AMUSEMENTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10178, 2 March 1911, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES.

The final screening of the' programme drew a good house at the Foresters' Hall last evening. Tonight a film depicting tlio Houndsditch sensation will be screened. The picture ahows the scene in the heart of juondon, where three hundred constables and half a company of Guards with rifles, revolvers, and Maxims besieged a house in which were two Anarchists concerned in the murder of two constables at Hound.sdi'tch. In addition to this great picture there will be presented a fine range of dramas (including two cowboy stories) comedies, scenics, and comics.

AMY CASTLES' FAREWELL

VISIT OF THE FAMOUS SINGER

The excitement over the appearance of the famous Australian singer, Miss Amy Castles, grows more manifest daily. A brilliant opening for the popular star is assured at the s M'astertoli Town Hall for Wednesday, March Bth. As evidence of Miss Castles' success in her opening concert in Now Zealand, the following extract bears convincing proof:—"The audience which assembled at His Majesty's Theatre last evening testified to the popularity of the young Australian vocalist, Miss Amy Castles, and toHlie place "she .had already gained in the public esteem through her achieve- ; ments on the concert and operatic platform. The pleasurable anticipation of music-lovers respecting her reappearance in Dunedin was amnly realised, the opening c 01.'..-1 proving from beginning to end a pronounced success, and reaching a high level of artistic excellence. "As a concert singer possesses all the c/ualities indespensable to those who would excell, and her entire stage personality enhances the impression cheated by her fine proficiency in the vocal art. Her methods are to-day those of the finished artist, and the results command the highest admiration and' respect. As for her voice, its natural beauty and purity of tone would commend,it under any circumstances,' and used as it is]with , all the knowledge, skill, and confidence acquired by the best training and experience, its charm /is exceptional. The recent; season of opera led many to the conclusion that in vocal dr&ma Miss Castles found her ; happiest medium of expression, and the impression still holds- good. It is i when exercised rathe more impassionedpassages of operatic music that her voice and her singing cast their i strongest spell.. ~The inclusion of operatic selections in tlie programme of her ' initial concert was' thus' particularly welcome. The fine aria, "Ah Forse ; Lur," from Verdi's "La Trayiata.;" is j a great voca) testl and it stood out j memorably among Miss Castles' con-:' tributions, particularly in the striking J power of the impassioned, declaration . which marks its climax, the ; 'effect!. produced being electrical. . But the triteness, clarity, firmness, flexibility, and range of thesinger's voice/ !ii ■convincingly demonstrated in ihis and in all her succeeding numbers, eontribiited equally with its power and volumes in the ijipp'er register to pro- .1 duce stimulating results. In response ' to a recall, the singer gavpvthe dainty number, "Love's Whisper," with charming effect, exhibiting' true artistic'ffeeling.in the ballardf Recalled, agaihV; Miss Castles" ' delightejd her hearers Vitli a fine %pd sympathetic rendering ,\of; Braga's "La Serenata," which, had, ihe,. assistance; of a 'cello obligqto 'by Heir Hattenljach. The, soprano's next pro- T gramme'item was Reminiscent bfh'etv appearance in "Madame: Butterfly," ' being the memorable aria' "one. Fine Day," from. Puccini's opera. Tin number was, given with conspicuous success, and was entirely admirable as ajinished artistic and' draihatic climax being a telling oasthe Puccim number ■ } v ; as. bracketed'.' Verdi's -"Saper;iV6n-dste;" which; Proved a IM4 gem 0 f song ; 'exhibiting m, its delicate nuances and re-'l iterated trills 'the singer's excellent i command of voice in the execution ■ of sustained and rapid passages.: As the inevitable encore number, Miss Castles gave; ' "The Last Rose of Sun*-' mer, ' to the great satisfaction of,her; hearers. Tosti's VGood-bye" .is ! ■a | hackneyed* song, but tlie reservation-* v^itfcwhich .it .gr&jtedvloses' force when it is'siing■;-aW'Miss'; : Castles' gave it as her concluding programme Selection. '■■ On this occasion its reallv fine qualities as a ba|lard , were - convincingly revealed,, and the number must be ranked,as amongthe singer's best efforts during the evening. It ,was rendered with fine emotional feeling, and the impassioned .intensity of; its climax thoroughly gripped 'and stirred the audience. In response to a furore of applause Miss Castles gave "Home, Sweet Home," and was not allowed to quit the stage before a fur- 1 ther tribute had been paid in .the shape of some handsome floral tributes." *• \ I