The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-06-21
NINE. BLANCHE ARRAL
At THE OPERA HOUSE

Melbourne Examiner. - Recollections
of Madame Blanche Arrars concerts in
Melbourne last year wele pleasing
enough to bring together a large and
expectant audience 10 the Town Hall
on saturday evening. when she inau-
gurated her return visit amid every
sign of popular approval. Apart from
her personal claims to favorable recog-
milton, she is very capably supported
by two solo instrumentalists, and her
accomplishments are supplied by what
NAV be termed a small orchestra, there
being a full string quintet with All ex-
ira cello), together with harp, three
out of the customary four divisions of
the wood wind department being also
in evidence With such a combination
it is possible to preserve far more of
the tone color of an operate accom-
habit, a piano alone is used, and the
enterprise of her management in this
direction calls for precisely that kind
of comment as will best serve to en-
courage other impresarios to do like
wise.
Massenet's aria Au Cours de Ia Refine
is fine example of the famous French
composers style, and it is exactly suit
ed to Madame ArraIs temperament,
for she is nothing if not dramatic. Al
though hardly in her best voice at
starting, she speedily won the goodwill
of her hearers, who would not be sat
isfed with a single encore, but treat
ed her just as Mr.. Prout Webb deals
with a too reluctant payer of income
tax-by taxing her again. The first
addition, Gounod's Serenade Quand tn
Chantes, though nicely done, was hard
Iy as successful as that which follow
ed, for Madame is in her element in
the tricks and trills of elaborate pas
sages of display such as abound in
CAMS Sing, Sweet Bird. A fine ex-
position of the Mad Scene from AM
broise Thomas's Hamlet, wherein Ma
dame Arral had to keep a tight hand
over herself to prevent acting the dis
traught Ophelia as well as merely sing
ing her music, called forth renewed ex-
pressions of approval, to which she
responded with Varney's Bird Waltz,
an intricate and captivating piece of
vocalization. to which only a complete
mistress of technique like herself could
do justice.
Considerable as had been her sue
cess in the first part of the program.
Madame Arral did still better work in
audience who had not heard her be-
fore had CHANGED to leave at the inter-
val he would have taken away quite
a wrong impression of her powers; he
could hardly have failed to be favor
ably impressed, but he would have
missed hearing her best work. Faure's
Sancta Maria, with it's broad melody
and it's devotional character, is almost
certain to rouse a British audience to
day evening it created something like
a furore. In vain did the singer offer
in turn Gillotin's charming Serenade
and the Manola of Bourgeois; these
two delightful ditties, SO piquantly
rendered, served but to evoke fresh
demonstrations. Even Mr.. Prout Webb
found himself outdone, for this time
triple tax was imposed, the third addi-
ton taking the form of a characteristic
Spanish Bolero, Madame Arral wound
up the concert with Verdis All! Fors
e Lui, whereof the cabaletta Sempre
Liberia gave free scope to her brilliant
coloratur. Having sung ten songs in
place of the four set against her name,
she had every right on her side in
declining yet another encore; but al
belt the hour was then 1910, the COM
pIiment was proffered in no hesitat-
ing spirit, and had to be declined with
some show of firmness ere the 1ady's
too warmhearted admirers would con-
sent to appear satisfied.
Madame Arral will make her initial
| bow to a Honolulu audience at the Ha-
waiian Opera House Tuesday, June
| 30th, under the management of w. D
Adams.