OPERATIC CONCERT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1314, 18 December 1911, Page 4

OPERATIC CONCERT.

The concert—<|uilc operatic in c)inrn»> tor-given iit (ho Town Hull on ,Sal unlay evening men'tud ilio enthusiasm which it crealcil. Not often <lo wo have presented lo us ii programme of such qualily, or a performance of Mich a standard us (hut arranged by I lift talented (onor, Mr. J'hilip Nowbilry, assisted by well-known artiste, who teemed to be foiled up lo do their very best in the distinguished company iu which Hip, programme had placed \hem. .Mr. Newbury is ono of t lie very few tenors who aro really at. home in the largo Town Hall. ]|o is esseutially it big-tnutt tenor, and his voice has tlint. resonant quality which reaches his fnrtbest mill nearest auditor alike. There arc so many "mewling, pilling" Icnora who always appear to bo on the edge of a. brrak-donu (and not infrequently are really m>) that H is quite a. treat to. hear a inlmsl temir, who can sound a. lop 0 clonrly si ml strongly from the rhest. .And. wild all bis power and breadth, .Mr. .Newbury is an nrtist. in f lie inn of Hie mezzo voce, which, when the passage demands it, he can use wilh imfrniicing efl'ect. His voice is always under admirable control, and his phrasing and enunciation are perfect'. On Palurdny evening Mr. Xewbury lntido an immediato impression in (he melodious aria from I'lotow's luneful opera ".Martha," "Jfy Kaptured tjiij'.e,' , or Hie "M'Appari" (as it; is more generally known), lie realised tlio full sweetness of the melody by the manner ill which he gave expression lo the devotional spirit, of Hie solo. An imperative encore elicited "Mary of Argyll," in which Iho I'iilf-voico was used with, charming effect. Tlio broad, virile, ll'unipcl-iilin quality of the voice found a lhio medium in thai slirring martial solo given lo Pou Caesar do Jiazun in "Mariltina," "Yes. Let; Me Like, a Soldier Full," in which (ho artist's power of declamation in Hie high register was extended will) Uirilling effect. .Siillivim'e charming ballad, "Ti\ko a I'iiir of Sparkling JCyeii" (t'rom "The fiondolie.rs") wan Hie response to salvos of applause. Mr. N'ewbmy also sang "Oonio Inlrt the Garden, Ifaiid," charmingly, and, on being encored, sang "Annie Laurie." with ran: feeling. Onoo more. the. enthusiasm was extraordinary, and the tenor bad (o reappear three of four times before Hie. programme could be proceeded with. In. association wi(b Miss Uitn Lyons, who is making rapid strides as a coloratura soprano, Mr. Nowbury sung tho beautiful duet, "Tho Hour is Late," from "Faint." and, dually, (lie "Miserore -, duet from "11 Troviiiore." In the latter number the tenor, although concealed (in the trai dilional manner), dominated over-much— n fault due, most probably, to a miscalculation us 10 , tho extent lo which hia viiiu; Mould diminish behind the scroeu. Mits Lyons* sang both numbers charmingly, almost brilliantly, considering that, it was, her lirsl ultetiipt at tlio "11 Trovntiuc" duet. Sim also King tbo "Uel Kiigxio" aria from Semirniiiiilo" (KosI sinil wilb conliileneo and adwirnble vowil flexibility:' Iho ".lowel Song" lroin "J'aiist" (G.rnod), in which her bright niiisical quality lent a naliny sheen to her voealism; aiel as encores "'Coiiiin' Thro' the 1.'.v0" and "A Chain cf Gems" (M'Oiioeli). Air. Hugh Wright, who wn« in. adinirablo veioe, sang Slater's setting of "I'Vmu Ol>e><in in Riirvland" in good lmlTo stylo. "Kyou Hravest Heart May Swell" ("i':iust. J ',\ nnd, j\s encores, ''lx>t; Me Love Thee" (Anlili), and njiother song. Mist AgiiM Segriei \\m Umibhi io ap[»nr owing to n relaxed Hire.it. lli>r plnce wa.> talen In Miss Teresa M'Knree, ayonng soprano whose fulMmdiod voice, big range, mid vocil elasticily g:iv« rise to many cmnpliiiir-n'jiry i'enuuk«, Shn s:mg .lule? Hone.lict's floriil wiling of "l,e Ciirniynl de Venice," "?olv(>iK's Song" (tfrio;;), nml. ivs encores, "Hclievo Jlrt If .\W Those Kndearilig Young t'luuins" nml "The. Litst luife of .Summer," A notice of this really wiplivnl.ing concert would be iiißHiiipfele without mentioning Hie artirfio accoaip»niaiaits ol Mr, D, Kenny.