ARTISTIC TRIUMPH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 52, 3 March 1941, Page 3

ARTISTIC TRIUMPH.

NATZKE-NEATE CONCERT. \ . i ENGLISH PIANIST'S SUCCESS. Filled to L-ujKurity. His Majesty'* Th<?.itie on Saturday eveliina was unco again the event: of a -iieat aitistic tiininpli [or that talented trio of artists. Os.-.n Natzke. New Zealand basso, Kenneth Neate, Australian tenor, and Henri Peiiu, English pianist. The programme, which was both wellvaried and inteiestiiiii. coveitnl a wide lange of musical cxpiession. Mi. Natzke s contributions included operatic ' -\>erpis irofii workjj by Motitworgsk.v, Verdi and Boito. also two Handclian nuiiibeis. In all of these he ili*p!iiyeil Uio*t effoetivel\ the wide 01 his woudciul organ, lOiisideia.ljle pttvvers 01 -inlerpietauon. nlid μ-ieat clarity ot diction. Vociferously recalled, the generous artist san« many additional numbers, includinjj such uiiininiliai- compositions as the "Drinking Song" iioin Nicolais opera. "Tiie Merry Wives ot Windsor," and Peter Warlock's "Captain Stratton's l-'ancy." The applause culminated ill a furore after the eingei s etirriiig rendition of the patriotic song,

"There'll Always Be An KnslamJ." With Mr. Xeate. lie was heard, too. ill several duets. which included ■"Within the Temple." from Bizet's opera. "The Pearl Fishers." A sjreatly appreciated pein>rmanee was that of the "Geiulannes' Duet, from Offenbach's opera. "Uenevieve dc Brabuiit."

Mr. Xeate also had a most enthusiastic reception. His f>l ojjranniie nuinbeis comprised that great favourite with tenure. Handel's beautiful "'Where'er You Walk/' also compositions by Kramer and Kossini. The Australian tenor was heard to best advantage, .perhaps, in his operati.: presentations, whkh were from works by Puccini. Klotow and Verdi. Mr. Neate iiK-luded two very iiUerestina and unusual items a.nioiii; liis many recall numbeis. a -Lullaby" and a "War Sons."' both Auetralian aboriginal composition*.

Some of the most greatly applet-i a toil items of a particularly enjoyable concert were Mi. Henri I'enn's piano solos. His thoughtful interpretations of iiuin'oois siic-h as Bach's well-known "Prelude in C. ' (.'•liaininatlc's "Alltoinive." as well as several Chopin studies, together with his finished 'execution, ehannevl his listeners to sir.-h iin extent that he hail to return iiguiii and again. Most drlijihtjiil. too. were his iil'A-;iys tasteful. and often brilliant. accompaniments.