ALTHOUSE-MIDDLETON CONCERTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 247, 18 October 1922, Page 8

ALTHOUSE-MIDDLETON CONCERTS.

TWO MAGNIFICENT SINGERS. ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOMED.

t'nder the direction of Mr. Frederic Shipman, of the International Tours, Ltd., two great operatic singers from the Metropolitan Opera Houee, Xew York, and famous concert performtrs in America, Messrs. Paul Althouse and Arthur Middleton, opened their Auckland season in the Town Hall last evening before a delighted audience, and made quite a sensation by their magnificent sinking. A tine programme was submitted, and the visitors «ang throughout in a style which will long remain in the minds of all who heard them. A cordial welcome was extended the singers, after each appearance hearty and determined demands were made for encores, and at the close of the evening a very emphatic request was made for a further display of the visitors' gifts.

Mr. I'aul Althouse is one of the finest tenors heard in Auckland. He ha? a ringing musical voice with great variety of colour, which gives life and beauty to the simplest melody. Hie flawlessly clear and magnificently developed technique enables him to master great prohlems with seeming ease, while the intelligence and refinement of musical thought which manifests itself in every phrase is a product of mature reflection, study, and experience. His sforzandos resenriile the firm striking of a bell, are vocalised sharply, dpcidedly, and forcibly, and are of splendid tone quality. Mr" Althouse is a singer who gete right at the heart of a pong, and is able to take his audience there also. Hie conquest was unmistakaMe. As hie opening number he selected Verdi's "Celeste Aida,"' and gave a reading- of this remarkable gem delightfully expressing Radames' admiration for the peerlese Aida. "Sequel (•uerrier" was delivered with fine effect; and the subsequent "An esercito" received a declamatory reading, a ringing vibrant A-flat closing the movement. The Andantino was expressively presented, the lights and shades were exquisitely managed, whilst great energy and dramatic intensity were thrown into the reading of -Vn Regal Serto," the top B-flat standing out with telling quality and surprising carrying capacity. Martin's "The Minstrel," Xovello'e "Page's Road .Song." and Kramer's "The Great Awakening" were masterful pieces of finished singing, whilst Cui's "Enfant si j'etais roi," Maeeenets "I.c Sais-tu?' and Holmes' "Chevalier Belk-Etoile" were rendered in a style fully presenting the charm of the creations.

The baritone, Mr. Middleton, possesses a remarkable flexible baritone of fine quality in all degrees, a large tone ranee towards the height, and notes of the lower register full, deep, and of bourdon timbre. His voice is under full command, which is shown <by its flexibility, power to shade, make' variations of force without injuring the quality of sound, and agility to render rapid' paseagee or divisions, arpeggi, and trills with a true legato, with distinct articulation of each pitch, with various decree* of tone. His voice is of extensive 'compass, and his 'breath control enable? him to sustain, any degree obeying his will, whilst Iμ commands a finely graded crescendo and an even quality" of tony in cantilena passages. .Mr. Middleton grave a heroic nnd sonorous performance ofUnndels aria "Arm, Arm, Ye Bravv " which admirably expressed the music and Its bravura. Very impressively declaimed "?.!.. tU * rotative "I Feel the Deity N ltnin, and resoluteness and power were thrown into the singing of the concluding phrases of the'aria." Rosaini * •Largo al factotum" proved a writable triumph for the baritone, and showed him to hav e a fine sense of humour which enabled him to sin? this exact imv e '', a "I }} >C tr " e °P era toufJe vein" bell's "Follow Mc 'Chne" ivae e ff e " tively rendered. In Forsyth's "The Bell man ' the baritone c low tones were heard to advantage, and a beautiful cantilena was achieved at tlw end; whilst Damroschs -Danny Deever' was sung with great dramatic force and grapliicne-s Rossini* "Solenne in Quest' Ora" and l.ounod s famoiM duetto -Mα jl ciel " closing Act I. of "Faust," were given in real operatic- style nnJ charln of R by both artists, and won for them remarkable dUplavs of warm appreciation. Alter each eolo the vis.tors were enthusibe 1C J Mr nC R r uf Sa " g eXtfa nU,,I - -t>ei=. Mr. Rudolf Gruen played the pianoforte parts from memory in a mueicianly style.

Another concert will I*. given t o- n i«ht "hen the eingere will be heard in orlnd opera selections and well-known toflla.U All interested in song should not miss hearing these great eingttrs. as it is au opportunity for students which may not present itself for some time a^ain'