DAME CLARA BUTT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1926, Page 11

DAME CLARA BUTT.

ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED ] A MEMORABLE CONCERT. j The distinguished English contralto. ' Dame Clara Butt, and Mr. Kennerley Rumford, assisted by Mdlle. Antoinette . Aussenac pianist I, Mr. Roy Ellett j (accompanist i. and Mr. Bernard Page (organist), commenced a series of three concerts in the Town Hall last evening, under the direction of Messrs. J. and X. Tait. Eighteen years past last Wednesday ' evening Dame Clara Butt and her husband made their initial bow to an Auckland audience in His Majesty's Theatre. ' and appeared subsequently in the Town Hall in November. 1913. and January. 1922. the present series of concerts making the artists' fourth tour of the Dominion. The spacious auditorium was crowded —SO much so that the choir seats had to be used. There wa* a great demonstration in honour of the eantatrice when she entered, the enthusiasm prevailing for some minutes. The 'concert was a triumphant success for the performers, whilst the audience enjoyed every moment of the proceedings. The contralto was in fine voice, and used her wondrous gifts to splendid purpose. Throughout the artist's work , there was not a whisper to lie heard in the hall, not a sound to show the attention was wavering. In the low intervals the voice shone to its full significance, and pealed like the tones of a great bell; and with tremendous power, overwhelming ill its weight, the climaxes were given. The singer shaded her numbers in a style which included the full course of sound, from the biggest fortissimo to the gentlest pianissimo. The artist's noble, sympathetic, and powerful voice was opened to its full extent in Beethoven's famous "Creation's Hymn.'' This performance was a splendid exhibition of her art. The opening was given with breadth and exhibited the singer's deep notes, which were of diapason timbre, large and grand, and rich in tone colour, whilst it rang out stately and majestically in the closing phrase. "A giant who his course must run." At the conclusion of this exhibition of triumphant singing the songstress was flooded with overwhelming applause, and presented with a number of beautiful floral tributes. Afterwards Liddle's "Abide With Mc" was delivered in a devotional manner, with organ and pianoforte accompaniment. In this the contralto's pure, heart-touching singing gave enjoyment not to be forgotten. Handel's aria. "Rendi '1 Sereno." from the Italian opera "Sosarme." was rendered with sympathy and expression. Every note of the recitative was declaimed deliberately; a telling effect was secured in "El Araesto del Ciclo, - ' the soloist rising to great heights of declamation. Tha low notes were of bewitching fullness in "Marfre. no [danger pin!" and a beautifully even trill was exhibited in the final notes of the scena. Johannes Brahms "Soniitag"' received a flowing and moving reading, and the modern songs by Eric Fogg. Harold Craxton. and Arthur Somervell were artistically treated. Specially sonorous and striking was the rendering secured of Somervell's "Among the Rocks." Lightly and even was the performance of Craxton's delightful lyric "The Snowdrop." and elegantly phrased was Fogg's attractive song "Peace." In response to a determined recall after this set of songs Dame Butt was warmly encored. The baritone. Mr. Kennerley Rumford. sane- his solos artistically, but his voice is showing signs of wear. He was a little laboured in voice in Wolf's "Verborgenheit'' and Strauss' "Tram dureh' die Dammerung." He sang freely in Brahms' "So Willst (In dcs Armen," but his best solo was the old sea chanty "Billy Boy." and he was also liked in Terry's "Haul Away. Joe." and "Bound for the Rio (Jrande." Mdlle Marie Aussenac made a striking success in her solos. She has a finished technique. which'cnaTiies "her to achieve any effect desired. She gave with clearness of tone and flexible wrist and finger facility the Bach-Busoni "Choral." Saint-Saens" "Bouree. 1 ' Liszt's "Rhapsodic Xo. 12." and the Paganini-Liszt -"Staccato." receiving after every appearance hearty encores. ■ Mr. Roy Ellett made a capable pianist, and Mr. Bernard Page acted successfully as organist. A memorable conceit terminated with the singing of the duos. "Dear Love of Mine" and the "Keys of Heaven." To-morrow evening the second performance of the series will be given in the same hall.