Madame Burton's concert Company.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 555, 10 January 1891, Page 2

Madame Burton's concert Company.

On Thursday night the third concert was given by this talented company, and it anything the enthusiasm was even greater than on the previous evenings. No item was allowed to pass without a storm of applause. The more often these enjoyable concerts are heard tbe greater is the pleasure, and, if it were possible, tbe more pronounced is one's admiration for the famous Madame Burton, whose pure fresh voice would delight qny person, while it sends into raptures all whose traioing gives them tbe advabtage of appreciating it ae its real value. Were Gisborne more favored with the class of companies with which Mr Smythe’s name is associated it would be a good thing indeed. When Madame Burton, Miss Baber, and Mr Stockwell, and Mons. Poussard and Mr Bradley, have travelled far in the path whieh lies before them, their visit to Gisborne will still be grati fully remembered. They have done much, during the short time they have been here, in cultivating a taste for the better class of music. It is no praise to these talented artistes to say that they have greatly pleased all who are any way musically inclined—only crass stupidity could prevent anyone being highly pleased—but it ia no small satisfaction to know that they have done much more than give pleasure for the hour : the influence which the eoncertx have exercised will be of abiding effect, and the critic who said that to attend one concert was as good ae fifty music lessons stated only the plainest truth. There is little wonder that the Wellington people desired a second visit from Madame Burton's company, or that tho people of Auckland are now longingly awaiting the company's return to that city, for a second season, and when the latter promise has been fulfilled we venture to say that Auckland people will be sorry when the talented vocalists have to bid farewell to the colony. It is with many people the fashion to go to an entertainment as much from curiosity, and to be able to say that one has been there, as from any hope or desire of being bettered by it, but if the majority of the companies visiting New Zealand were to attain nearly the high standard of culture with which Madame Burton’s company must be credited, mere curiosity would no longer bold apiece. It ia hardly necessary to take tbe programme in detail. Every item was encored, end the audience favored with very pleasing additions to ths programme. Madame Barton’s singing ot “ Sleep, my Love, Sleep,” wu an exquisite performance, the charm of which could not be imagined by those who did not have the fortune to be present, end that beautiful song “ The Better Land " was given with a power ot expression that enthralled the audience. Every word of the child's tender appeal and the mother's touching anewarl could be dietinotly beard by everyone in the ball as the simple expreseions floated on thl sweet volume of sound, and when the closing words “ It ia there—it is there, my child,” died away io a delicious melody, the hall rang again and again with the enthusiastic applause. The doet, "Sainted Mother," in which Mias Baber took the soprano pert, was also a great treat, and the ladies had to come back two or three times in reeponee to tbe continued applause. Miss Colbourn* Baber’s chief individual success was in the difficult song “ Sing, sweet bird," in which she took the high notes with an ease that made the song appear quite simple in its rendering by her fresh voice. Her singing ot “Call me back" was even better from a musical point of view. Mr Stockwell's popularity increased each evening, and on Thursday night, in the 1 Miserere ’ duet from Il Trovatore he bad a specially good opportunity of giving an idea oi the great range of his fine tenor voice. Mons. Poussard ot course did hie share towards making the concert a grand success. The violin in hil hands seems to be aomalbing more than a mere mechanical instrument, and toe attUtia power he has with it seems the more wonderful each time one has the opportunity ct judging. To hear him playing Paganini’s Carnival of Venice is a superb deiisht. Mr Bradley's playing on the pianoforte is alto in keeping with the excellence attained by all the other artistes.

The concert last night may well bs classed with its predecessors-it would be impossible to speak more highly ot it. The brilliant artistes were enthusiastically applauded each time they made their appearance, and on some occasions the numerous recalls must have been trying te the vocalists. Mr Stockwell opened the concert by singing l The Death of Nelson,’ which his magnificent voice took in glorious style. Madame Burton gave the pleasiug songs ' Twickenham Ferry * and ‘ Good Bye,’ with * Darby and Joan ’ as oce ot the encores, but it was in the duet with Mr Stockwell The Sailor Sighs ’) that the greatest success was made, end the appreciation of the audience was fully demonstrated. The graceful Miss Baber, as usual, had some charming selection to ravish tbe ears. *lt was a Dream ’ (with 1 Kathleen Mavourneen ' as one encore), and ' Remember me no more,' were some of her songs, and it is pretty certain that the plea in the latter song will go unheeded. The young lady also joined with Mr Stockwell in the duet * When thou art near,’ while one of the letter's songs was *My Sweetheart when a Boy.’ M. Poussard, with bis violin, again gave proof of his wonderful powers. His fantssis on Faust, variations on * God Save the Emperor,’ and his Irish fantasia, were all brilliant performances, together with the encores. Mr Bradley plays excellently on the pianoforte. The delay of the steamer will enable the company to give one more ooneert io Gisborne. As announced elsewhere, tbe City Bink has been*engaged for the purpose. The Garrison Band play at the stand in the earlier part ot tbe evening.