MISS MITCHELL'S RECITAL.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17812, 11 July 1923, Page 13

MISS MITCHELL'S RECITAL.

With all the ohances of a prosperous career in the Old Country before her, Miss Dulcie Mitchell, like so many New Zealandera, haa been unable long to resist the call of her Homeland, and returning recently to Christchurch, she appeared last night in Jelliooo Hall once more at a song recital of her own, which was largely patronised. There could not be a moment's doubt that Miss (Mitchell has made good use of her time at Home, greatly profiting by her experiences. Her voice has gained most conspicuously in volume, roundness and resonance of tone, and her style of singing bears the impress of confident maturity and good judgment. Ih the choioo of her programme Bhe aimed at giving an opportunity for judging in vastly different types of music, from the sombre strains of Beethoven's "'ln Questa Tomba." (not to be pronounced Toomba) onwards through every kind of emotional appeal to tho quaint lightness ot the Irish tune, "J Know my Love." The first gToup included, beside the dramatic Beethevon aria, Rubinstein's beautiful song "The Asra" which, by the way, suffered from the speed chosen for the lovely harmony adorning the word "Till one Evening drew the Princess, 1, If very little makes nil the differance, it was that very little. Very effective song 3 by Arenski and Dvorak and the "Negro Spiritual," 4 Go Down, Moses, brought plenty of variety ln expression. But Miss Mitchell's greatest successes were achieved within the second gToup beginning with the recitative Arietta and Canzonetta from Meyerbeer's "Dinorah," which was irost effectively and skilfully interpreted. B th McDowell's "The Sea" and the "Dreary Steppe" by Gretchaninow were splendidly sung, artistic in conception and diction but fully equalled by the reading of Goring Thomas's "A Summer Night." In tho last section it was particularly the "Lam-?::t of IsV by Bantock that brought out tho beet points. Too many songs wcxo given to deal with severally, but the reception of all was most flattering to the able singer-. With Miss Mitchell W2,s associsted Mr Francis Bate, whose acoomp'ifihments as 'cellist axe so well known. Among his eoli 'the fine movement by Saint-Saens, the ''Cbant du Fstrio" by Honchini arad the Bach-Gounod Prelude tco'i first place for good solid plaving and suitable rxortssion. Siiiffer tod. 'cellist bath were able to rely

upon the excellent services of Miss Aileen Warren, who is an expert and sympathtio accompaniste, but sometimes, only soir.elimcs, carried away to an excess of pianistic piominence.