OPERA HOUSE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12628, 16 October 1905, Page 2

OPERA HOUSE.

MISS JESSIE MACLACHLAN

BOX PLAN TO-MORROW

The box plan for the a^bove concerts will ba open on Tuesday morning. The queue system will be adopted outside Messrs H. I. Jones. Thus the " Sydney Telegraph "':—There was a stirring scene at the Town Hal last night, when Jessie Maclachlan responded to the wive of enthusiasm that swept over the immense assemblage by bidding them farewell in " Auld Lang Sync." The people in the galleries stood up, producing the curious effect of closing in the scene so as to diminish the size of the vast chamber, and the rich-voiced, warm-hearted Highland soprano was again demonstratively' applauded. Her experience in Sydney has been a strange and a very pleasant one. Although cordially supported by the Highland Society, and by Scotchmen generally, who were doubtless aware of her reputation, in other circles it was not in #he least expected that a finished singer with a star voice was about to appear. Consequently astonishment reigned supreme in press circles when it was realized on the opening night that such was the case. The good news, was spread abroad, tout even then the coterie of musical enthusiasts did not at- once respond. But at her third appearance Miss Maclaehlan conquered these also, and last night the crowded audience represented fewer " outside people " and more regular conceirt-goers than on any previous occasion. The phenomenon must be regarded as a legitimate triumph for this artist, who must be ranked as one of the finest singers heard 'here, though, her range being confined to the (ballads she Iloves so well, Is necessarily more restricted than that of any other stars. It is not to be supposed, that anything new now (remains to be said' of this sweet singer. Her songs last nigftt were " 0 Sing tae me the Auld Scots Sangs," with " Ye Banks and Braes " as encore; " The Rowan Tree," beautifully rendered, and " Wi' a-hundred pipers," again most exciting, with " Barney O'Hea" as encore; " The Lost Chord," delivered with a vocal breadth that enabled the artist to hold her, own with the famous contraltos who have sung it, with "The Laird o' Cookpen " as enccxre; a Gaelic song c: The March of the Cameron Men," with " D'ye mind Lang, Lang Syne" as encore, and Lover's "Kate O'Shane," with Buchanan's " Highlanders'' at the end of the evening.