AUCKLAND DRAWING-ROOM CONCERT COMPANY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2883, 6 January 1891, Page 2

AUCKLAND DRAWING-ROOM CONCERT COMPANY.

Tin: iibove company appeared at (Jambridge, on Thursday evening, and wo are pleased to say they had a good house, notwithstanding the fact they had unfortunately chosen about the worst dav in the year to give a performance in Cambridge. The weather was dead against them—windy and wet—and most parents having been at one or other of the picnics with their children they could hardly bo expected to again turn out in the ovening to attend a concert. Then again Cambridge has lately been deluged with concerts, fetes, etc., and the inhabitants are becoming somewhat fastidious; but the names of the performers announced to appear in the abovemontioned company were such that even the most fastidious had to succumb, and the result was, as we before stated, a good house; had it been any other evening we believe it would have been "a. bumper/' On several occasions Mrs Kilgour has favoured Cambridge, and only lately Messrs Jackson and Dufaur sang at a concert that was got up to purchase a piano for the hall, and wc are pleased to find the inhabitants of tho town bare these acts of kindness in mind and rolled up on New Year's night. The first item on the programme was the overture to " Zampa ' by Professor Tutschka (violin), Messrs S. Jackson (clarionet), and A. Bartley (piano). It was excellently rendered and was loudly applauded. Mr P. Dufaur then gave Xo ! My Courage" from Wallace's opera Maritaua. He possessed a grand voice, but- appeared to be indisposed and did not enunciate distinctly. Mrs Kilgour sang "Remember Me Xo More," for which she was encored and substituted " Sing Sweet Bird." This is the kind of song that Mr.i Kilgour excells m and she executed it beautifully, particularly the difficult cadenza at the end of it. She was again loudly applauded. Herr Tutschka then gave a violin solo " Home Sweet Home," with difficult but not particularly taking variations, for which ho was vociferously encored. He substituted Riff's lovely "Cavatina," with which he "brought down the house." his bowing, turn and double stopping being greatly admired. A violent storm of rain greatly marred tho effect of this piece, by the noise it made on the roof of the hall. Miss Rimmer established herself a favourite at once by her rendering of " Scenes Thai Are Brightest," aud in reply to an undoubted encore _ she gave "The Swanee River,"an old nigger melody full of pathos, to which sho did every justice. A trio from "Princess Ida" by Messrs Jackson, Bartley and Dufaur concluded the first portion of the programme. It was well rendered, was encored aud repeated. The second portion of tile concert was opened by a trio by Herr Tutschka, Messrs S. Jackson aud Bartley, "Marionette" (Gurlett). Tlicy were again loudly applauded. Gounod's lovely "Serenade" was beautifully sung by Miss Rimmer, Professor Tutschka playing the violin obligate. This was one of the gems of the evening. It was encored and Miss liiminer responded with " The Song That Reached My Heart." Mr T. M. Jackson's "Only Once More " served to show his lino voice and he bad to appear once more, when he gave " Kstudiantina,'' a Spanish love song, for which ho war a Rain applauded. The inet, "Sainted Mother" (Maritaua). by Mrs Kilgour and Miss Rimmer was encored and repeated. We confess we do not think it suited their voices, or perhaps wo should say that many other duets would have suited them better._ Mr S. Jacks in's solo oil the elm iimot. "Ve Banks and Braes' and '• \uhl Kobin Grfcj," with dil'knlt .'aiwt!i.u>, •'•'a-, phyed sn a iua..lorly ;::au:u.r aud sn itiuupse to uii oucore ha sub- • uituted 'La Reve," which showed tint he i'hm produce 'I sn'"' Weil as ■ Mi.- ki.i'.e.n - ve the grand ' t£on.t fr" ul the oyoru uf "Lurlino," which

contains "Sweet Spirit Hear My Prayer.' It, \v;ta nxuollontiv reudororl aivMnet w'tn much ;i|iplau>«'. Tliu (luot, " h\'c«iKi"r, by r. M. .I:\ckson and t)nf;iur was the finale, it was beautif'.'.lly given and had to be repeated. This was undoubtedly the best concert that has been given m Cambridgo for very many years, and we truiit the Company will coin» aeain.

This highly talented and accomplished company gave a rare mu-ical treat to tle se of the people of To Aw.unntu and the adjacent places who weie lucky enough to have attended on Friday nisht last, at the Public Hall. Although ttie evening was somewhat showery the hall was pretty full. Donbtle-s it would hive been crammed to excess had the public here leilised the artistic excellence of the concert. I feel sure that should this company vi.-it 'I e Vwamutu again thev will receive as they deserve, bumper houses. The audience was most enthusiastic, newly every piece on the programme being encored. In the opening overture from Xanipa Professor Tutschka (violin), and Messrs S. Jackson (clarionet), and Hartley (piano) were the performers. The exquisitely beautiful manner in which they rendered this piece, will not soon bo forgotten. At its conclusion they received de-ervedly rounds of applause. Mr I'. H. Oiifaur's fine baritone voice was heard with ell'ect in tlie sonc | "Only Once More." lln was ene irod . and in response he sang " Kstudiantina. That eif ted and ever-popular cant.atrice, MrsKilgourno.it sang. " K'unomb'-r Me No More." This soncr was composedly !Sir William Robinson, Governor of Westorn Australia, whoso talents as a musician and a song writer are acknowledged generally. The manner in which this talented lady interpreted its beauties obtained for her an enthusiastic cncoro. To this she graciously acceded, find substituted " Gooee. 1 rofessor Louis XutschUn then favoured the audience with a violin solo, ''Home Sweet Home." That Herr Tutschka is a master of the first order, I have long known, as we are old friends. He has justly been accorded the laurel crown in Auckland as a violinist of the highest talent. It is wellknown what immense capacity for the production of perfectly beautiful Inrmonies this powerful instrument lias, in the hands of an artist of high genius, and how such a musician may entrance and bewitch an audience. Professor Tutschka has a large measure of this winrd-like power, and_ he used it to some olfect in producing feelings of the keenest pleasure, as the result of his executions of this piece. He was greeted with unanimous applause at its finish, and with a general demand for an encore, in reply to which he played Rail's ''Cavatina. Mr I'. E. Dufaur then charmed the audience 111 the tine song, "Ye \eouian's Wedding." His voice is one of much com-

pass and power, and it has been well trained. He received an encore and sunk' Ye Gallants of England," in :i finished manner. "Scenes that are brightest, Miss Alice Kimmer. This lady has a grand voice, which is clearness itself. Her elocutionary power is undoubted, while. she lias evidently enjoyed the be-t cultivation, being u perfect expert in the "ten commandments of Ringing. She was justly encored and delighted the audience with "Way Down Upon the Su-anee River," Christy Minstrels in a style which revived its pristine beauty. Trio, "Princess Ida," Messrs Hartley, Dufanr and -lackSOll. The powerful baritone of Mr Dutaur was heard with ple.i.-ure in this seleetim, and the beautiful tenor voice of Messrs .Tacks mil Hartley harmonised perfectly wit.li that of Mr Dutaur, and the three singers brought out the beauties of Sullivan's bright composition. They were encored. At tins close of the first part ot the eonceit. several nieinbeis of the company did much justice to a quintette from the " Sorcerer" (Sullivan) and they were deservedly applauded. In the instrumental trio, with which the second part "f the performance opened, entitled " .Lhe lilue Danube," Tierr Tutschka (violin), Messrs | Samuel Jackson (clarionet) am! Hartley (piano), held the audience spell-bound. The applause was vociferous at the termination. "Serenade," Miss Alice Rimmer, with violin obligate, Herr Tut=chka. In this beautiful selection the lady's thrilling and well modulated voice was heard with line elf set. while Herr Tutschka masterly accompaniment set off the lady's powers as a, singer. Mr T. M. .Jackson's powerful tenor voice was heard with pleasure in the " Message." On aeing encored he sung " Let me hike a Soldier Kail; duet, "Sainted Mother," Mrs Kilgour and Miss Alice Rimmer. In this these ladies Rave the audience a vocal treat of the rarest kind. Thev sang in perfect unison, yet each interpreted her own part of this grand and exquisite composition in a iinished manner. They were each the recipient of a bouquet and an encore ; grand fantasia on Scotch airs, clarionet solo, by Mr S. Jack-am. This was a finished piece of instrumental ion. "Ye lJanks and Hraes," and " Auld Robin Grey." having had their beauties fully interpreted. He was encored. "Sing Sweet l.'ird." In this song, Mrs Kilgour sustained her high reputation as a singer in this « insr, singing it wiih that modulation and melody for which she is She was encored. In the duet" l'.xeelMior, (Longfellow), Messrs ,lae!;~on (tenor) and Dufanr (baritone), sang with a perfection of voeabsataou for which they are famed. Mr 1 Mfaur's lino baritone contrasted splendidly with Mr .Jackson's grand t«n:>r. They were applauded and encored. -(Own correspondent I