THE DE MURSKA CONCERT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 153, 20 June 1876, Page 2

THE DE MURSKA CONCERT.

We can aay without fear of being accused of exaggeration that no such musical treat haa ever yet been given to Nelson as last night's concert. Lavish as the praise has been with which Mdlle de Murska has been greeted wherever she has appeared in the Australian Colonies, it has by no means exceeded her deserts. A voice of such power, range, Jaud quality has never been heard here before, but it ip especially in her extraordinary facility of execution, her power of . attacking the most florid passages, the most distant

and difficult intervals, with the absolute correctness of a mechanical instrument, that she is not even -approached by any previous performer here. Similar tours de force, no doubt, can be heard in Europe when a Patti or a Nillson Melighfc the frequenters of the Opera House, but the Hungarian Nightingale is the first of tbe great Prima Donnas tb show us here what such singing really means. Nor is this all. Were the other members of her little company mere foils to set off her excellence or fill up a programme, she alone would satisfy, but this is by no means the case. The " Tenore Robusto," Signor Rosnati, is an old friend, whose performance in Cagli's Company cannot be forgotten here, and he needs no further praise from us, whilst Signor Susini is in our Opinion the best basso we Jhave as yet had amongst us. His magnificent voice rolls out with a power and volume of sound that fairly astonish one, whilst his style and expression make one long to see him in a Opera, where his evidently great powers of acting could have full play. Besides the vocalists that somewhat despised instrument the flute seems almost inspired in the hands Signor Griammona. We may perhaps of have been unfortunate, but we certainly have never here or elsewhere heard such flute playing. With a rapidity of execution that was simply marvellous, the performer produced airs accompanied by and mingled with the most elaborate runs and trills that can be conceived, the air coming out full and clear, the accompaniment the while soft and low. No one accustomed to hear a flute in ordinary bands can form a conception of the instrument it becomes under the influence of such a master. The concert nominally included eleven pieces, but the kindness of the performers, who generously gave I way to the enthusiasm of ;an audience that seemed as if it would not be ! denied, extended the list to nearly twice that number. To attempt a criticism of these would be an absurdity on * bur part. The concert as a whole was one which would have been firstclass in London, and to find any fault with it here would be indeed hypercritical. Each performer was listened to throughout with breathless attention and greeted at the end with tumultuous applause, and with excellent good humor humor and kindness repeated the treat. Thus Madame De Murska, after the brilliant " Carnival de Venise," delighted her English audience with " The last Rose of Summer,'' sung less simply and with more dramatic effect than is usually the practice, but in a manner nevertheless which won the loudest applause ; and having been recalled many times after the great air from " Linda," " O Luce di quest anima," she sang in very good Scotch and with great archness " Within a mile 6f Edinbro' Town," . with , perhaps still greater success. Signor Rosnati, after Mercadante's Romance "Don Sebastiano," which to our fancy seemed too low for his high and powerful voice, gave with great skill arid effect his old favorite from Rigoletto " La donna c mobile." He also sang very well Tito Makei's beautiful song " Non 6 ver," long since a favorite in other hands with a Nelson audience, but now with a short cadence added, showing off well the performer's magnificent high chest notes. Apart from Mdlle de Murska's special excel-, lencies, the gems of Jthe evening were, to our mind, the grand duett from "Martha," in which the voices of Signori Rosnati and Susini were heard to the greatest advantage, the " Madamina," when Mozart, as rendered by Signor Susini, once again triumphed, and last, and the beat of the whole concert, Mdlle de Murska and Signor Susini in Donizetti's grand duo " Quanto 4-tnore." This was as nearly perfect as it well could be, and thus ended a concert which cannot soon be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to hear it. We must not admit to add that Maestro Strauss Ilia accompanied brilliantly throughout, and showed the audience what the Harmonic Society's Broadwood could do in a couple of solos. He is a . fine performer, but might, in our opinion, have chosen worthier pieces. " Bonnie Scotland " seemed like a perfect whirlwind of " Prince Charlies," and most school school girls of the time are tired of Thalberg's " Home Sweet Home." We hope on Wednesday he may favor us with music of a higher class than either, and for the sake of all concerned that there may be a crowded house, for such a chance we are not likely soon to have in Nelson again.