HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2075, 9 May 1907, Page 2

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

MADAME BLANCHE ARRAL’S FIRST CONCERT.

A full house expectatntly awaited the rising of the curtain at His Majesty’s Theatre last night to hear the famous singer, Madame Blanche Arral, whoso fame had preceded her, and sho cannot he other than pleased with the warmth of her reception. Her first number, “Air du Page” (Les Huguenots), at once revealed the finished artiste that she is, and alter bowing her acknowledgments two or three times in response to the determined recalls of the audience, she at last returned and sang ‘Violets,” which, though not her best effort, again captivated her audience. In each of her subsequent items she simply entranced her hearers with the effects which a perfect execution always produce when aided by a marvellously flexible, resonant, and sweet voice such as she possesses. Operatic singing is her forte, and that accounts for the fact that with the exception of Gounod’s Serenade and Bourgeois’ “Manola,” her programme is filled with sketches trom ti l P best operas. In these she is simply a revelation, and as she acts as well as sings each item in suitable attire, and aided by an efficient orchestra, one can well dispense with the other appendages of the operatic Vs'jbago on hearing her, for sho gives the cream of them. It was therefore not surprising that in such items as “The Flower Song” from Faust, which was her second number, a series of heavy selections from “Mignon,” sufficient to try the skill of the greatest vocalist, she acquitted herself in a manner that surprised as well as pleased her numerous audience. Perfect in tone, volume, and gesture, she performed a series 41 vocal gymnastics that were the wonder of her hearers, and an object lesson to those who are not fully acquainted with the capabilities of the human voice. The warmest applause greeted her efforts from start to • finish, and there were none who would not acknowledge that the reputation that preceded her had not been fully sustained. The orchestra consisted of piano, violin, harp, and flute, and as each manipulator of these instruments is a soloist of no mean order, it is needloss to say that the orchestrated items and accompaniments were of a high order. In Herr George Paans it included a violinist as soulful as the renowned Musin, and very little if anything below his standard in all other respects, and the audience last night would fain have heard more of him; but ho is evidently a master of the instrument who does not look for applause, and takes a lot of persuasion to induce him to respejnd. Tho novelty of first-class harp music was not the sole cause of the emphatic recall that greeted Signor Torzillo’s harp solo, “Autumn,” and he responded with the quaint and fascinating melody, “Come Back to Erin.” As a flautist, Mr. J. S. Stewart (a New Zealander, by tho way) bids fair to make his mark, and his effort, “Masaniello” (Auber), was a pleasing item. Seldom has a Gisborne audience the opportunity of hearing such a first-class combination, and as Gisborne people always liberally respond to first-class attrac/tfions, another packed house is assured on Friday night, which will conclude the visit of this talented company.