DAME CLARA BUTT

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 112, 5 February 1926, Page 4

DAME CLARA BUTT

THIRD CONCERT Another large audience filled the Town Hall last evening, when Dame Clara Butt and her concert party gave their third concert of the season, and if the enthusiastic plaudits of those present be a true criterion, tho appreciation was of tho exuberant order. Dame Clara Butt, looking every inch a queen of song, gav 0 as her opening number Gluck’s melodious recitative and aria "Che Faro,” from his opera "Orfco.” As a . rule timid venturers sing only the aria, but tho contralto gave its keynote, and demonstrated tho power of her dramatie force in portraving the depth of Orfeo’s misery at the death of Eurydicc, a fine effort marked by vocal restraint and poignant sorrow. A greater triumpn than the Gluck number succeeded, in “Ombra Mai Fu,” that noble fragment of Handel’s. Exerting the full voice, the singer invested the aria with a majesty and dignity far above that implied in the lyrics,' but: withal thrilling in its exemplification of the physical splendour of the voice. This number was further garnished by an accompaniment on the grand organ by Air. Bernard F. Page. The resultant encore was that sweetly simple ballad "The Snowdrop" (Craxton). After a brief respile tho con- ’ tralto sang a bracket of songs, which included a poor setting of Itabinadratlr Tagore’s poem "AVherc the Mind is Without Fear,” remarkable for its absence of rhythm or melody; "A Fairy Went a-Alarkcting” (A. Al. Goodheait), an old favourite, was delightfully sung, and "Y'onder” (Herbert Oliver), with a grand organ climnx, and added "The Fold" and "So Little. Timo” (Hermann Lohr), as encores. Finally, Dame Clara and Air. Rumford engaged in tho duet, “Love Has Come to Stay.” Air. Kennerley Rumford sang "Afore Sweet is that Name” (Handel), and John Ireland’s good song to John Masefield’s lyrics, "Sea Fever.” On his second 'appearance Mr. Rumford sang “Where'er You Walk.” from Handel’s "Steinele,” “Vagabond” (Ireland-Mase-field), "Silver,” a lonely setting by Arm. strong Gibbs, to an exquisite poem by Walter e'e la Maue. and "The Rejected Lover" fold English). Ata tie Aussenae. the gifted pianist, is not so evenly brilliant as an exposition of Chopin- as she might Im. The open, ing "Nocturne” was very well played, but the “Polonaise" which followed was laboured, and there was some obscuration of themes that should be more clearly defined. The light rippling study, played as an encore, was brilliantly fingered by butterfly hands. Ravel was represented by his "Jenx d’Eaux,” lustres of crystal chiming in the breeze, and Rachmaninoff by his sunshiny "Polka Russe.” The Chopin waltz which followed was brilliantly played. Air. Roy Elicit was the accompanist. EXTRA CONCERT. Owipg to the remarkable impression the performance of the "Biblical Songs” (Dvorak) created at last Tuesday night’s concert, and in response to the numerous requests, Dame. Clara Butt will repeat them at the final concert to-morrow night. Other items will Include "Land of Hone and Glory” (Elgar). “Tho Beautiful Land of Nod” (F. IT. Cowen), "Tho Little Bird” (Franco Leoni), "Ships of Aly Dreams” (AV. AVilkinson Stephenson), and tho duct with Air. Rumford, "Dear Love of Aline” (Goring Thomas). Air. Rumford will include "Largo Al Factotum” (Barber of Seville), (Rossini). "Requiem” (Harold Craxton), and "The Two Grenadiers” (Schumann). Mademoiselle Marie Aussenae will play “Bourree” (Bach), "Polonaise” (Liszt), “Jeune Fille Au .Tardin” (Moinpou). "Tristan and Isolde,” "The Death of Isolde” (Wagner-Liszt).