MISS SHERWIN’S CONCERT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 6

MISS SHERWIN’S CONCERT.

Miss Amy Sherwin’s concert at the Imperial Opera House on November 27th was a brilliant success. There was one of the largest and most fashionable audiences that has been seen in the theatre. The programme had evidently been arranged with great care, and those present enjoyed such a musical treat as they will nob readily forget. Miss Sherwin has a powerful yet sweet soprano voice, of great compass, and well trained ; and her rendering of her various solos so delighted the audience that she was repeatedly vociferously encored, to which on every occasion she gracefully responded. The feature of the evening was undoubtedly tho mad scone from “Lucia di Lammermoor,” and apart from her brilliant ; vocalisation, Mias Shervvin made a palpable bit by her forcible dramatic representation. As one of the Australian papers remarked, it is surprising to find a young lady who has practically bo limited an acquaintance with the stage acting a part like that of Lucia iu this powerful scene with so thorough an appreciation of what i« demanded of her, and rendering with such admirable correctness the varying moods of the demented love-lorn maiden. But two or three years ago Miss Shervvin was purely an amateur, pleasing social friends by her talents, and occasionally appearing at amateur concerts for charitable purposes, without tho slightest idea that she would ever appear before tho public iu auy other capacity ; yet iu so short a time she comes before us an accomplished vocalist, and comparatively a versatile actress. No one who was present on Wednesday could have gone away with any other impression than that Mies Sherwin has a grand future before her. Whether iu a simple English song such as “ Waiting,” or in the higher class music, she appeared to the greatest advantage. MDs Eva Davenport has a rich contralto voice, which she uses with great taste. Signor Pompei has a splendid bass voice, and the audience highly appreciated it. A duet from “Norma” between Miss Amy Sherwin and Miss Eva Davenport was much admired. Miss Sherwin left for Christchurch, cn route for Dunedin, on November 30. She will give concerts in Dunedin, and then return to Christchurch ; give concerts there, and then take a farewell benefit in Wellington. She will afterwards proceed to Auckland, and take steamer for San Francisco in February. Miss Sherwin purposes visiting England, France, and Italj. We understand it is the intention of Signor Pompei when iu Europe to organise a first-class Italian opera company, with Miss Shervvin as a star, in company with other stars such os Patti, Albani, DoMurska, &c. All the principal cities in Europe will be visited, and at the termination of the tour the colonies will be visited, New Zealand first in order.