A GREAT BASSO

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 108, 30 January 1925, Page 8

A GREAT BASSO

WILLIAM HEUGHAN AT CONCERT CHAMBER Not since AVatkin Mills visited this country has such a pure basso-cantante been heard as William Heughan, the operatic basso, who made a first appearance in New Zealand at the Concert Chamber last evening. This artist has not only a wonderful voice; lie possesses also an astonishing talent for dramatic acting. Garbed m Scottish national costume, he created the correct atmosphere for his songs last evening by sketching the history of each number, so that his audience bad no difficulty in following him even when ho sung in Italian. A leading basso at the Royal Opera, Covent Gaiden, London, for five seasons, William Heughan is visiting New Zealand while his fine voice is still in its prime. He aroused the greatest enthusiasm with the aria from “Simon Boccanegra,” which lost nothing by being sung in Italian. The despair of the father who returns te find his beloved daughter dead, and in his grief curses the Holy Virgin was depicted with a rare diamatic art, whicli was only equalled by the prayer for forgiveness when he discovers the enormity of l:is sin. •Mozart's “O Isis, Guide Them,” from “The Magic Flute.” was also sung with power and feeling. Mr. Heughan is aS equally at home in ballad singing as in opera, and he rose to great heights in Schumann’s fine song, “The Two Grenadiers,” which was interpreted with such fervour that the artist almost lifted the audience to their feet with the force of the climax. “The Lute Player” (Allitsen) and Mcussorgsky’s powerful “Song of the Flea” were numbers which revealed the basso as a singer of the very front rank. In lighter vein, Mr. Heughan sang “The Song of The Volga ” Boatmen” (Chaliapine-Koene-manl, “Widdicombe Fair.” and “Dashing Away With a Smoothing Iron,” all of which were given with delightful freedom and facility. Mr. Heughen has been sent on his present tour bv the Burns Federation, of London and it was as an exponent of Scottish song that he perhaps ••®aped the greatest laurels last evening. No finer interpreter of Scottish music has been heard in Wellington. He aroused the audience te enthusiasm by his declamatory singing of such national numbers as “The March of the Cameron Men.” “A Hundred Piners.” and “Callum o’ Glen,” and he was equally happy in such soil'”’ as “Th® We® Conner o’ Fife.” “The Skye Boat Song.” “The Barrin’ o’ the Door,” “Green Grow the Rushes 0.” and “Happy We are a’ Thegither.” The Company also includes a violinist and a pianiste, both artists of distinction. Miss Gladys Sayer, a graduate from the Brussels Conservatoire, acted in tho dual capacity of solo pianist and accompanist. The lady flayed Edgar Barratt’s “Coronach” with brilliancy and power, and in response tc a warm encore played “Berceuse Papaune” (Jas. Coward) with dainty grace. The youthful violinist, Mr. Hyman Lenzer, a pupil who graduated at Dame Melba’s Conserve torium in Mel* bourne, at once established himself in the good graces of the audience. His brilliant bowing last evening came as a revelation from so youthful an artist. He is only 20 years of age, but plays with a tonal purity and breadth of expression which would do credit to twice as many summers. His numbers included “Romance” (Svendsen), “Glpsv Airs” (Sarasate), “Le Cvgne” (Saint Saena), “Bolero” (Cecil Burleigh), “Canzonetta” D’Ambrosia), and Fiooco’s Allegro, and each one served to deepen the audience’s appreciation of this most promising artist. Further concerts will be given at the Concert Chamber to-morrow night and on Monday and Tuesday evenings.