FIRST DE MURSKA FAREWELL CONCERT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4793, 2 August 1876, Page 2

FIRST DE MURSKA FAREWELL CONCERT.

The second o£ the farewell De Murska concerts took place last evening before a very numerous and fashionable audience, and was in every way as successful in a musical point of view as its predecessors. There was the same thorough'appreciation of the various items on the programme, and the same tumultuous applause to follow, and Mademoiselle herself looked and sang as charmingly as ever. In the mad scene from "Lucia" she gave a, most artistic and brilliant rendering of the very elaborate and difficult music, displaying such powers of execution and sweetness as have never been approached here. Later on she sang Balfe's familiar English song, " I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls," and threw a degree of feeling and pathos into it that made her hearers clamor for its repetition. She afterwards gave the ever welcome " Una voce," and here again produced such notes as fairly spellbound her audience, finishing off amidst more demonstrative applause, and having to respond to a unanimous encore. Finally she took part in the grand trio from " Ernani," in conjunction with Signori Rosnati and Susini. Kignor Rosnati sang in magnificent style two solos, for each of which he was encored in a most enthusiastic manner. His voice never Bounded to better advantage. Signor Susini, though still suffering from a bad cold, which interferes with the volume of sound he can discourse, sang [his solos very finely, and received wellmerited applause. His opening serenata, " Medje," went well, and his notes were sufficiently powerful to add a fine effect in the closing trio of the programme. Maestro Ilia added still further to his fame as a violinist and pianist by his really wonderful mastery over each instrument, and more particularly was this noticeable in the subdued music Of the " Berceuse " he played on the violin, which fairly brought down the house at its finish. In this, as in his previous performance on the pianoforte, he displayed ability of the highest order, and surpassed anything yet heard in Wellington. Of course he was enthusiastically encored in each instance. Mr. Hadley increases in favor with his audience nightly, and plays an excellent accompaniment. The concert throughout was a thorough treat, and such as may perhaps never be heard again in this city. We notice that the next concert takes place to-morrow, and the last one on Saturday, after which De Murska will be as a thing of the past; and those who have neglected to hear her will be filled with remorse. To-morrow's concert will include as Mdlle's songs, the celebrated aria from Semiramide, " Bell Raggio"; also, the famous Hungarian Pastoral Song, with violin variations by Maestro Ilia, and the Grand Duet from Crispino, with Signori Susini. The company after this leave for Napier, whither Mr. Medcalfe proceeds to-morrow, to make the necessary preliminary arrangements.