EDOUARD REMENYI.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 233, 28 February 1885, Page 12

EDOUARD REMENYI.

The greatest of modern violinists, Edouard. Remenyi, Avill shortly make his appearance in Auckland, and, from the Press notices, the-music-loving portion of our city may expect to hear something very Avonderful, and far exceeding anything heard since the days of Paganini, the prince of violinists. Miska Hansen Avas considered a Avonder of the day some thirty years ago, and Martin Simonsen Avas a player of no mean repute, but the subject of this notice holds his hearers spellbound by the almost supernatural power he possesses over his instrument. Remenyi was born at Miskolc, in Hungary, and studied under Joseph Bohn at the Vienna Conservatoire. After the defeat of the insurgents at the Hungarian rising in 1848, Remenyi left hi . native land and Avent to England, and in 1854, on account of his Avonderful powers,. was appointed solo violinist to the Queen.. About six years after, he returned to Hungary, and received from the Emperor of Austria a similar honour to that bestowed on him in England. After living a retired life for some years he resumed his artistic career and went to London, where he was engaged to play at the Covent Garden Promenade Concerts. His repertoire, Avhich. is a very extensive one, comprises selections from Beethoven, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin, and that great master of the violin Paganini. One extract from the Melbourne Argus Avill be sufficient to give some idea of his Avonderful performances : — The firstnumber chosen was a familiar fantasia on ' Othello 'by Ernst. This was listened to with evident relish, the great violinist's. poAver to draw music, Avhich at once charms, the senses and rivets the attention, from hisinstrument being apparent after the first few bars had been played. Being applauded to the echo, M. Remenyi boAved his. acknowledgements, but the people were not- ._, to be denied, and as an encoreh^j^^^JjH| paraphrase on a theme by fe^fßß^^^oS^^ posed for tho violin alone by M. Remenyi. This 'was an entirely different style of composition from the former, being full of weird Avild, sad passages, and Avhen the last Avail died aAvay, the applause Avas long and earnest. A nocturne in E flat Avas next played by M. Remenyi and its pleasing •'• tunefulness and his brilliant treatment of it brought doAvn the house. Then ho throw his hearers into ecstacy by the Avay ho made his violin almost sing "The Last Rose of Summer," his-double-thumbing in several passages showing

t Ibis skill, and the harmony produced being very beautiful. When this ceased, his •audience Avas still unsatisfied, and having to satisfy their demands, he once more tightened his "fiddle strings," and drew the boAv over them.. The first feAv bars were unfamiliar, but gradually the ear became alive to the fact that there wa's -something in that music that Avas not neAV, -and very shortly the opening notes of the touching and beautiful Scotch melody, '" Auld Robin Gray," burst on the eager ears of the audience. The rendition of this well-known air Avas as perfect as it is possible to expect anything on this terrestrial .globe, the gentler and more pathetic •passages being played so artistically as •almost to bring tears to the eyes of many of the great violinist's hearers. But, in many respects, the rendition of an improvisation on the "Carnival of Venice," and ■an introduction by Remenyi, Avhich the violinist favored those in the hall Avith on Iris next appearance, was the highest gem — for they were all gems — of the evening. Nearly every fiddler plays some version of *' The Carnival of Venice," but none play it like the great violinist, Avho held his hearers spellbound while he gave it last aright. It Avas a marvellous perrormance, «,nd one which those who Avere fortunate -enough to listen to will not be likely to As an encore, Reinenyi played the ""Marseillaise" grandly, his instrument 3_eing almost like a full string band, and it ■almost seemed impossible that so much •martial music could be got out of a violin. Enthusiasm is a mild term to use in speaking of the cheers which folloAved, every >one in the hall applauding most heartily.

Lent. — The season of abstinence from from : fresh meat, and indulgence in fish. This seems ifishy, but that's not the question. Eaton, of Hobson-street, has to cater for his customers, they are Roman Catholics or High or Low Churchman. In view of the approach of the Lenten season, then, Eaton has made some wonderful purchases — fiishy, it is true — but in keeping with the season, nevertheless. He can ■now sell the best salt salmon at 5d per lb, and •-soldiers' beef, alias forty ribs, but better known as white herrings, at 3d per dozen. How easy, then, to get up a " fast " on tlie cheap. In •addition to the above Eaton has a large supply of cunned fish from the best districts, aud -is selling salmon at 7^-d per tin, fin, haddock, and 'bloaters, at B|d per tin. No one need go without fish ac these ridiculously low prices. Fresh •cargoes of fruit are also to hand. A bushel •baskec of fine and prime ripe apples for almost an old song. In the grocery and provision •department some excellent lines now on offer. Then roll up next door to the Criterion Hotol, and make your purchases.