thursday evening a large gathering crowded the City Hall to bid farewell to the distinguised veteran and thoroughly enjoyed a really excellent concert. Some thirty years ago, in London, the Chevalier and a great rival in the shape of Hans von Bulow created a stir in musical circles. They were both pianists of the vigorous school, and each had his army of “ barracker*,” to use a football term. Of the two the writer preferred de Kontski. Time has set his seal on the Chevalier, who is now a Nestor among pianists. His courtly and dignified presence fills the beholder with admiration. His powers are mellowed and improved, and nothing of his wonted fire and force is lost. Without, perhaps, being one of the greatest, he is undeniably a fine performer. His rendering of Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and morceaux from his own pen deservedly won enthusiastic plaudits. M. de Willimoff, undoubtedly the finest violinist Auckland has ever possessed as a resident, met with a success even more brilliant. He belongs to the right school, disdaining all tricks and petty artifices, and relying upon a broad pure tone, with but a rare use of the “closed shake” in his cantabile playing. His powers of feathering, double-stopping, arpeggios, and harmonies display a finished technique, but, like Apollo, he is not always bending his bow. His selections included morceaux by Wieniawski and Bazzini, with the inevitable encores. Madame Chambers’ pure and true soprano was heard to great advantage in a couple of ballads by Tosti and Berthold Tours, for which she was recalled, but modestly declined encores. The Orchestral Union, ably conducted by Mr Towsey, was in its best form, rendering overtures and concert pieces with excellent tone, tune, and precision, and winning an encore for Eilenberg’s “ Mill in the Black Forest, no slight compliment. M. de Willimoff, as leader, was a.tower of strength, and Mr R. J. Yates led the second violins with his wonted steadiness and precision. All the accompaniments were admirably played by Mr Towsey.

Our local brass bands, while poseessing many talented .performers, are not collectively nearly so good as they might be. Elsewhere, band contests do much to stimulate rivalry and to raise the standard of excellence. At the Floral Fete, to be held on the 28th inst, for the benefit of the Ladies’ Benevolent Society, such a competition — properly conducted —would serve a double purpose. It would add to the attractions of the Fete and bring together in friendly rivalry our openair musicians. Perhaps, if not too late, the promoters may see their way to act on this suggestion.

“ The Gondoliers.” —To beat the record is always a joyful achievement, and none the less when the record happens to be one’s own. In staging, at least, the Auckland Amateur Opera Club may justly claim in their latest production to have surpassed anything yet done. Twolovelv sets from the talented brush of Herr Vannermarch charm all eyes with splendid composition, breadth, harmony of colour, and accuracy of detail. The costumes (by Mr Queree and the Misses Reid) are a brilliant success, and. when grouped, remind one of Mr Goldie’s magnificent beds of flowers in the Albert Park in brightest bloom. In the dresses both of principals and chorus, lady spectators especially will enjoy a continuous feast of beauty. Herr Carl Schmitt has under his able baton an efficient band of more than a dozen performers, including instrumentalists of high calibre, such as Messrs Eady, Jackson. Yates, Hunter, Ellyett, etc., etc. Mr Archdale Tayler’s patient and skilful training is displayed in the precision of grouping, movements, and business, and the conductor may well be proud of his pupils from a musical point of view. Miss Carrie Knight merits high praise for the neat and eloquent terpsichorean work, while Mr Mackie’s limelight effects could not well be bettered. With such factors, success becomes a mathematical certainty. As the Sporting- Review goes to press to-day (Wednesday), a full criticism of the individual performers must be

reserved for next week. Meantime it must suffice to poirit out some of the most striking features in a really brilliant performance. Allowance must of course be made for “ a first nighter,” and for a minor lapse or two in the words, which will disappear after one or two more performances. But there are spots even upon the sun, and the eyes of the packed and enthusiastic audience were so dazzled and delighted that the slight blemishes passed almost unnoticed. To compress in a few lines some of the plums, the overture is brilliantly rendered; the rose chorus prettily grouped and sung; Marco and Guiseppe (Abel Rowe and Tracey Hall) rendered with spirit; the Duke’s (W. Archdale Taylor) martial song capital; duet, Casilda (Mrs Hopkins) and Luiz (Robin Hay), encored ; also Don Alhambra’s (George Warren) “bo Possible Doubt Whatever” ; the quintette; Tessa’s (Miss Lily Thomson) “ When a Merry Maiden” ; Gienetta’s (Miss Carrie Knight) “ Kind Sir” (all in the first act). In the second act, Guiseppe’s “ Rising Early” ; Marco’s “ Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes” ; Don Alhambra’s song, “Up Goes the Price of Shoddy”; the Duchess’ song (Miss Ethel Armstrong) and “ Highly Delighted” duet with the Duke; the cachuca and the gavotte, both capitally danced with splendid limelight, effects. So complete and brilliant a production not only deserves but must command success.