MADAME CARANDINI'S MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 703, 31 July 1867, Page 2

MADAME CARANDINI'S MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT.

The Carandini Opera Company gave their first concert on Monday evening at the Theatre Eoyal, to an enthusiastic and crowded house*. "Madame Carandini was still suffering from a cold, but performed her share most ably in the part music — Miss Eosina Carandini relieving her of one or two songs. The programme commenced with a somewhat trivial quartette from Balfe's almost unknown Opera, " The Enchantress." Balfe's strength lies in ballads ; he does not shine in concerted pieces, and the one in question was by no means his best. It was followed by the finest piece of the evening, the grand scena, " O mio Fernando," from Donizetti's " Favorita " — perhaps his best though not his most popular Opera. This scena was most admirably sung by Miss Fanny Caran- j dini, who possesses a charming contralta j voice, very rich and deep in the chest j notes, and singularly clear and power- \ ful throughout Next came a tenor song " Home of my Heart," from Wallace's "Lurline," — rendered in a very pleasing manner by Mr Sherwin. He made, however, a great mistake in standing so far back, his voice being often almost inaudible. To be heard clearly in the Theatre it is necessary to stand right under the proscenium, otherwise the voice is lost in the open space behind. He will doubtless observe this on other nights. Audit's popular so-called "valse" "HI Baecio," was then beautifully sung by Miss Eosina, whose fine soprano told well in the fioriture at the end. The buffo duet "Mr and Mrs BeU," was capitally acted and warmly applauded, as was . the song " Why do I weep for Thee," (Wallace), in which Mias Eosina relieved Madame Carandini. An encore being demanded, Godfrey's " Mabel," (founded on the favorite valley of that name) was substituted and narrowly escaped a second encore. Stephen G-lover's sweet duet " Sister Elves, it is the hour," was given to perfection, and also encored. Loder's charming ballad "I heard a brooklet," was sung with good taste and feeling by Miss Eosina, who, immediately afterwards, joined Mr Sherwin in the duet from Wallace's " Maritana " " Of fairy Wand had I the Power," in which both were excellent. After an interval, the second part began with a grand duet from Donizetti's ""Maria Padilla," an opera little known to the general public. With the exception of f^the scena from "La Favorita," noticed before, this was the finest piece on the programme. It contains many trying passages, full of difficulties even to experienced performers, but was thoroughly well and evenly sung, and warmly applauded. Miss Fanny took her mother's place in a ballad, and being encored gave Benedict's "By the sad sea Waves," but scarcely so well as her other songs, although the deficiency was more than allowed for by the splendid " low F " with which she concluded. Mr Sherwin then sang the Muleteer's song, from the " Eose of Castille," most admirably, and being encored, gave Wallace's " Let me like a Soldier Fall," incomparably his best performance that evening. We think he made some parts a little too staecalo, although possibly the accoustic peculiarities of the theatre contributes to produce this effect. The chest A, in the cadence, was capitally given. Linley's pretty little ballad, " I cannot mind my wheel," owed its warm reception more to the natural expression i thrown into it by the fair singer than to the intrinsic merit of the music. A somewhat similar compliment may be paid to the comic duet " Then a little farm we keep," in which an intense expression of comicality was displayed by the acting of Madame Carandini and Mr Sherwin ;it was also encored. Miss Fanny again bad an opportunity of showing her rich contralto in the beautiful Irish air " Dermot Asthore," which was also encored. Another of G-lover's duets, " O'er the Hills," was well rendered, and the concert terminated with the " Laughing Trio " which was both sung, and acted to perfection, and fairly convulsed the house. In this, for the first time, we had an opportunity of really hearing Madame Carandini's voice, which seems still to preserve its former power and brilliancy. The two high notes at the end (B flat, we believe) were given with singular steadiness and purity. The audience insisted on an encore which Madame Carandini kindly granted in spite of her evident illness. Last night's concert was not, we are sorry to say, so well attended, owing, no doubt, to the unfavorable state of the weather, but the audience were as enthusiastic as ever. The first piece — the grand duet from " Lucia," was beautifully rendered by Madame Carandini and Mr Sherwin, although the former was still very hoarse, and evidently sang with elfort, Eeich.ardt'q sow aong,

" Love's Bequest," is a composition of great merit ; the style is almost precisely similar to that of his well-known ballad, " Thou art so Near," with the same delightful change to the minor, in the third stanza, which imparts such piquancy to the whole. It was admirably and most expressively sung by Miss Fanny Carandini, and deservedly encored. Mr Sherwin's. first song was scarcely up to the mark, but its successor (Madame G-assier's valse —"Ah Che Asosta"), given with extreme brilliancy by Miss Eosina, fairly "brought down the house," and for the encore she gave Wallace's great ballad "Sweet Spirit hear my Prayer" (Lurline), with her usual power of expression. The pianoforte solo by the same lady (Osberae's fantasia, " Summer's Eve") affordedusthefirst opportunity of appreciating her skill as a pianiste, the rapid passages towards the close were fingered with admirable precision and distinctness ; and we may here remark that not the least attraction of each concert was the excellence ofthe accompaniments which were shared by both young ladies. The great piece of the evening was, as a matter of course, the duet "Deh con te," from Norma. We were afraid at first that Madame Carandini's severe cold would prevent her taking so arduous a part as that of Norma in this celebrated duet, but she undertook it bravely, and performed it to admiration, and only the consideration of the audience for Madame Carandini's evident indisposition, prevented an encore being insisted upon. Miss Fanny delighted every one with the old favorite, "Kathleen Mavourneen," and Mr Sherwin, whose voice was much better than at first, sung " The Star of Love " beautifully, and was warmly encored. " Kate O'Shane" was a very trivial composition, made pleasing by the feeling and sentiment with which it was delivered, and the two duets by G-lover, sung by the Misses Carandini, were given to perfection and encored. We cannot help expressing a regret that at least one or two classical pieces, by some of the great composers, did not form part of either programme, but hope we may be able to hear something of the sort before our accomplished visitors take their departure.