THE MALLINSON CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 292, 3 September 1908, Page 8

THE MALLINSON CONCERT

• ' A MUSICAL TREAT. When Mr. Albert Mallinson and his talented .wife essayed tho experiment of giving, in London; four 'consecutive song recitals, at each of which,'on an average, about twenty songs •' composed by Mr. Mallinson ' himself wore sung; itWemed a bold thing to do. To attempt, for prio evening, tho singing of a series of twenty-two songs before a New Zealand audience would almost appear to be flying in the face ofiProvidence. In London tho experiment was successful. In New Zealand, if wo may judge from tho tho first recital, which was- given in tho Concert Room, Town Hall, last evening, beforo a large audience, success .would also appear to bo assured. The Jlallinsons are not strangers to New Zealand, for>ifc was at Duhedin, in 1894, that Mme.- Anna Stoinhauer, tho talented Danish soprano singer,- marriwl the famous songwriter'. Albert Mallinson is a native of Yorkshire, born in 1870, and very early in his life destined to bo a musician. Ho is now 38, and regarded as tho most successful and- . artistic. song writer of tho present / day. . Ho has written over three hundred: songs, astonishingly varied in characteristics, and inspired and animated by tho spontaneity of true genius. From the poetic treasures of Yeats, Longfellow, W. E. Henley, Christina Rossetti, and others, he has culled'the very choicest gems, and with tho conception of genius has caught the authors' ideas l ' aild emotions, and expressed them in a language all his own. Thero is a freshness and directness about his music which suggests the whito heat of inspiration, and 1 beside, which tho "popular ballad" ■is as an extravagant gee-gaw to a precious gem. -The: world is grateful to Mr. Mallinson for,' ; "additions to its store of musical treasures,. of compositions which, _ without exaggeration, may be said to reach, in genius of conception.and, masterly ' treatment, tho standard; of no.'less a composer than Franz Schubert:; its indebtedness is increased by the fact? that'.'Mr; Mallinson has not only given it his-musio, but his wife has shown to many audiences:'how that music should bo sung, and 'the value of this service can only be appreciated by; those who have heard Mrs. Mallinsofti sirig ..'as she sang to a Wellington audience, last; evening. , Mrs. Mallinson is a charming,- singer., possessing a sweet and responsive soprapo-: voice, and the somewhat rare ability, to ;sing from her very heart. In singing herihusband's songs, she has, as she herself , has;-said, her mission, and her husband 'owes not littlo of tho success he has-' achysvdd; with his| compositions to her expressive interpretation of them to the public. The programme contained no lessthan twenty-two dongs, arranged in groups, two of five cach, and two of six oaoli. Each group followed, consecutively, so that tho wholo tw,enty.-two, were sung without thot interpolation, for variety's sake, of other items. This alone was somewhat of a strain on the Attention' arid interest of a New Zealand''aiidieiicd which, thoroughly musical and appreciative .though it may be, has hardly yet been educated up to a recital of this naturoj not . the series heen of such delightful character and variety of treatment tho audience','in-the Concert Chamber'last evening would have evinced signs of restlessness long befor& it , actually did—towards the .close the second last item.

The recital was a good ono, and will live long'in tho,'memories of those who heard it.' Mrs';' Mallinson stood in an easy attitude ; besido the ' piano, her ■ arm resting on the instrument;' while her husband played the opening bars of tho song. Mr. Mallinson'is a' very Alio accompanist indeed—above criticism, in - fact. ' . Space will permit of oriw a i;f6,w rcforoncos to tho songs. • "Slow, Horses, Slow" (words by Westwood) was a really fine effort, with its characteristic rhythmic accompaniment, illustrative of tho hoof-beats of tho horses, and tho magnificent representation of' tho dawn, in tho verses:— Slow, horses, slow, , As tnrough tho wood we go— ' We would see fair Dian rise, ' With her huntress bow. We would hear the breeze . ; Ruffling the dim trees— Hoar Jts sweet love-ditty set To endless harmonies. . "Four by the Clock" (Longfollo'w), had to be repeated; It. is a striking concoption. Tho quaint "Bed in Summer" (R. L.' Stevenson) was delightfully sung, tho plaintive, petulant little pout—" to havo to go to b,cd by day," —at the end of, each verso being inimitably done.,. This item was repeated. "Dream of a Blessed Spirit" was full of rich and expressive ; harmony; it was certainly one of the best'items of tho evening. "Daybreak" "0 Danke Nicht" ("Oh, Thank mo Not"), " Gldriana " (repeated), and " O My Gar(from 'the'song cycle), were 'other line numbers.' ' / Mrs. Mallinson was really at hor best in tho German' songs, " O Danke Nicht," "Es war zur Goldnen Fruhlingzeit," " Botschaft." iirid Lied;"' and " Waldeinsamkelt," which she sang.with great feeling; in tho English''numbers her pronunciation had a pretty quaintness in certain words. Tho principals )vero supported by Miss R'ebe'Kussmp'nri (violinist), and Miss Evelyn Wyman I '(pianist). Miss Kussmann is quite a young performer, but her command of the instrument' betokens considerable natural ability'.; ; . She chose for hor items Hubay's ■ difficult'"Hejri) .Kati" and "Le Zephyr," and Schubert's ''Ave. Maria." The first named was cloverlyi; played, although it was difficult to escape tho improssion that her bowing was not clean enough at times. "Le Zephyr''; offers opportunities of gymnastics in technique. which tho averago performer cannot,hope-to grapple with. This item was very well played. , Schubert's "Ave Maria" was also a puccespful effort, the harnionics being capably-played. Miss Wyman, who is an accomplished pianist, played Chopin's "Finale," -from ,his "Sonate in E Minor," and tho ' same, composer's "Etude." Both were heartily applauded. Several hands,omo bouquets wore presented to Mrs. : Mallinson during the evening. Tho second recital. will be given to-morrow evening. . ' v-.i .. - , '