A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 643, 6 August 1891, Page 3

A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

IBy Standard Special Correspondent — “A.T.”] July 22nd. The farewell concert to Mies Buckland, at the City Hall last Thursday evening, was more than a success—it was a triumph for the young musician, who is leaving Auckland to continue her musical education in Germany. Every seat in the largo house was filled. It is believed that Miss Buckland will receive at least £l2O as the result. This is the estimated material benefit. But it is not easy to calculate the value the occasion must have ior her as the expression of goodwill, of appreciation and encouragement from the musical portion of the Auckland public. That as great a crowd should gather as ever thronged to hear Patey (here), simply from likinganda desire to help ayoung, almost untrained colonial girl, will be ail her life a pleasing memory, Miss Buckland has great natural ability. Her mastery of the violin is really wonderful in many ways, and she possesses a sweet, though not very powerful voice. Aucklanders will watch her career with expectant interest, but I think we may all feel coofident that no later and greater triumphs will give iher more delight than the tribute of enthusiasm and kind feeling she received last Thursday.

She looked very pretty in a pale pink evening dress, with full ruches round the low body and short sleeves, when Herr Schmitt led her to the front of the stege. Very pretty and very smiling as she acknowledged the applause from every part of the house, Dr Beriot’s twelfth “ Air Varie ” was the piece she bad chocen to play. It is full of ditH collie?, and she showed great skill and brilliancy in its execution. She seemed to forget the audience, and enter heart and soul into the composition which her bow was interpreting into sweetness and beauty from the printed page before her. Tbe applause at the conclusion of the piece was deafening, and at the same time a shower of bouquets filled the air. Chiefly from the dress circle, but also from tbe stalls, came beautifully arranged flowers- roses, camellias, agaleas, daphne, heliotrope, primroses, snow-flakes, Jasmine—but above all, violets, till tbe air was sweet with perfume. The previous enthusiasm had in no degree prepared the fair violinist for this gratifying reception. She was visibly effected, and the tears stood in her eyes as she strove vainly to acknowledge all the flower gifts, Of course she had to respond to the encore, and gave the fifth air by the Same composer, with equal effect and brilliancy. She appeared again in the second part of tbe programme, this time as a vocalist singing a gay little " Valse Chantante ” of Herr Schmitt’s composition, to the accompaniment of the Choral Society’s orchestra. It is very bright and sparkling, and met with an enthusiastic recall. Again at its conpl ovion tbe stage was bombarded with nosegays of all shapes and sizes, the majority bearing cards from tbe senders, and many being tied with handsome ribbon streamers. When as many as Miss Buckland could hold had been piled in her arms, the remainder were stacked in a high pyramid on a table on the stage.

The other items on the programme were all good. Miss Bimmer’s sweet soprano voice was enjoyed by the audience as much aa ever. Her first song was Matter’s Dear Heart, as an encore she substituted “ The song that reached my heart.” This was a perfect gem. The pathos and expression with which she rendered the simple air, and the purity and certainty of her voice combined, made this a thorough treat to the audience. Mr T, Jackson was not in aa good voice as usual, but even at his worst he is more than worth hearing. He sang Adams’ pretty song “ Mona,” and as an encore a graceful (ballad '* Ob, whisper what thou feelest.” He also took part with Mr Heid in a duet, " The Fisherman ” (Gabussi). Among the moat noticeable items on the programme were the orchestral selections " Ouverture[des Marionettes ” (Gnrlett); " Graceful Dance ” from Henry VIII, by Sullivan; and a grand march, ■’ Cornelius ” (Mendelsshon). Tbe Orpheus Glee Club gave “ The Tar’s Song,” and in response to a hearty recall sang “ Merry Boys,” with the imitation accompaniment rendered by the voices. Looking round the dress circle I was quite bewildered with tbe number of familiar faces. There were Mrs Sealy, Miss Worsp, Miss Kissling, Miss Lyell, Miss Reeve, Miss Lusk—and others too numerous to mention.

We are very hard at work at “ Princess Ida.” We are to produce the opera in September, which leaves Very little time for the vast amount of preparation that has to be gone through. Our rehearsals at present are most chaotic, but it is generally the way that the greater part of the work is done in the last few weeks. There has been great delay in finding a suitable “ Princess Ida,” but now Miss Staunton is trying the part. There are grave doubts as to her capacity, and it in possible thatMissßeeve may be asked to give up the role of “ Blanche ” and take the principal character. Miss Warren takes “ Melissa ”; Mr P, Dufaur, Hildebrand (Hilarion’a father) ;Mr A. Taylor, Qama (Ida’s father), while Hilarion and his two friends Florian and Cyril are represented by Mr T, Jackson, Mr Reid, and Mr Chambers. They will make three stalwart maidens in their trailing garments. When the opera was commenced only one practice a week was held, Later on we came to two, and now We are ordered to rehearse three evenings a week. It is rather too great an exaction, but having once entered into it I do not like to draw neck. It may easily be understood that \l have time for dissipation.

What a comfort it is to girls with small allowances—l suppose there are some in Gisborne as well as Auckland—that short Sieves are comiqg in again, four buttons ave fdmest superseded six. Long sleeves in moderation are pretty, but when they reach the knuckles there is very little that is graceful about them. I hope it will be long before the hideous fashion deplored by the English journals, of cornflower-blue gloves and shoes for walking, makes its way out here. I have seen several evening dresses in this color, which is neither pretty nor becoming. Fans are very various, from the hard, unadorned, but eminently useful palm-leaf to the graceful feather ones shaped like a lyre, like Cleopatra’s fan, or those of the Court of Louis XIV. For evening wraps, and for such added touches to a toilet as fans and chatelaines, nothing is more stylish than tbe quaint and picturpsque. Copy old pictures, but take pare your materials are of the best, or the Imitation will only be grotesque.