RECITAL RY INFANTINO

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28425, 4 November 1957, Page 7

RECITAL RY INFANTINO

Great Enthusiasm Shown

Great enthusiasm was shown in the Majestic Theatre on Saturday evening by the many admirer* of Luigi Infantino, and it :s not surprising for he certainly gave them much enjoyment. His rooust voice, so full of warmth and colour, was itself a joy to rea“ and the vitality of his interpretations held the interest of his hearers throughout his programme I As an operatic singer he has great gifts because, through vocal artistry alone, he can make the' music vividly alive and charge 1 it with meaning. If this w-ere joined to acting, stage settings, and the unfolding of an opera, soj that the arias fell into place in the scheme and were fittingly framed, the result would be terrific. He sang arias by Donizetti. Meyerbeer. Puccini. Verdi, and Giordano. Most of them, opart from the skill shown in their interpretations and the expressive qualities in the singing, demanded no mean physical powers for such renderings. Particular mention must be made of the elegance of Angelo Campori’s playing of the accompaniments. Reducing these

orchestral scores to the pianoforte is a thankless and most difficult

•• task, but the colourful nature of *. his playing brought the iccom- « paniments to life. |.r Three early works, “Amarilli” ].•: by Caccini. “Sento Nel Core” by J Scarlatti, and the ever-popular | g “Ombra Mai Fu” by Handel were | sung with a pouring out of ]’. beautifully controlled tone and clear melodic line.

!’*. grou P of Neapolitan and r* Sicilian type of songs were Ip V’ildly popular. They were per- • formed with grace and verve, each rising to the inevitable climax : at full bore with the silencer cut 11" out. Infantino’s next visit to New |-• Zealand will be eagerly awaited and a recital tour by Angelo 1 Campori would arouse great I; interest.— C.F.B.