RECITAL OF MUSIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 8

RECITAL OF MUSIC.

* Programme of songs and instrumental numbers was presented at the Twll la -S£ evenir »g by Mrs. Cyril Towsey and Miss Kathleen O'Leary, with the assistance of Miss Ina Bosworth. Mrs. iowsey s contributions were presented in three groups of songs, which ranged from classical to modern light numbers. The opening group comprised " O, Cessate di Piagarmi (Scarlatti), "In Questa Tomba" (Beethoven), "The Dew, It bhines (Rubenstein), and Brahms' .Like a Blossoming Lilac." To these the singer added " Softly Awakes My Heart" (oaint-Saens). The other groups included Mallinson s " Slow, Horses, Slow," and two delightful songs, " Standchen," by btrauss, and Schubert's "To Music," as well as Ries' beautiful "It is a Wondrous Mystery." In response to appreciative applause several encore numbers were also sung. Mrs. Towsey's singing was marked by clarity of diction, and considerable ability to depict the mood of the song. Miss Kathleen O'Leary's opening pianoforte number was Chopin's Fantasia in F minor, played with . artistic expression. Other numbers were, " Night in May" (Palmgren), Schumann's " Romance," both given with a nice regard for tone colouring, and Saint-Saens' Toccato, No. 6, played with great digital dexterity. Miss O'Leary's best work was, however, in the Beethoven Sonata for Violin and Piano (No. 5), played with Miss Ina Bosworth. This was characterised by tasteful interpretation and clean execution. In this Miss Ina Bosworth fully maintained her reputation as being one of the most outstanding of our violinists. The last movement of Handel's A Major sonata was added as an encore number. Besides her solos, Miss O'Leary provided sympathetic support in the accompaniments to the songs.