THE ANDERSON-EMANUEL CONCERTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3183, 3 May 1873, Page 2

THE ANDERSON-EMANUEL CONCERTS.

Last evening, the first of tho series of concerts by Miss Carrie Emanuel arid Mr Alfred Anderson, assisted by Mr Winter and Mons. Fleury, was given at the Masonic Hall. There was a fair attendance, but not by any means so largo as the sterling merit of the artists justified the expectation of. This will no doubt bo remedied as they become belter known. Miss Emanuel is a vocalist of no common order. Her voice is a fine soprano, of great compass, flexibility, and evenness of register." She has it perfectly under command, and executes the most difficult and florid passages with precision, and apparently .almost without effort. Mr Winter is gifted with a rich tenor voice, well adapted to songs such as Sims Reeves continues to delight English audiences with, and we anticipate he will become an immense favorite, Mr Anderson’s reputation as a pianist has not been overrated. He has perfect command over the instrument, a brilliant touch, and baa acquired the art, so seldom gained, of bringing out at will rich silvery tones, or developing to the utmost the power bf the instrument without destroying its sweetness. In fact, he does what few even professional pianists succeed in—die makes the pianoforte ‘sing. His execution is marvellously rapid, and even in the most difficult passages his fingers dp not fail him. The double .shake seems as easy to him as a shake on a single note. As an accompanyist we have 'seldom heard;hisoqual. He follows and, suqtfiqs a singer*'brit doPs not attempt to leadf smd takes care that fair plajlis given.to the soloist, whom he never drowns with loud playing, - nor hampers hy interference wlthdimer JNqt was this apparent merely in accompanying' Miss Emanuel, to whose style he is accustomed. It was equally observable when accompanying Mons. Fleury, with Whom he has scarcely had the advantage of rehearsal The concert was opened by Mr M. Winter, with Flotow’s “ M‘appari, tutf amor,” which was given in good style and taste. Mr Winter might fairly have accepted the applause that followed as an encore, but contented himself by acknowledging the compliment Mr Anderson fol'owed with a pianoforte solo from “ Faust,” which was splendidly played. Miss Emanuel made her mbut in Donizetti’s “Cora 6 Bello,” which was so favorably received as to secure a recall, when she sang “ The Last Rose of Summer " in a pure ballad style, not disfiguring the beautiful Irish air with ornaments that would have marred its sweetness. The violin solo, 11 Les Plaisirs de la Valso,” by Mons. Fleury, with piano obligato by Mr Anderson, delighted the audience. Mpus. Fleury, on stepping on to the stage, was .welcomed with hearty applause, which was renewed: with greater energy at the close !of the piece, Mr Winter’s “ Thou art’go riearj so far” secured him a recall, which be responded to by giving the pretty Christy's ballad, “Annie of the Vale.” In order to - obtain* hearty call;.for,repetition, a<|nano solo must be; well/played. Mr , Anderson succeeded jn securing this honor, after giving his selfedtioris from “Trovatbre,” ,atfd in compliance played a pretty arrangement of “ Come where my love lies dreaming.”- It would be tedious to record the merits of every piece, and the manner in which each was received by- the audience. The second part was equally effective with the first. . Miss Emanuel sang “Casta Diva” manificently, and after such an effort it must hay® been felt by her to be a cruel pleasure to be asked to renew her exertions; but she cheerfully gave, in answer to an encore, “The harp that once in Tara’s Hall” The ooncertante duo by Mons. Fleury and Mr Anderson was delightfully played by both. We do not know we ever heard Mons. Fleury play with better tone. The remaining pieces were deservedly, well received. It is no exaggeration to say that it is seldom the people of Dunedin have had the- opportunity of listening to music by artists so capable of doing justice to the most classical compositions. We are becoming a musical people, and it iff well •the standards of e tcellence are occasionally placed before iis. There is much to be gained, by those who are studying music, taking advantage of the opportunity of hearihg the manner in which the compositions of first* class masters are rendered by artists of cultivated taste and great natural gifts. Apart therefore from the pleasure that must be derived from these concerts, there is every inducement to support them liberally on educational grounds ; but when the two are combined we should imagine the motives will be irresistible, and that that support will be given which is so well merited.