The Celia Dampier Company.

Manawatu Herald, 7 May 1898, Page 3

The Celia Dampier Company.

This company which appears at the Public Hall, Fox ton, on Monday night are spoken very highly of by the press in the different towns in which they have appeared. We should advise all who appreciate a good performance to attend on Monday night. A Napier paper, in a lengthy repbrtof a concert given by this company lately, when a large and fashionable audience assembled at the Theatre Royal says :— " The con* cert in reality was arranged for the purpose of introducing Miss Dampier, the child violinist, to the Napier public, and the reception accorded to her was of a most flattering character. Of an unassuming nature, not in any way spoilt by the lavish praises which have been be* stowed upon her wherever ehe has appeared, this young musician thoroughly captured the sympathies of her audience, and she was encored time after time. She contributed three violin solos to the programme, and took part in two duets with Miss Hatherly. The harp and violin melody in F (Bubenstein) served to introduce the concert giver c, but Miss Dampier was heard to much better advantage in subsequent num hers. " Yankee Doodle " (Vieuxtemps) was admirably played, and in response to a recall she gave " Auld Robin Gray." *'Mignon Romance et Gavotte " (Sarasate) afforded the performer great scope to display her powers, but the many difficult passages were rendered with masterly eaae, brilliant execution marking Miss Dampier's playing throughout She was imperatively encored, and gave M La Serenade" (Pierce"). Her best number, however, was undpubtedly " Legende " (Wieniawski) a selection of which she is especially fond. The truly artistic nature of the child was demonstrated iv the taste and expression with which she played this piece, and she well deserved the double encore that followed. The barp and violin duet " Aye Maria " (Gounod), by Miss Hatherly and Miss Dampier was warmly re ceived, the playing "A Stray Thought " (Emily Bardsley Farmer) in response to an encore. Miss Constance Hatherly has every reason to to feel pleased with her reception on renewing her acquaintance with the music-loving community of Napier. Her harp solo " Echo " was a very fine effort, the ease and grace with which she manipulated the instru. ment being astonishing, and sbe was obliged to respond to a recall. Her next programme number was •• Scherzo " (Godfooid), admirably played, and sbe gave as an encore •• Chant dv Paysan " (Rendeno). The acompaniments to Miss Dampier's violin solos wert excellently played by Mrs Nairn. Miss Henn played the remainder of the accompaniments with admirable taste, and also contributed two pianoforte solos " Serenata " (Moszkowski) and a pleasing arrangement of ••The Brook" (Pape). The concert was undeniable one of the best given in Napier for a considerable time, and the fact was evident from the keen enthusiasm displayed by the audience." A well-known musician in Palmerston North has also testified to Miss Dampier's capabilities in the following letter published in a local paper : •• Sir,— I wish to bear testimony to the wonderful talents of Miss Celia Dampier, the' child violinist, who is about to give a con* oert in this town. I had heard a great deal about her some time ago from Mr Maughan Barnett, of Wellington, Herr Balling and several other musical friends, also Ovide Musin, who spoke very highly of her exceptional talent. But notwithstanding Buch good reports, I was unprepared for the proof of marked genius which was evidenced by her renderings of such standard compositions as Weiniawski's " Legende" and Mazurka and also Musin's Mazurka, all of which not only make great demands on the performer's technical abilities, but require also great sympathetic insight into the ideas of the composers as expressed in their music. Miss Dampier's renderings of the above, together with that of many other difficult pieces which I bad the privilege of hearing her play, wbb ftrtiitie and mnßioianlT in tbe truest