Dramatic And Musical

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 274, 30 September 1905, Page 14

Dramatic And Musical

VERY fine music, a good 1 plot, beautiful scenery, a capable orchestra, and a .sprinkling of good performers have been responsible for large houses to see and bear "A Moorish Maid" at the Opera House, the joint production of Mr. Alf. Hill (composer) and Mr. J. Youlm Birch (librettist). The music of the overture gives promise of the gems in store, and it is a special feature of the opening that a dainty trifle of the "Moorish Maad" recurs again and again, on© set of instruments taking up the echo. Indeed, this haunting echo, and the recurrence of a short telling passage, are a feature of all Mr. Hill's operatic work. Great scope is given throughout the opera to the reed instsruments. The orchestration, too, is scored with a facile hand. It is replete with appropriate colour, and instrumental resources are dlrawn upon with a masterfulness which manifests familiar knowledge of the special capabilities of the various brasses, reeds, and strings. « • * The first chorus vocally was somewhat weak, and lacked the vigour and body necessary to do justice to the music, but in the second 1 act the chorus rose to the occasion and the opening piece in the latter half was quite the best combined effort. The orchestra, tambourine, and castanet accompaniment assisted the chorus, to make a triumph of the really splendid music. » * * Miss Rosina Buckmann, as La Zara, showed exceptional dramatic power, and used her exceptional vocal gifts with most pleasing results. Indeed, she and Miss Leila Spiller as Mena, (a Moorish mmd) divided the honours of the performance. Miss Buokmanm's fervent rendering of "Hush, My Brigands," was a fine effort, and her singing of the specially fine "Loverland" was little short of perfection. La Zara's soulful serenade, ' O'er the Mountains, ' was certainly one of the finest items m the opera, and tbe accompaniment very dainty and full of true feeling. • • * In the La Zara-Elferino duet, ''Do not repel me," Miss Buckmann displayed her talent as an actress as well as a vocalist. Miss Spadler particularly pleased as -a Moorish maid, and the chorus, although lacking body, was not to be despised. The sprightly naturalness of Mis& Spiller absolved her from being amateurish, a fault that was observable in most of the personages in the oast. Miss Lloyd Hassell made a distinctly good impression when she cam© on, but, having occasion thereafter to move sometimes, she showed' some stiffness, and a, lack of vivacity and vigour that certainly detracted from her very handsome stage presence and her sweet voice. She seems to gauge the acoustics of the Opera House indifferently well. There really is not a great deal of "fat" for Miss Hassell in the opera, although she %any with sweetness "At Pome Soft Call," a pleasing ballad. • * * Miss Nellie Dent, as becomes a "professional," infused vivacity mto 1 her cheerful part, and was, with Mr. Fred Graham, responsible for much of the hilarity of the opera. One tries not to see Mr. 'Leslie Hill while listening with pleasure to his voice. His tenor voice is a fine organ, and his best effort "It is Morn in My Heart." The Elferina of Mr. E. H. Parker gave him the opportunity of using a baritone voice of good quality, and "His Brigand Am I" wins him liberal applause. Mr. Chas. Gray, as the Divorcer-General , kept reminding me of Harry Quealy. His English is as rocky as Harry's, but his calm comedy is very excellent. Also, he was "at home." So was Fred Graham, who introduced much vaudeville business that J. Y. Birch didn't write. Fred was very welcome, however, and he showed his best work in "I've Only Myself to Blame," "I Wouldn't Hurt a Fly," and in the cleverly danced and sung trio "Get Away." • • • The opening chorus and danc© in the second act make the strongest impression, for not only are the music and the setting very fine indeed 1 , but Miss 1 St. just — Miss Estelle Beere — dances a Moorish, carpet dance with charming grace. The six hockey girls were less stiff than the ladies of the chorus. The

hockey girls' aud Riffians' double t=extet, "Let Us Get Married," was bung and acted with grace and finish. The scenery, from the brush of Will Diamond, is very fitting and very Eastern . I can find no fault with the orchestra or conductor (All. Hill), and feel that "A Moorish Maid" deserves to be played by a very strong company, with a better chorus, the members of which undeigfcand more fully the art of dressing and "making up." It is woathy of note that Mr. Hill conducts his. opera from beginning to end without any reference to the score. • ♦ * In short, this very fine opera — some of the music is as good as the best m some grand operas — is worthy of the best production that can possibly be given it, and compares favourably with standard opera, both m music and libretto. On the opening night the composer and author were "called. ' Mr. Hill thanked 1 the aud ence and Mr. Birch said "Ditto '" Modest Jacky ! - * * The visit of the Watkin Mills conceit party to Wellington us n notable enough event to cause last week to be marked with red letters in the annals of the year. They gave two delightful concerts in the. Town Hall on Thursday and Saturday evenings, and were also associated on the Friday evening with the Wellington Musical Society in a performance of Mendelssohn's "St. Paul" that wall always be memorable. I shall deal with the oratorio first, but, by way of preamble, a. few woids about the principals. • • • Mr. Watkinr Mills himself needs no introduction. He not only proved himself to be a great artist on has last visit, but established himself as a popular favourite. The artists whom he has brought back with him, and who, in association with himself, are "billed" as "the Great English Quintette," dlo infinite credit to the soiundiness of his judgment. They are young, and in the plenitude of their powers. * * Miss Gertrude Lonsd'ale, as an artiste, is equal to the best, contralto we have ever heard in the colonies. She is a handsome brunette, with a figure quite Junoesqne in proportions, and her voice is rich, deep, and mellow, very flexible withal, and thoroughly under control. Miss Edith Kirkwood is a fair pretty, and graceful woman, with a light soprano voice, clear and fresh in its timbre. Her technique is very fine, the nuances of expression in her songs being treated most daintily. There is no suspicion of throatiness oir nasal twang about Mr. Horace Wilde's tenor. It is produced with perfect ease and admirable clearness, is resonant in quality, and is of more than average volume and compass. As a concert party the four singers, being all on the tall side, make a good spectacular ensemble. The fifth member of the quintette is M. Eduard Parlovrtz, who, both as solo pianist a.nd accompanist, is an artiste of the highest class. • * * And now for the oratoiio. Mr. Robert Parker may lightly claim "St. Paul" as one of his greatest triumphs. He had marshalled under has baton eighty-five sopranos, forty-six contraltos, and fifty-sis tenons, baritones, and basses, or a choir of one hundred and eighty-seven voices, reinforced' by an orchestra of forty instruments. Miss Grace Kennedy was chef d'attaque, and Mr. F. W. Rowley Was at the organ. Every seat m the Town Hall seemed to be occupied, so large was the audience. • * * The choral and orchestral work was of a much higher standard than is usual at our performances of oratorio. There were blemishes, of couise, such as unsteadiness among the sopranos m the choral passages, "Saul, Saul, Why Perseoute&t Thou Me," a certain raggedness of attack and time in the final chorus, and an occasional weakness on the part of the tenors, but the general effect was veiy fine. The chorales in "St. Paul" are all well-known — "To Thee, 0 Lord-" is said to have no less than four hundred hymns written to it — and they were very sweetly sung. Among the choruses, "Stone Him to Death," "0 Great is the Depth," "How Lovely Are the Messengers," and "0 Be Gracious," may be singled out as examples of very successful peiformance. In the orchestra, the reeds and particularly the flutes and clarionets, deserve special mention. • * * A finer quartette of soloists can hardly have ever been heard m oratorio in New Zealand. Mr. Watkxn Mills sang the music of Paul with, great power of intonation and depth of expression. In the aria, "0 God, Have Mercy Upon Me," the audience were strongly impressed. Miss Lonsd&le gave a splendid interpretation of the lovely ariosa, "But the Lord is Mindful," with accompanying Tecitative. Miss Kirkwood and Mr. Harold Wilde had the bulk of the solo singing, and gave a finished interpretation of their work. The soprano sang most expressively, "Jeru-

salem" and "I Will Sing of Thy Great Mercies," and the tenor excelled in tlie dedlamatoiy recitative assigned to Stephen — "Me,n, Brethren, and Fathers," and gave a most touching interpretation ot "Be Thou Faithful Unto Death." • * » * Havm<g said so much about the oratorio, I must be brief over the concerts. And yet I would fain linger over them — bo really charming war© they, and bo many points of interest did they present. Two' of them I must not overlook. The first is the large number of entirely new and delightful songs this concert party have introduced 1 to Wellington. Another point is their exhreme generosity in responding to encores. On Saturday night everything was encored — twice there were donble encores — and it was 9.50 e,re the halftime interval was reached. On Thursday night, the leading pieces were "She Alone Charmeth My Sadness" (Gounod), and Alfred Hill's Maori lam eat, a sonorous dirge, by Mr. Watkm Mills, "Ruth's Sang" by Miss Lonsdale, "Caro Nome" by Miss Kirkwood, and the "Graal" Song from, "Lohengrin" by Mr. Harold Wilde. Laza Lehmann's melodious song cycle, "The Daisy Chain," was a galaxy of little gems, and Musi* Kirkwood ! 's resndei ing of "The Swing" was quite captivating. You had only to close your eyes, and it was easy to fancy it was the> voa.ce of a yoking girl carolling blithely as she swung up and down. An admirer presented Mr. Watkin Millsi with a large iron hjorsenshoe' typical of good! luck, and he gravely bore it off on his musicbook. • • • On Saturday night, the popular enthusiasm was at its height amd the singers had to squeeze two concerts into one evening. Ml*. Watkin Mills brought down the house with the broad humour with which he invested "T am a Roamer, 80ld 1 and Gary," by Mendelssohn, and "The Wedding of S'hon McLean." Miss Kirkwood was cha-rcnine: in "The Fairy's Lulllaby" (Alicia Needham), and' Miss Lonsdale produced quite a furore by her rendering of "Melisandie in the Wood" (a quaint and sweet song by Alma Goetz), Teresa del Riego's "Haopv Song" — both new pieces — and Bohm's "Still as t^e Night," which was sung miost sweetly in German. T- * * Mr. Harold Wilde was extremely effective in "O, Vision .Entrancing" and "Ailsa Mine," a song after the style of Blumenithal'iS "Across the Far Blue Hills, Maa-ie." "Flora's Holiday," a song <jycle of old English melodies, by H. Lane Wilson, formed a quite delicious second part. A catch called "The Pedlar," and l a quartette, "The Country Dance," lifted the audience right oft their feet, and had to be repeated. So had Mr. Watkins Mills's song of mock-misery, "Sound Argument," and he had to add an encore verse. Both concerts were enriched with some very fine pianoforte solos by M. Parlovitz, and his accompaniments were beautifully played. This extremely fine company may safely anticipate a very warm welcome on their return about a fortnight hence. The 'Modern Milo" is winding up her season at Fuller's His Majesty's Theatre, and it is all too short for the splendid business done and the great appreciation shown by full auduences. The "Modern Milos" statuesque poses are so many and so perfect in their similitude to the gems of sculptured art that changes of subjects have been frequent. This chaste and artistic "turn" has attracted crowds of people who do not commonly attend vaudeville theatres, for the reason that it is an educational entertainment, and one that cannot offend the nicest susceptibilities. * * * The perfection of form of the lady who is the chief circumstance in the entertainment has called forth loud admiration for those who admire Nature's handiwork with as much sincerity as the average person gauges the beauty of the female form by its sartorial envelope. It is, of course, too much to expect that anyone desires to return to the "simple life" that dispenses largely with whaJebone, buckram, French heels, hair frames, and the like. Cruickshank, the cheerful caricaturist, to whose skill the "Milo" act is due, is a capable artist, and his method 1 of magnifying his work as he draws it is very excellent. Also, his caricatures are the work of a man who knows his business. • • * Miss Celia Mavis is now a Fuller favourite. "Mavis" is a good name for a gill who sings like a thrush, and as joyously. Miss Viola Price, the young lady who dances in a Scotch way, especially in the sword dance, is an exuberant young person who infuses some of her vitality into the audience. Miss Malvena, Moore, whose plumpness and solidity of charm dc not prevent her being very agile, has also mounted into popular favour.

Sketch artists, Scott and! Beresford, ripple through their playlets and' songlets and gaglets with their usual anvmaition, and tiie many other capable exponents of the art of entertaining are going strong. The Melvas are going to do tricks an their wiry steeds for Fuller on Saturday. • • • Val Vousden, previously known to Wellington as a versatile entertainer, has been doing goad business at the> Theatre Royal. Mr. Vousdien is a capable ventriloquist, singer, raconteur, and impersonator. His " Mrs. O'Rourke" is a character impersonation of a typical and garrulous old IrishWoman, and her views on current, topics are provocative of screams of laughter. Mr. Vousden's recitations, particularly "Not Understood" and "Shomius OBrien," are very fine, and', although a "one-man show," the versatile entertainer is able to hold) has audience throughout by his cheery, oomfidieintial way. It is 'his air of friendliness, and ease that helps him to give so effectual and appreciated' an eniteirtainmeji't. • * * Miss Jessie Maclachlan, the eminent Scottish balladist, wall, in the course of her triumphant colonial tour, arrive in Wellington in. time to open a three nights' season at the Town Hall on Monday next. Miss Maclachlan as an exponent of Scottish song has not been, surpassed. Hea* dramatic gift, c her commanding personality, and the great fire she infuses into her art have been the reasons for countless congratulatory press notices. The gifted! singer in all the colonial cities she has visited has charmed all by her absence of affectation, as well as bv her art. Mr. John McLinden, violoncellist, and Mr. Robert Buchanan, pianist, wall assist Miss Machlachlain. Dunedin did the thing in style, and Dunedin is a miniature Scotland, as you know. The good people thereaway neaped hospitality on the singer, and. the singer, with a few poetically expressed words, showed the manner of woman she is, and how responsive she is to the honour the people everywhere dlo her. • • * A private letter, received in Wellington, says that on Saturday night, in Dunedim, although raining hard, the inspector had to stop the sale of tickets, so great was the rush. In Christohurch Miss Jessie Maolachlan was accorded receptions by the Soootish and Caledonian Societies, the former on Wednesday night, and the latter on Thursday afternoon. I understand that His Worship the Mayor (the Hon. T. W. Hislop) and Messrs. J. Xhithie and l J. G. W. Aitken, M.H.R., have the matter of arranging a reception in hand. • • ♦ Miss Nance O'Neil, the well-known tragedienne, begins a season at the Opera House on Ihursday, October sth, and Mr. Harold 'Ashton is already on the buzz, getting things in order for what is likely to prove a notable seasion. It is freely stated that Miss O'Neal has wonderfully improved in all respects, and has the gift of thrilling her audliences with the fire of her enthusiasm and art. The first two nights of the season will be devoted to "Magda," in which Miss O'Neil is known to shine, and then will follow ''Maine Antoinette," "Ingomar," -'Trilby," "Queen Elizabeth," and the "Fires of St. John." • • * Miss HarcLmge-Maltby is presenting a novel and brightly diversified programme for her dramatic and musical evening in St. Peter's schoolroom on Monday. It comprises in the first place three quite fresh and dainty little dramatic pieces. In one, taken from the French, and styled "He and She : An Episode," Miss Hardinge-Maltby does all the talkme as "She" (which is appropriate), and Mr. Harold. Plimmier as "He" confines his share of the episode to mere pantomime. • * * The other dramatac morceaux are : 'Barbara," bv Jerome K. Jerome, and "In and Out of a Punt," by H. Y. Esmond. There are also to be recitations, Miss Hardmge-Maltby contributing three by Bret Harte, Barry Pain, and Horace Greely, and her pupils the others, and Mr. Wilfred Harper will raise his sweet voice in a couple of songs. Altogether, a tempting programme. Seats may be booked at the Dresden. We are indebted to Mr. Claude H. Waite for a copy of "The Theatre" (published m Sydney), containing capital half-tone pictures of leading members of the Brough-Flemming Comedy Company, which is doing prosperously in Australia. Claude will be popping up pretty soon now to tell us all about this first-class company, and to make arrangements for its New Zealand tour. fCtwtinvptl on pnqe 18.)

Thins a Wanganui paper : — "The Wanganui Rugby Union's representative team have put up a fine record! this season, having played seven matches, of which they have won six, and lost one — in which they had to play with several emergencies. Their victories were gained over Rangitdkei by 30 to nil, Manawatu 9 to 3, Awarua 25 to nil, Hawkete Bay 12 to nil, Auckland 4 to nil, and Taxanaki 11 to 3. The return match against Manawatu was lost by 13 to nal. Altogether the local reps, soared 91 points against 19. This is a record to be proud of, and is one which has not been equalled! in, point of merit by any other team in the colony this season,. Coming on top of the successful tour in the South Island, last season, it has placed Wanganui right in the fore front, and our boys can fairly claim -to have established their right to be considered the champion team of the colomy." Where do Thames com© in? They have defeated Auckland twice this season. • • • The repeated defeats of the Austaalian Rugby team in the initial matches of the New Zealand tour was the occasion of one Australian scribe going into vexse when the Australians won. their first match: — ■ Tell with a will, a ringing cheer, Whoop toll you raise the thatch ; Send the glad' tidings far and near • Our team has won a match ! Banzai! And Hooray! Likewise Zip! Bravo! Your necks unlatch, To let the nations hear your Hip Hurrah ! We've won. a ,match. Say not 'twas but a small affair, Of which folk sneer "mo catch !" The circumstance is one so rare, That all we know and alii we ca<re Is that we'll take it and declare^ Our football lads are pretty fair, They've won a dinky miatoh ! ♦ • • Merely an Imitator.

Only two of the original Pollard Company are wath the Pollardis now. Haaiy Quealy is one. Faithful Harry 1 * * * "Bob" Brough charges for his autograph now, and gives the cash tochairty. Julius Knight's price is Is. * • • Miss Maud Beatty has gone to Manila, where the rope conies from, and where a professional person is given "more rope" than any place on earth. * * * The "J.P." Compamy has a sma.rt advertisement. It is sending its- intended patrons in New Zealand a miinnatuie baby's bottle. There's "nothing m it." .• • * Chefalo, who looped the gap heie foi Wirth's circus, was thrown off his bike in Australia the other day while whizzing round the cylinder. He wasn't much hurt. » • • Alfred Dampier. who was "paralysed for life" in all the papers a while ago, is going very strong again, and produces the "Bush King" at Sydney Criterion at once. Happily, his obituary notice is indefinitely postponed. • * * An ex-showman tells how a visitor to a freak show asked the "bearded lady" if it didn't rather shock her to have her freakish hair maidie a public spectacle of. The "bearded lady" asked ■wfhat was a man to do when he had a wife and children to support. • • ♦ Started locally that news has been received from Australia indicating that Mass Nellie Stewart suffers from severe throat trouble. It is well known that the universal favourite has, on many oiooasions, pluckily struggled with illness, refusing to disappoint an expectant public. • # • Quaint legal story. William Amderscm and another were dining with Fuller Golden at an hotel. Somebody stole their overcoats. The hotelkeeper was sued for the price of the coats. His defence was that the gentlemen, were the guests of Fuller Golden, and' not of himseilf. Which view the magistrate upheld. • • • A propos of young Warren and' the timber Maori trumpet he blows so well. An itinerant variety show put on a Maori trumpet "turn" in tihe Waikato last week. The wood' trumpeter blew several calls excellently, but, as he was blowing "The Last Post," he took tine timber from, his lips a few seconds too soon. The call went on. Probably there was a row between the copper and timber trumpeters afterwards behind the scenes. George Buller, here with Riokards's Puller Golden company three months' ago, threatened to comei back to New Zealand some day. He will keep his threat at the end of the year, for he brings John F. Sheridlan. George is acrbing for Mr. Allan. Hamilton. John IT. has been making a big "hits" with "The Earl and the Girl," on the other sidle, partly because it is aaniusing, and partly because John has diressed and ' staged it with great gorgeousness. Johnny is going to staeje three pieces new to New Zealand when he comes. The tour starts at InvercargiH on the 13th December ,and th© company hits this viMage on February 10th, 1906. • • • Matthilde Bauermerster, _ the famous operatic singer, had a big benefit in Txvnd'on lately, organised "by that good soul" Medba. Says the Hamburger ladty: — "One morning, in the foyer at Covent Garden, Augustus Harris asked me my opinion of a singer he had engaged in Brussels. At that time he knew little of music, trusting to friends for advice. A beautiful woman appeared and sang an air, which. I forget now. I was amazed at her lovely voice, and Harris, looking at me calmly, said : T>o you thijik anything of her?' 'She has goldl in her voice, and will put gold into your pockets,' Was my reply. 1 am so gladi you like her,' he added. The singer was Melba, who now calls me her mascot, for she asserts that I always bring her luck when I appear with her."

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