THE NORMAN-BLITZ COMPANY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 989, 2 December 1910, Page 7

THE NORMAN-BLITZ COMPANY.

A DELIGHTFUL CONCERT. Thbse who visited the Opera House last evening to hear the concert given by tho Norman-Blitz Company, were Tichly rewarded. Talent, mostly of a high order, abounded, "and the numbers programmed, with few exceptions, were artistically interesting and admirably suited to the performers, and so well were they received that encores were the order of the evening. Miss Amy Murphy, tho soprano of the company, has been very popular.on the platforms for many years in New Zealand, and her contribution!-, were received with tho warmest favour last evening. In that trying voioe-extend-iug polonaise from Thomas's "Hignou," , "I Am Titania," she- displayed a vocal elasticity, tonal quality, and freedom. in expression quite admirable. Tho big demands on her upper register produced a trace of -hardness here and there, but not to an extent did: this interfere with the merit of tho effort.. In soofting relief from the gymnastics of Thomas's opera came, as an encore, the tender lullaby; "Hush Thee, My Baby," very nicely crooned indeed. In the second half Miss Murphy sang .the. bewitching "S(v Sarin- Hose waltz song with pleasant aplomb, and as an encoro gave "Home,i Sweet Home" with fine feeling. 'Die ■ liberty she took in tho final bar was quite unnecessary. With Miss Nellie Black, Miss Murphy sang the fanciful duet, ?The Venetian KegattasV/(BI)S!3ffl-J;O-.ShS>' other, established favourite and highlygifted artist was Miss Nellie Black, who is equally at home as a violinist, vocalist, and. accompanist, to ■ which might bo added in bare justice a prepossessing platform style. As a violin solo Miss: Black- played, Dancla's "Romance" and "Bolero,", extracting., a broad, singing: tone,'which, with her excellent- technique, makes a correct appeal. An encore number had to be appended. Miss Black has a-most serviceable mezzo voice,, which she uses with knowledge, butAllitzen's "The Lord is My Light," which she sang, is more suited to a robust baritone, as are most of that composer's songs. In the duets with Miss Murphy her voice wtfs heard to good advantage. It was a real treat to' hear Mr. Walter ' Whyte,. the tenor of the combination. His voice is strong, clear, and resonantly musical, and everything he sang was better, tian well sung. His programmed ' numbers were: Bartlett's pretty ballad "A Dream," "Annie Laurie," and Balfe's "Come Into tho Garden, Jaud," and as encores he submitted "My. Sweetheart When a Boy,-" "Sally in : Our Ally," and "Take , a Pair of Sparkling Eyes" (from "The Gondoliers"). One 'of tho most interesting items was the old duet from • "II Trovatore," "Ah, Che La Morte," sung most effectively by Miss Murphy and Mr. Whyte. Miss Mabel Fowler, a young singer, a little ne;v. to the platform, has a voice of peculiar charm; peculiar in that slie appears to blend two distinct qualities, that of a light soprano and a mezzo, • without regard to the register in which she. is singing. The peculiarity, strange to say, is not : a blemish, as the voice is delightfully, musical and under good control, as was evidenced in her use of the mezzo-voce. Miss Fowler sang Buzzi's "To-night," "On tho Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond," and tho'."Goad-bye" of Tosti. Mr. Louis Blitz, 'cellist, playec Schubert's "Serenade" indifferently, and was associated with Mr. J. C. Norman (piano) and Miss Black (violin) in a trio setting of Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream" music. Miss Edith Nevill also sang. Tho accompaniments were played by Mr. J. C. Norman. At this evening's concert Miss Amy Murphy will sing the operatic scena "Om■bra Leggiera," from Mayerbeer's "Dinorah," "Tours' "Mother o' Mine," and Jenny Lind's "Echo Song"; Mr.- Walter Whyte will .sing "Mary of Argylc," and "When Other Lips," and Miss Black will sing "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young, Charms" and "Tho Way Home,".and will play Bohm's "Legende. 1, Theinstrumentaltriowill essay the "Peer Gynt" suite of Grieg, and Miss Mabel Fowler will sing "Sunshine and -Rain," and Goring Thomas's "Wind in the Trees." The company deserves well of the music-loving public.