FRANCES ALDA’S VISIT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 7, 3 October 1927, Page 5

FRANCES ALDA’S VISIT

NEW ZEALAND DIVA'S FIRST CONCERT

A somewhat disappointingly small audience, but a supremely gratified and cordially appreciative one, attended aladauie Frances Alda’s first Wellington concert in the Town Hail on Saturday evening. Since good tidings travel as quickly as the proverbial speed of the ill variety, town talk of tins celebrated .sew Zealand-born dna's excellent vocal quality will, one ieels, no doubt assure Her larger audiences at her nex* .wo recitals here, to-iuorrow and Thu.xuaj. On her first appearance the ».inger, who was beuutitully and strikingly gowned, luc-od an expectant and one lelt, critic;'.! audience, not an infrequent circuinsts-.ee when tho attendance is small. Nor was she altogether -onviucing in her opening numbers. Emphatically a singer of high artistic quality, for some reason or other, a reason which apparently quite disappeared later in the programme, she was unmistakably "oil-pitch.” This was more noticeable in her song numbers than in her operatic selections, a fact which suggests that she was not quite en rapport with the accompanist, Mr. Cyril Towsey. Madame bad parted with her regular accompanist, Mr. Kabinowitsch, in Auckland —"Wo agreed to disagree," sho explained, ami Sir. Towsey very courageously lias undertaken the onerous task of accompanying her during her New Zealand tour. Mr. Towsey is known of old to Wellington as a most capable ami sympathetic accompanist, ami filled his role most admirably on this occasion. Their association for rehearsal purposes, however, has been but brief. An association of this kind implies a temperamental unity of interpretation aud purpose which calls for that deeper understanding so essential to perfection in the art of concert singing. The excellence of the latter part of Alda’s performance, however, gives promiso of brilliant efforts for the delectation of to-night’s and Thursday’s audiences.

Tho programme was a most excellent one, appealing to a variety of tastes. Many of the numbers were new to the audience. Secchi’s “L’Ungi dal caro bene," a tender love song, with a poignant appeal was the opening number. This was followed by a sprightly pastoral, Philidor’s “I am but a Shepherdress," sang with appropriate atmosphere. Handel's “O. Sleep, why dost thou leave me?" which followed, is not frequently heard here. It is a very beautiful airj in Handel’s most appealing vein, and was sung with fine supplicatory feeling. Then followed “A Christmas Carol” (Arnold Bax), a very likeable morceau, and Lenormand's “Quello Souffrance?” the latter a love lyric which appeals by its whimsical plaintiveness. Bachmaninos, . "The Soldier’s Bride,” was worth hearing, for the post-war tragedy of loveliness, expressed with true Russian sombreness ot the composer, and faithfully depicted by the singer, it told in words and mimic. Oradors’s "Coplas do curro dulce," a fascinating Spanish dance-song, completely captured the audience, which, for the rest of the programme, became the singer's devoted admirers, demanding recall number after recall number. After the interval, Alda presented Puccini’s beautiful "One Fine I from the opera “Madame Butterfly. This was a brilliant effort. delightful songs followed—“ The Star ■ (Rogers), "The Break of Morn” (Leone)— a splendid effort, which had to be repeated—Maxwell's “The Singer, an emotional invocation by a street singer, addressed to the Diety, and M oodman s spring fantasy. "An Open Secret, telling of the whisperings of the winds and tho trees, and the birds as the news of the coming of Spring was passed on from one to another. Each, in its own wav, made an instant appeal to the audience, which pressingly asked tor more. Alda’s recall numbers included: “Homo Sweet Home.” "Oeuvre tes Yeux Ble»x.” "Vissi d’arte ’ from La Toesa” (Puccine). Negro Spirituals:— “Kitikv Head.” "Didn’t it Bfiin?. and “Thank God for a Garden” (del Riego). Mr Towsev’s programme numbers were Groin’s "Holberg Suite,” and Beethovens well-known "Sonata Pathetique (Op. 13). The first was a delightful number, very characteristic, in its prelude, of the composer’s picturesque style and melodic inventiveness. Mr. Towsey's treatment of this was most enjoyable. In the Beethoven number we had a feeling that the first movement was played with some appearance of taste, and that the adagio, a most expressive movement, was somewhat colourless. The finali, however, was quite satisfying. On tho whole, a most enjoyable recital. Alda 1-47: a charming and very engaging personality, and it is difficult to believe, as one listens to her, and observes her .deportment and platform presence, that "instead of adventuring forth from Christchurch, New Zealand, into the great musical world without, sho is not a native product of one of the great art centres of Europe. This country may well be proud of her. The second concert will be given tomorrow evening. A programme of unusual interest is advertised. At the final concert on Thursday evening an "all operatic” programme will be presented. Tho box plans are at the Bristol.