MADAME LIPKOVSKA.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17940, 7 December 1923, Page 10

MADAME LIPKOVSKA.

SECOND CONCERT

At lier second appearance last niglu, Madame had overcome her fears o: a Chrittcburc'h first night's critical aadienc*. agsiavated by those stony-hearted writers in ue.vsp&oers. No longer throat-muscles contracted or full notes would harden: her singing brought to light with every number an unbroken sequence, new point-s " 1 * ::: oil wholehearted admiration. It in the "Queens Aria" from Meyerbeer';! "Prophet" her coloratura work commanded high report, later on in the beautiful aria "Cn.i Vco; Poco Fa" from Rossini's "Barber of Seville" her vocal virtuosity carried all before her. If the audience had bean consulted, they would have it repeated agiin and again. For the majority of her sonys and ballads on; could liavo wished the Municipal Concert Hal! were already available. Many of the refinements in expression upon which Madame's art so constantly rslies, suiter greatly, if not altogether lost, at- thj theatre although its stage-depth has been specially reduced. Well-known Schubert songs, given in excellent style, followed the "Queens Aria." The next string of Madame's choic3 was headed by Eric Coatee's "At Sunset," a eong very impressive vu substance and produced with a depth of feeling. Very finely were brought oat the contrasts and the pathos of "Woodforde-Finden's "If Wo Should Meet": the sweetness imported to Cyril Scott's "Lullaby'' could not well b.? surpassed. JTovr. we had arrived at the most fanciful number of the group in the shape of Controne's "liefc Me Lauga.' 1 In its splendid interpretation, Madame Lipkovska displayed the highest artistry, caus.ng tumultuous appreciation, in which r.o hand was idle. The ringing laughter, the sobs of the ending, the whole conception, rose all to the stage whore art conceals art. JNevertheiess, even then alter such a feat, Leoncavallo's "Serenade a Pierrot" held its own, ana tfic singer with it. Kussian songi started with a lovely song by Alensky, named "Vision," in which Madame touched wonderfully fine strings, succeeded in delightful contrast by "Pretty Maiden," a Bong by the tongue-breaking Dargomijisky" (if you can pronounce the name), then Rachmaninoff, ever with a head lull, of ideae, contributed "The islet/' and finally Gretciiamnoft's quaint "Snowfiakes" and La Gorges "Fairy Maids' completed a aeries ol infectious charm by the way it passed Madame's lips. A gorgeous Spanish costume, strikingly contrasting with the virginal character of the Russian garment previously worn, led us to the final group, among which the Eossini Aria lias already been discussed. A fascinating song, "The Faro t.!;, ' r i>7 IVAlvarez, deserves special mention, and Delibes' sprightly ".Bolero" so daintily sung must nofr be overlooked either. What Madame Lipkovska accomplished last iiigLt has by no means be overstated; it 13 difficult, on the contrary, to do full justice to the exquisite singer. The accompaniments by M. Alexander Sverjensky maintained their level of efficiency and good taste. One cannot wonder that TJachmaninofi occupies a prominent place in his repertoire as soloist. The "Elegy by the great Russian master is a most impressive finely conceived composition that found an able and conscientious interpreter last night, the "Humoreaque" by the same author impresses similarly by its originality. A very delicately finsrered little piece by Bebikoff, "Christmas Tree;" made a charming encore. Subsequently M. Sverjensky played with a good deal of brilliancy the dazzling Paraphrase by Liszt. In • the encore Grieg's " Marche des Gnomes" these identical Gnomes were made to inarch at a tremendous pace, though gnomes are supposed to have rather short le^s. Summing up, last night's concert proved a splendid demonstration of great, music magnificently sustained. Madame Lipkovska's triumph was complete. TO MORROW'S PROGRAMME A popular programme will be given at the third , LipiovsJia. concert in the> Theatre Royal to-morrow The famous- artist will sing the well-known "Mad Scene" from "Lucia di Lammermoor" with flute obligate, with Mr Ernest Jamieson, the Christchurch flautist; the popular excerpt from "Madame Butterfly" "One Fine Day," KimfikyKorsakofi's well-known "Chanson Hindoo, and Delibes "Vaise Coppelia." The early Victorian costum'e which has created such ; a sensation at the LipkovsJca concerts elsewere, will be worn for a group of old English songs, including "'Long Ago" (Tli. .Bayly), "Sarabande" (arr. by Phillips), "Pastoral" (.Carey), "When X w*s Seventeen" (Old Song), and by request "Home, Sweet Home." A Russian group, includes "Russian Lullaby" (Levenson), "EoussaLka" (Dargoaiesky), "The Gondolier" (Varlamoff), ftijji folk song arranged by Zimbalist. Mr'-E. J. Gravestock announces the fourth concert for Monday night. The plana are at The Bristol, and the dav sales at the Theatre Royal confectionery.