MIKLOS GAFNI

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28019, 13 July 1956, Page 6

MIKLOS GAFNI

SECOND CHRISTCHURCH RECITAL

There was a fair attendance for Miklos Gafni’s second Christchurch recital in the St. James’ Theatre last evening. He began his programme with four works by early Italian composers. His voice was not at its best in these works, for many of his top notes sounded strained. In stylish interpretation of music of this period, many secrets were left unrevealed.

These .were followed by songs by Schubert Brahms, and Hugo Wolf. Both Mr Gafni and his-accompanist. Mr Henri Penn, gave a performance of Schubert’s “To Music.” which can only be described as slap-dash and clueless. The Brahms “Serenade” and Wolf’s “The Gardeners” were a little better, but it was obvious that this type of song does not suit Mr Gafni’s style of singing. He is not alone in that, for there are very few operatic tenors who can sing German lieder with real conviction.

His operatic arias were excellently sung and the full colour and richness of his voice came out clearly. In these and in an Italian song, “Chi Scorda Chiu.” by Di Crescenzo. he showed an impressive mastery of technique, and his interpretations were thoroughly enjoyable. It is a pity that this programme did not include a lot more light Italian songs. A whole programme of these and of operatic excerpts sung by Mr Gafni would be an experience to remember with great joy.

Rachmaninoff’s “In the Silence of the Night” was sung without much realisation of its beauty: and “Over the Steppe,” by Gretchaninoff, did not fare very much better. There was life and colour in a setting by Hageman, of “Do You Remember an Inn. Miranda?” However, this poem needs a clearer and more exact pronunciation of English than Mr Gafni can give it at present. So much swooping in intervals—we rarelv heard one sung straight—and starting high notes well below pitch and climbing up to them, and not always reaching the summit, can become downright tiresome in the course of a long programme. Mr Penn’s accompaniments and bracket of solo items were appreciated by the audience. A little Hungarian song, sung as an encore, was charming. It would have been grand to have had many more of them included in the programme. —C.F.B.