Academy of Music.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4785, 10 May 1884, Page 2

Academy of Music.

HERE SCHMITT'S CONCERT.

There ' was a large attendance at the concert given last night by Herr Schmitt and company, and although the programme presented was only of a mediocre description, the audience appeared to thoroughly eDJoy it. The entertainment opened with the overture, "The Poet and the Peasant," which was undoubtedly | the gem of the evening as far as execution went, the various instruments showing that great care had been taken in practice ; the stringediostruments particularly demonstrating this. Martini's trio, "Don't tickle me I pray," which was sung by Miss Stephensoh and Messrs Sceats, and Edwards followed. There is not a great deal in the composition, and any merit it possessed was care« fully brought out. Mrs Kilgour sang " La Berceuse," and Herr Schmitt played a'violin-obligate to it. Without the very finished instrumental portion of it, the vocal performance would have been a great treat in itself, but it can easily be imagined that the double attraction produead most hearty and well deserved applause. Mr Sc&ats, who is the possessor of a very pleasant baritone voice, and knows how to use it, sang "Ye Gallants of England," and met with a well-merited encore. A very attractive instrumental trio was played by Miss Coney and Messrs Beale and Puckey, and although its length militated somewhat against any plaudits being given to it, it was well and carefully played, more especially in the matter of the fair pianiste's execution of her part. Miss Stephenson was encored for " Lock Ahoy," and well she deserved the honor. Mr Edwards sang " The Silver Rhine," but was not heard to the same advantage as wehave previously had to chronicle. The time-worn "Singing Lesson" was once more run through. This composition seems to be a regular " fall back upon " number, and why, it is difficult to say. There is really nothing in it, musically or otherwise. The second part opened with a " Valse Chantante," which was very nicely rendered by Miss Stephenson. The words are from the pen of Dr Kilgour, and the music by Herr Schmitt. The former were not perfectly audible, but the | strain of the theme was taking, and the measure easy. Mr Edwards sang " Good bye, sweetheart, goodbye," and al- ' though, betraying a little huskiness, was more successful than in his previous effort. Herr Schmitt played " Yankee Doodle " with variations, which was on the programme euphoniously termed" Souvenir d' Amerique," and displayed his thorough mastery of the violin, his execution being brilliant,, and listened to attentively ; in response to a rapturous encore he played in an equally v masterly manner an arrangement of " The Carnival of Venice." The concluding item of this portion of the programme was one of the most attractive items on the programme, viz., " Com c' Bello," which was excellently renderad by Mrs Kilgour, with her usual good taste and expression. As the effort richly deserved, an enthusiastic encore resulted. The concert concluded with Offenbach's comic operetta " The Blind Beggars," in which Messrs Edwards and Sceats appeared; more attention to the business and greater care in treating the humor of this very funny composition might have been observed; it went off fairly well, but there is a fund of merriment in it which was not entirely brought out. The same concert will be given to* night. . •'