AMUSEMENTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 615, 8 June 1876, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

ILMA DE MURSKA'S CONCERT. The last concert of the announced series was given last evening, at the Oddfellows' Hall. The weather, though clearer in the evening, doubtless prevented many from attending, for though the hall was in most parts quite full, there was not the crush tnat has previously attended these attractive concerts. One thing especially about these entertainments mast, be noticed, samely—the almost uovarying excellence of the programmes provided. There has never been a trashy item on any, and the music selected, besides being intrinsically good, is generally very attractive, not only to musicians of culture, bat to the more numerous class f>f tjiose who, without special study, yet find heartj enjoyment as passive listeners. Naturally the Italian opera school forms the ground work of their selections, but it is well varied in style. There is usually a good admixture of serio and Ivffo music to please most. Also, through toe instrumentality of this company, the people of Ohrißtchurch have been given opportunities of hearing some of the works of many composers to which we are net often treated ; for although Donizetti and Verdi supply much of what we hear, nevertheless many others less widely known are also brought forward, And so also hare been some of the more rarely heard works of those mentioned.

Last evening the programme presented plenty of variety, and the performance was very enjoyable. Mdlle. De Murska sang an aria from I Puritani, in her customary finished style, receiving the vociferous plaudits of the audience, and in answer to the recalls she gave a very graceful rendering of a new song by Franz Abt, which has been recently composed for her, and is only just published, namely, "Then farewell my heart's best treasure." In the second part the celebrated " mad scene" from Lucia di Lammermoor was announced. It is a piece which affords plenty of scope for the display of a variety of styles, and as such is always a favorite with high-class soprano vocalists ; but it is nevertheless almost questionable whether it is really effective as a concert piece, as it lose 9 much by its separation from the work to which it belongs. The music is highly emotional, and eminently expressive, but it wants its natural adjunct of action to give it full force. These remarks refer, of courEe, solely to the principle of propriety, for in all the details of the performance Mdlle de Muiska's singing was really very fine. The blank of the first part and the passion and fire of some of the subsequent parts were equally good; and the continuous varieties of light and shade were very delicately given. Signer Giammona's flauto olligato was very clear, and artistic ; but at times the accompanying instruments were scarcely sufficiently subordinated to the voice. Jenny Land's famous " Echo song" was announced as a finale, but in lieu of this the very beautiful trio from Belisario was substituted. This was sung so pleasingly that the audience could only be pacified by its repetition. Maestro Giovanni Ilia secured a wellmerited encore for his brilliant performance of Jules de Livrai's fantasia on Irißh melodies, and in response, played the Faust Waltz.

SignorJSusini sang Verdi's not very attractive "Don Carlos" in excellent style, and later sang Bordese's canzone " Mulatiere." This song, with its rhythmical subject and melodious refrain, was exceedingly well performed, and received a great amount ot applause, and Campana's capital song, " Marinari," was given as an encore. Signor Rosnati sang a fine aria f rom liigoletto in his best style. We have scarcely ever heard his voice to -better advantage than in this, and his rendering of Doniietti'a " Favorita " was such as to obtain a hearty recall, and he substituted the charming Barcarolle from Ballo in ilaschero. The duetto "Vestale," by Mercadante, was bo excellently Euog as to gain a hearty encore. Signor Giammona played his own fantasia on Bellini's Sonnambula exceedingly clearly, and was so loudly applauded that he had to give another selection from Traviata ; and in the second part he played an arrangement from La fille de regiment. An extra concert is announced* for Friday evening.