AUCKLAND OPERATIC CONCERT COMPANY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2915, 21 March 1891, Page 2

AUCKLAND OPERATIC CONCERT COMPANY.

The above company appeared at Cambridge on Tuesday evening in the Public Hall, and performed to a fairly good house. Tho back seals were well filled, but f.lio inhabitants evidently grudged paying three shillings for front seats, as they were only two thirds full. The first part of tho programme opened with an instrumental trio, •' Allegro Sostwnnto" by Eaton Fanning. It was charmingly rendered by Professor Tutschka, Messrs S. Jackson and_ A. Bartley, on the violin. clarionet and piano, respectively. Mr P, Dufaur followed with Campma's well known song, " The Scout,' 1 he, however, did not croato a very favourable impression, and was evidently indisposed. Mrs Kilgour was encored for her rendering of " J. Heard a Voice' 1 (Pinsuti), and responded with Kendegger's "Joyous Life," in which sho was equally succesful. Professor futschka then gave what was undoubtedly the instrumental gem of the evening ; a "Tarantella" bv Dancla. He played it in a superb manner, but nevertheless, he was not encored, the audience evidently preferring vocalisation. Miss Pummel' sang " Tiiu Blind Girl to lier Harp" very nicely, and in response to n vociferous encore, gave " The Song tliut Reached My Heart," tor which she was again loudly applauded. The duet, "The Sailor Sighs" completed the lirst part of tho programme. It was rendered by Messrs T. Jackson and I'. Dufaur. in an efficient manner, but did net please the audience nearly as well as " l£xcel<ior" did when this Company paid a previous visit to tho town. The second part of the programme commenced with " Kphigenie in Aulis," an instrumental trio by (1 luck. It was ably executed by Messrs Jacks'in, Hartley, and Professor Tutschka. Mrs Kilgour came, next with " Alia Stella Cmifidente," the violin obligato being played by L'rofessor Tutchska. Mrs Kilgour sang it splendidly, the voics and \iolin_ blending beautifully, and yet we fancicd there seemed something wrong with the time occasionally. Il was rather too classical for the audienc;) or it would have been encored. (Races and classical music don't fit together well). Mr T. M. Jack-vm then sang " The Message," and it goes without guying that he was encored. He has a line voice of good quality, range and power, but there always appeals a certain amount of nonchalance about his manner that detracts from his performances, and gives the audience tho idea that it is 100 much (rouble for him lo try to please them. Veruou Rigley, a tenor of no mean standing in the Old Country, has a very similar manner, and consequently ho is not the favourite ho otherwise would have teen. For the encore Mr Jackson sang "My Sweetheart When a Boy." Mr S. Jackson then played a clarionet solo, a "Spanish Bolero" by Williams. The way in which ho accomplished the intricate passages, many of them with very difficult intervals, denotes that he is an accomplished musician. His high notes were particularly good. Miss Rimtner fairly brought down the house with Tosti's '• Good-Bye, and responded with " There's No One Like Mother to Me,' for which she was again applauded. Mr Dufaur being indisposed Mr T. Jackson sang in his stead. We do not know the song but think it was " Because I Love Thee So." lu this he was very successful. The last item was a duet by Mrs Kilgour and Miss Rinimer, " I Heard a Voice in the Tranquil Night." What to say about this we hardly know. Tho voices woro pleasant li. hear, but tho mistakes in time wore enough to disturb the most tranquil night, aud if the accompanist had not been thoroughly up to his work, a breakdown must have resulted. Perhaps many of our readers may think wu should not speak so plainly about this matter, especially regarding ladies; but then the title, "Tho Auckland Operatic Concert Company " stamps the performers as professionals, and as such lays them open to criticism. Wo have frequently hoard this duet performed in Cambridge by amateurs ; certainly never by those who had as good voices as oil tho present occasion, but never in such bad lime. It showed ii lamentable want of and indicated —as we heard one of the audience remark—"They think anything will do for tho country bumpkins." In Mr Bartley the company possess u tower of strength. Ho is a true accompanist, and is—as is shown by the above contretemps—equal to any emergency. We trust wo may on a future occasion hear Mr liartley play a pianoforte solo. We cannot conclude our remarks without referring to the unseemly manner in which many of the audience talked during the performance. It was evident the culprits had boen at tho races and in " tho sunshine," but it was most unpleasant for those who wished to hear the music. I