THE DE MURSKA CONCERTS.

Evening Star, Issue 4102, 20 April 1876, Page 3

THE DE MURSKA CONCERTS.

The first De Marsha concert was given in the Queen’s Theatre last night to one of the largest audiences that ever assembled in Dunedin. Every portion of the house was filled. The pit and stalls were absolutely crowded, and in the circle numbers were contented to sit and listen who. through the inconvenient form of the house, could by no possibility obtain a view ot the stage. Nor were the expectations raised by fame of the talent of Mdlle. De Murska and her assistants disappointed. The Reality fully equalled what had been anticipated. There are but five artists, but each is entitled to a first place in the classes in which nature and art have placed them. Mdllo. DeMuvska is gifted with n sweet, clear, flexible sonrano voice, improved to the utmost by careful study and training. We have listened to more powerful voices, especially in the middle and lower registers, but we never heard more evenness and tinth of intonation, nor sweeter, clearer notes throughout so extraordinary a compass. Signor Sasini has a magnificent bass voice, capable of every variety of expression. He is equally at home in comic as in serious styles, and is decidedly tbe most finished singer of his class that we have heard in Dunedin. O Signor Eosnati we need say nothing. He has aireu, ly established his reputation amongst ns as an accomplished tenor, and we never heard him sing better than last evening. These three comprise the vocalists. As instrumentalists, arefSignor Giammona and Maestro Ufa, the former a splendid flautist and tbe 'atter filling the very important, bat difficult, position of musical director. We do not think that in tbe Colonies any flautist has yet been beard equal to Signor Giammona. He has perfect command of his instrument, and produces a purity of tone, combined with expression and rapidity ot execution, that remind one of Richardson, for many years at the head of his profession in England, but now, we regret to say, gone to his rest. Maestro Ilia is an accomplished pianist, evidently a thorough musician and an able accompanyist. Having thus described the personnel of the company, little minute criticism need be added, for it will be accepted as a certainty that every piece presented was as perfectly gone through as it was possible to render it. Signor Snsini was the first to appear. He was welcomed by hearty applause,wbichwas intensified at the close of “ Vieni la mia Vendetta,” and was most deservedly encored. Equally delighted were the audience with Signor Giammona’a fantasia on “La Sonnambnla,” in iv’moh he introduced several favorite arias with, variations. But however demonstrative bad V<jen the applanse bestowed on those who had before, it was as nothing to the welcome giv dn to Mdlle. de Murska. As soon as she appea-cd, the cordial greeting rose to entunsiasm. She most have felt at the moment that so much was expected of her, that scarcely anything less than miraculous gifts could fulfil the anticipations; and it must therefore have been with a sensation of triumph that she responded to the encore that followed her singing of the “ Carnival de Venice.” Although that composition is loaded with difficulties. she overcame them with apparent ease. . Chromatic runs of great rapidity, shakes on various parts of the scale, and complicated passages were effected with sweetness, brilliancy, and minute accuracy of intonation. Before each variation was concluded applause was apparently withheld with difficulty, and when full liberty was felt to bestow it, it was equally warm and genuine. Very pleased must our fellow-colonists from North Britain have been with the pretty Scotch ballad, “ ’Twas within a mile of Edinbro’ toun,” sang by a foreigner with so fair a Scotch pronunciation. W© know their weakness on this point and that they are inclined to insist upon lather too much occasionally in the rendering of their pretty national songs, bub not even the most fastidious would expect so excellent a dronnneiation from one whose native tongue is so far removed from theirs as that of Mdlle. de Murska. Siguor Eosnati must have felt it difficult to follow when so much had been done, but he was equal to his task, and gave “ Don Sebastian©” in excellent style. At the close of the first port, Maestro Ilia played a fantasia on “ Bonnie Scotland” as atheme with great effect. Itisnotoften that tbe man who does the most wore receives the praise that isbis due. Sovariedandsubordinatoishis role (hat his efforts are eclipsed by those he is bound to aid and assist in. Wo forget the ornaments in paring at the picture, although they contribute to its beauty. Wo trust that the skill that Maestro Hla evinces as an accompanyist will not be forgotten in estimating the circumstances necessary to a successful concert. Wo will not weary our readers by stating how many encores Mdlle. received; how many were accorded; how many were demanded of Signor Susini and Eosnati; how many bouquets were thrown by some unaccountable means to Mdlle. over the wide space between the circle and the stage; how more would have been showered could they have reached the stage ; how the second part seemed even more successful than the first; how funny and artistic the duet at the close was, nor how pleased was everybody as they wended their ways home. The true feeling of an audience is felt when all is over, and when one says to another, aud when the same is repeated from many “ ones ” to many “ anothera,” “We have heard nothing like that in Dunedin.” Mdlle. de Murska and her assistants have not established daims to greater success anywhere than in this City.