MME. CLARA BUTT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1879, 13 October 1913, Page 11

MME. CLARA BUTT.

SECOND CONCERT. It was a very large and extremely enthusiastic audienco that attended the concert given by Madamo Clara Butt, Mr. lvennerley Rumi'ord, and tho concert company presented by Messrs. J. and N. Tait at the Town Hall 011 Saturday evening. For some reason or other not easily defined concert audiences, not only in Wellington but in every city, are subject to moods. To precisely the same artists and programmes of a kind they blow hot and cold without a why or a wherefor, and tho acute intelligence among regular concert-goers can almost s P" s< j. le s P'i'it of the audience before tllo first number is given. Doubtless the public has experienced this peculiarity—ono that is almost atmospheric —and artists are fully aware ot that "something; in' the air 1 ' which checks the now of sympathy on olio occasion and encourages it on another. Although tho first concert given by tho ButtRumford party on Thursday evening last was an excellent one, only mild approval, comparatively' speaking, was shown, but on Saturday evening tho electric oircuit was complete, and throughout tlio concert a torrid enthusiasm prevailed. . Without magnifying tho • truth, tho demonstration -was thoroughly deserved. ' Madamo Butt was at the top of her form, and never bofore in Wellington has she been heard to such advantage. She demonstrated in a programme of high worth that not only is her voice vitally musical in quality and amazing in its compass, but that she has the rare faculty of being ablo to reach tho heart whilst satisfying tho head with hor intellectual and technical VirUles—tho attributes of greatness in a concert artist. Her first bracket of serious song was 011-convinD-ing. Tho first of the sot was tho oxHomely beautiful aria, "Rend 'il Sereno al Ciglio," from Handel's little-known work "Allessandro Balas." The placMly serene character and- intrinsic melodic loveliness of the number wero doubly enhanced by Madamo Butt's reading, which admirably suggested the sweetness, devotion, and unflinching faith of the daughter comforting hor griefstricken mother. Brahms' delightful "Mcin Madel," iv perfcct cameo among tho light and tender love-songs so much affected by writers of German lieder, came as a compleio surprise. Thorn wa» a witchery and roguish archness in Madame's treatment of tho song that captivated the senses. Then canio tho culminating triumph of the evening, Schubert's "Erl King," a number instinct with dark shadows obscuring but faintly the Waiting wraith _ of death. Hero Madame showed her interpretive powers in their fullest refulgence, by conveying in tonal colours and expression a completely improssivo picture of tli9 grim nighfe vide through tho black forest of tho father and son ; the awful torror of the hd as 110 in imagination feels tho cold, clammy clutch of tho Erl King (tho evil. fiei-.d of the forest), and finally his death through fright in his father's arms. _ With consummate art tho singer, giving tonal character to tho voices of the father, son, and spirit, suggested tho7earful distraction of the boy, tho calm strength of the father, and. tho honeyed lure of the legendary bogy, and gave a fine dramatic touch to the end, where she almd'st speaks, with bated breath, tho words: "Das kind war. todtl" (tho child was dead). In response to salvoes of applause, which curtsies could not appease, tho stately singer came forward, and, to tho joy of all, sang Handel's immortal Largo ("Ombra mai fu") in a spirit of splendid exultation. In this of all tho songs in her repertoire Madame Butt uses tho full diapason of her voice, with all the stops out, and th' 3 result is thrilling; in its grandeur. An organ and a violin obbligato by Messrs. Bernard Pago and Mowat Carter respectively gnvo improssivo weight and dignity to tho number. In tho second brackot now impressions of Madame Butt in lighter song wero gained. Two of these wero by Brewer, simple lays of childish fancy, entranced the audience. Theso wero "Voices of Children" and "Fairy Piperfl." Both are distractingly pretty, but the latter, with its quaint words, simple melody, and sprightly xylophonic accompanimont, is sure to become popular. It had to he wholly re-sung before tho bracket could bo continued. - It included "The Voice of Homo," a charming but somewhat conventional song by Lane Wilson, and Cowen's soulful song, "The Promise of Life," which was liter: ■ally sung with heart and soul and voice. "Annie Laurie" was the encore—rapturously recoived. With Mr. Rumford, Madame Butt sang a novel setting of the old French lilt "An Claire do la Lune" (half in Italian and half in French), treating it humorously to a number of variations. As an encore they sang that popular serio-comic favourite, "Tho Koys of Hcavexl," which .delighted the audienco. , Mr. Kennerley Rumford, a consummate artist always, knows precisely how ,to temper his methods to the character of tho song 110 is singing. Few singers that wo havo heard sliow such sound regard to the spirit of the lyrics. That is. really the reason for Mr. Rumford's success and wide! popularity as a ballad singer. On Saturday he was'in fine form, and sang with .impressive force and meaning "0 Star of Eve" (from "Tannhaiiaer"), and "The Two Grenadiers" (Schumann), for which he was encored. In the second half lie sang a brackot of bharming songs, grave an>i gay. "Silent Noon," by Vaughan Williams (words bv Dante Glib rial Rossetti), showed a perfect wedding of tho words to tho music, and the two old Irish songs (arranged by Horbert Hughes), "She Moved Thro' tho Fair" and "A Ballynuro Ballad," wero gems of lighter song, tho former tender and cari-essing, and the latter a rollicking lav that ticklcd the audience so consumeclly that it had to bo sung again. Then followed Edward Gorman's lino patriotic song, "Tho Yeomon of England," which brought in its train tho swaggering cavalier lilt "King Charles,!' which Mr. Rumford sings splendidly. Wellington holds in great respect and admiration the talent of Mr. William Murdoch, the brilliant young Australian pianist. Ono of the features of tho programme was his incursion into the delectable music of Debussy, who is slowly but surely coming into his own. Mr. Murdoch interprets him delightfully. He Is acutely sensitive to tho aural effects Debussy loves to orcate in high harmonics, and aceilt and nuance are given all their delicate values under his facile finger. "Minstrels," is merely a- sketch —a thing of shreds and patches—but sensing with peculiar adcuracy the broken sounds of troubadours nt play. "La Cathedral Engloutie" is n delicate mosaic of stainedglass sounds, faintly and over so sweetly suggesting tho atmosphere of a venerable cathedral .with tho soft light streaming through the illuminated windows 011 to tlio graves of tho honoured dead within. The encore was the charming "I'oupeo .Vnlsnnto'' of Poldini. Mr. Murdoch also plavod Rubinstein's melodious "Bitrcnrollo in F Minor." and Liezt'e brilliant "Ooaoort

Study in T) Flat," with much temperamental chann, and, as an encore, an old Irish nir, arranged by Jlr. Percy Grainger. With Mr. Carter, Mr. Murdoch played l-he attractive slow movement 1 from Groig's G major Sonata. Mr. Mowat Carter played much better on Saturday 'evening than on the previous Thursday. He lent distinction to the "Preisliod" (prize song) from Wagner's only light opera "l)er Meistersingers," and played the showy "Polonaise" of Viouxtomps with brilliancy, although inclined to bow too lightly to get rotundity of tone. Ho Was warmly recalled, and played the "Abendlied" of Sohumami very nicely, Mr. Bernard Pago must bo credited with his good work at tho organ in the Handel and Wagner numbers, and subsequently in tho obbligato of "The Promise of Life." Mr. Haloid Craxton accompanied adequately. Tho third and final concerts is to tako place at tile Town Hall to-morrow night. Among those present 011 Saturday e.vening were His Excellency the Governor and tho Countess of Liverpool. , During tho evening gorgeously beautiful clusters of scarlet blossoms and arum lilies wero handed to Madam.e Butt by her admirers.

TO-MORROW'S CONCERT. To-morrow cvehing Mine. Clara Butt will sing "Divinjtes du Styx" (Gluck), "Der Wanderer" (Schubert), "L'Angelus" (old Breton air), two old Irish songs arranged by Herbert Hughes—"l Know My Love" and "I Know Whero I Am' Going," and "Abide With Mo" will bo given with the grand organ aB an extra number. Mr. Rumford will sing, "Largo al Factotum," from the "Barber of Saville" (Rossini), two of Greig's charming songs, "R<ise of Killarhey" (Stanford), and several other songs. Messrs. J. and A. Tait announce an extra concert for Thursday, the plan for which opens at tho Dresden. The prices will bo tho earn© as for the other concerts.