JOSEPH HISLOP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 5

JOSEPH HISLOP.

SECOND CONCERT SUCCESS. A NIGHT OF ENCORES. From the first note in the first bar to the last note of his final encore Joseph Hislop's wonderful voice touched the hearts of his audience in his second concert in the Town Hall on Saturday night. The many beautiful renderings given by this gifted and versatile artist will long be remembered, and music lovers will look forward to his next concert. , Encores were demanded again and again, the singer readily responding on each occasion. Not only is Mr. Hislop the possessor of a rare voice; he has other attributes that, make for success on the concert platform—3tage presence and personality. His phrasing, rhythmic delivery and diction are outstanding, while his dramatic interpretations hold hie audience in even the most difficult of grand opera numbers. All hie work is graced by warmth and refinement. The more "simple numbers have too small a place in his programme. This is rather a pity, as they would be appreciated by those members of hie audience —by far the greater proportion —who have not had the opportunity of studying the higher works so often rendered in Italian.

"La Fleur" (Flower Song from "Carmen") was the opening number. It was given with deep feeling and sincerity. This was followed by "Fiocca.la Neve Snowfall" (Cimara), and "Recondita Armonia" from "Tosca" (Puccini). His second group of songs included "Trees" (Heyman), "The Song of the Palanquin Bearers" (Shaw), "A Widow Bird Sate Mourning" (Bantock) and "At Night" (Rachmaninoff). After the intermission Mr. Hislop sang "Goin' Home" from the Largo of New World Symphony (Dvorak) and° two negro spirituals, "Were You There?" and "Nobody Knows." The singing of these numbers was marked by pathos and soulful thought. His laet number was "Vesti la Giubba" from "Pagliacci" (Leoncavallo). Mr. Isidor Goodman, the talented young pianist, played as an overture to the first portion of the programme "Sonata in F Major" (Mozart) and later "La Cathedrale Engloutie" (Debussy), and "The Three Harpies" (Fagan). In the second half he played from Chopin "Andante Spianato" and "Grand Polonaise." There are some songs in which the voice givee the illustration and the accompaniment the atmosphere. It was here that Mr. Goodman excelled as an accompanist. His career will be watched with interest. Mr. Hislop's farewell concert will be held to-morrow night.