LECTURE-RECITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 98, 28 April 1933, Page 9

LECTURE-RECITAL.

Mr. Walter Impett's lecture-recital on the songs of Sir Frederick Cowen, given at the Lewis Ifiady Hall last evening, was enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience. The fact that the programme presented to illustrate the lecture was one specially selected by Sir Frederick himself for the occasion, lent additional interest to the recital. The lecturer's remarks threw new light upon the activities of a British composer of whom too little is known here. As an illustration of the facility with which Cowen composed his many songs, it was said that one of the most popular of these, "The Better Land," was composed and written in an hour. The songs chosen were: "Snowflakes." "A Birthday," "Lovers." "Love Me If I Live," sung by Miss Anne Carmichaeh "For a Dream's Sake," "An Idle Poet," "Think of Me," and the ever-popular "The Promise of Life," given by Miss Peggy Porter; "At the Mid Hour of Night," a very beautiful number, sung with great expression, "A Past Spring Time," "Oh, Skylark for Thy Wing," presented by Mr. Roger Errington; "A Border Ballad," and the very fine and stirring setting of "Onaway, Awake, Beloved," delivered with appropriate vigour by Mr. Frank Sutherland. A vocal duet, "The Fountaius Mingle With the River," sung by Miss Anne Carmichael and Mr. Roger Errington, brought a very interesting evening's'entertainment to a close.