MADAME LIPKOVSKA.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17938, 5 December 1923, Page 10

MADAME LIPKOVSKA.

FIRST CONCERT. \ The first concert of Madame Li'dia Lipkovska took place at tho Theatre Royal last night. There was present a very largo audience, chiefly oi ladies in elegant toilettes. Madame Lipkovska's international reputation warranted a patronage without hesitation. It would be wicked io think even tn.it the prospect of viewing the wonderful creations'.' Madame is credited to apiioar ill had anything lo do with it. The introduction of fanciful costumes wus, however, not the only concert novelty e were privileged to behold. Who ever &aw the "star" stepping on the stage first and foremost in opening the programme ? The usual piactico of cunningly delaying tho star's entry, thereby screwing up expectations to the highest pitch, was not Madame 8 way> and hers was the better way. Nor did we find in Madame Lipkovska one oi those mature and stately domes we are wont to meet and revere as prima donnas. Madame, with her head of shimmering gold, looks the picture of youth and charm, demure, reticent, rather than anxious to conquer by conventional smiles. She seems absorbed in the task before her, and. to tell tho truth, she is unmistakably nervous. It sounds incredible that nerves should plaj up" after a lengthy and brilliant career on tho stage, yet it is by 110 means the exception. "What, then, about amateurs? bo it happened when MadßUio opened with the Cavatina and Koudo from Glinka 3 ''lhe Life for the Tsar," that the throat was plainly affected by the perturbed condition of the singer. But, fortunately, the affliction is soon overcome by tho experienced artiste Already in her sc-ccnd number, no less a task than Verdi's famous Traviuta Aria, Ah, fors e lui," curno voice and accomplishment tofairest exposition. The brilliant omamenlation of the Ana was as nothing to Madame'e Siiill; tiio louludes and. uiua, tile BiafccauM and portamona>3 burst out 111 snowcra, arid lovely lieadnotes augmented tho enjoyment. Aladame .Lipkovska, ss voice, trained to utmost flexibility, must be studied at greater length, to appreciate it in ml its bearings. It revealed itself last night as a lyric soprano oi extensive oompaßS, very auuriug and delightful to it defined degree oi power, especially, charming, wuere the "messa di voce is resorted to. but an occasional excessive force iled to a hardening tone last night that may be temporary. 'J-he encore number brought a vocal valse composed by Madame, very attractive in substance and execution. The next group comprised songs by McDowell, Landon Ronald, Leoncavallo, and Deiibes, representing the countries of the "Entente." Among these "Oh, Lovely Night and "Long Ago, Sweetheart" were given with fine feeling, but the "Serenade," and, most of all, the "Bolero" with its ripplingracy tune appealed pre-eminently. ilien Miidame appeared in a picturesque Russian costume, which to describe lies in the tprovincs of tho special experts of "The Press," and all her were suitably chosen from Russian coinposeis of eminence. Rachmaninoff's beautiful song, "Tho Soldier's Bride," ending in despairing accents, was touchingly interpreted; from the me '" ancholy Tsehaikowsky's we had "If I Had Known," for which Madame found the true3t inflections. An interesting Aria by Moussorg«ky and V»riatno if s "To the Russian Singel's," works highly studded with sombre harmonies foreign to our Western ears, were appreciated all the same. As encore was added a "Folk Song" arranged by Cymbalist. O nee more a new and more startling picture presented itself as Madame appeared wearing a dress a la Pompadour, heralding, as it were, a cluster of French songs, Massenet's Aria from "Manon," "The Bird Catchers'' by Paul Bernhaxd, and Lemairs "Gavotte," testifying to Madame's versatility and her exquisite taste in tlieir delivery. Encores were now booming. At ihe last Madame deviated and sang "Homo, Sweet Home," very sweetly. The enthusiasm of the budience had grown more and more intense a3 the conceit proceeded, and finally only the intoning of the National Anthem put a stop to further 'demands. ' ' -j Madame ipjkovska found an excellent accompanist m Mj Alexander Sverjensky, with artistic proficiency and taste. But he also introduced himself as a pianist of high merit, playing expressively in the first, part Chopin's rarely heard "Nocturne in F- eliaip minor," but loss h&p£>y in ilia choice of the G sharp minor study, which can hardly bo regarded as a suitable ■■con* cert piece. Very acceptable, well and effectively played was Arensky's "Streain. In the second part his pronounced abilities were still more strikingly proved, by the brilliant performance of Gilka-Ba/lakireff's "Lark" and "Polichinelle" by Rachmaninoff, a "Cadenza" by the latter also serving as a good encore. . . ' Tho Lipkovska season promises to be a brilliant success. There is every reason that it should be. ;

TO-MORROW'S PROGRAMME

Another attraotive programme will be presented by Mtne. Lipkovska at her second concert to-morrow night in the Theatre Royal, Operatic excerpts include: "The Queen's Aria" from Les Huguenots (Meyerbeer), and "Una Voce Poco fa" (Bather of Seville), Rossini. English songs include: "At Sunset" (Eric Coates), "If we should jleet" (i?inden), Lullaby (Cyril Scott), fcongs in • Russian costume, "Vision" (Arenikky), "Pretty Maiden" (Dargomsky), "I'he Is.et" (Bachmaninoff), "Snowflake" (GretchanincifE), Songs in Spanish coetume: "Partidu" (Alvarez), "Clavelitos" (Valvento). A feature of the programme will be the sensational laughing song, "Lawsez-moi dire" (Controne), tfhich is one of tb,e most remarkable numbers in Madame's repertoire. The third concart will be given on Saturday and the fourth on Monday. The plans are at the Bristol, and th.3 day sales at the Theatre Royal confectionery.