Academy of Music.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5170, 12 August 1885, Page 2

Academy of Music.

The concert given by the Kita-Badeliff Company last night in the Academy of Music was an unqualified success from beginning to end. Each individual mem* ber of the Company possessing ability of the highest order in their respective departments, the entertainment could not < fail to give the greatest satisfaction. The i programme was opened by the performance of Scbarwenka's Polish Dance, given most artistically, by the talented young pianist of the company, Mr Geo. Clutsam. This gentlemen also played during the evening Kowalski's famous March Hongroise, and a graceful waltz of his own composition, v»hich called for an encore, Mr liadcliff's opening solo, pre pared his audience for the musical treat in store. Such a delicious supply of music it has never been our lot to hoar before. H's variations in "There is nao Luck "— that quaint bright little Scotch air—were given so delicately aud artistically as to fairly entrance his hearers, and the em- ! bsllishinents of the melody not only enchanted but astonished them. Scale passages abounded, and were given with' lightniDg-like rapidity, yet eirery note was distinctly heard that there could be no surprise expressed when an encore was vigorously demanded. In response Mr Radcliff played some intricate variations on "llule Brittania" with the same unapproachable finish. In the second part the eminent flautist favored his audieuce with a charming and wonderful pot pourri of Irish airs, and for the encore piece gave an imitation of two flutes on one instrument, without any accompaniment whatever. 'I his performance was simply wonderful the effect of the duet being sustained throughout. It was a master-piece of flute playing. Of Madame Pauline Hit a we cannot exhaust-our praises, her bird like voice in the two flute songs she sang, viz: "The Bird that came in Spring" and "Lo hear the gentle Lark," being scarcely distinguishable from the instrument. The flnalo cadences of'each of these songs proving Mr liadcliff a master of obligato placing, and his wife a perfect mistress of her art. The execution of the most different roulades, the most florid passages, and marvellously rapid yet distincts trills, seemed to Madame JRita as mere child's play, and to show her versitality, as an encore piece she sang that charming ballad "Some-Pay " in such a njaauer that had

the item been giveu as the solo, instead o> as an encore, it would bare assuredly been re demanded. . The " Aye Maria " was given by Madame Bita, with flute D'Amour obligato, by Mr Radcliff, as a conclusion to the first part. This lovely composition, the emanation of two master mind 3of music, Gounod and Bach, was given, most sublimely, the devotional character of iL piece entrancing the spell bound listeners. In answer to a pronounced recall, " The Misereri," from Verdi's II Trovatore followed, the well-known tenor air incidental to the scena, "Ah Che La' Morte," being played behind the scenes on the bass flute. This instrument, in the hands of Mr lladcliff. gave, prior to the Aye Maria, a sympathetic rendering of that old Scotch air " Auld Kobin Gray," and as an , encore piece some variations oa the ever favorite " Home Sweet Home-" Mr Radcliff interspersed the musical portion of the programme, and decidedly amused the audience with his discourse and performance of flutes that he has' brought from all parts of the world. Prominent among them were the Armenian bagpipe, the forerunner of all bagpipes, the arghool, a most unmusical Egyptian instrument, the Chinese flute, the toy bagpipe, the flute-a-bec, and its immediate descendant the penny whistle, on which the flautist condescended to play, only to astound his hearers with the brilliant music extracted from that much maligned article. His " God Save the Queen " on the snake charmer of India, the magonda, was the most ludicrous rendering of that stately melody that we have ever listened to. Mr Radcliff" s discourse is the*most unique, interesting, and amusing musical lecture we have heard. It not only gains the attention of those interested in the subject, but amuses and interests the rankest outsiders. We would advise everybody, musical or otherwise, to go and hear this pleasing entertainment. We can safely say that such a superior evening's amusement has never before been given at the Thames, and as to-night is the last night we shall expect to see the hall crowded.