TWO NOTED SINGERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 232, 1 October 1925, Page 16

TWO NOTED SINGERS.

ALTHOUSE-MTODLETON' RECITALS

Another very deiightrui performance was given by the two distinguished operatic soloists. Messrs. Paul Altheuse and Arthur Middleton, in the Town Hall last evening. The audience was- very appreciative and thoroughly enjoyed every* moment of the concert. Mr. Althouse recorded a distinct success in Charles Loret's "Chanson de Barberlne." His tone or rich and round beauty was heard to advantage in Levade's "L' Enlevement."' whilst he gave a passionately and exceptionally fine delivery ol Mario Cavaradossi's ramous lyric "Elucevan ]c Stelie." from PUcctni's opera "Toscb."' .lames Rogers' "The Last Pong" was charmingly coloured, and a fine climax was obtained in the concluding phrase. William .lames' "The Sun God." was given with pealing resonance, and won for the tenor no end or applause. The baritone. Mr. Middleton. threw much variety into his work. His voice or rare beauty and richness was hoard to splendid purpose in Handel's heroic and sonorous aria "Arm, Arm, Ye Brave.'" The bravura passages were given with flexibility and vocal purity, whilst the recitative, "I Feel the Deity Within." was very" impressively declaimed. Frederick Keel's three hallads, redolent or the sea. ana admirably written, were sung in a manner suitably displaying the peculiar character or each. A vivid performance was obtained of "Port or Many Ships." and specially effective was the shading. In "Trade Winds" the cadences were charmingly treated, and the modulations were always artistic, whilst a graphic and telling reading was secured or

"Mother Carey." A lyrical rendering or e.xTreme beauty was given of "?ylvia." and in reply to a demonstrative request Woussorgsky's "?ong of the Flea." and the Chailapme-KOenemah "Volga Boatmenwere given in a style which were triumphs Of Ilnishfid vocalisih. Thomas" "The DrumMajor" was also sung with marked success. FlotoW's duet from the second feoene of tbe first act or "Martha." and Bizet's "Del Tempio al Llmitar." from the "Pearl Fishers." were sung m deiightrui raßhion, and called for universal praise. At the close or«the concert the artists were very warmly doubly encored. Mr. Edward Harris made an ideal pianist.

the final concert will be given this evening, when duets from "La Bohefne." "Faust," Handel's "Pound an Alarm." Bruno Huhn's "Invictus." and ClarkP's "The Blind Ploughman." are amongst other fine numbers of a great programme.