NOTABLE SINGER

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 296, 10 September 1937, Page 13

NOTABLE SINGER

Miss Essie Ackland’s Success ARTISTIC CONCERT The public is indebted to the National Broadcasting Service for another delightfully artistic concert given in the Town Hall, Wellington, last evening to a fairly large audience in aid of the funds of the Mayor’s Metropolitan Relief Fund. Outstanding among the performers was the first public appearance in Wellington for many years of Miss Essie Ackland, the accomplished and charming mezzo-contralto, whose records are played over the air almost nightly, and who enjoys an enviable reputation throughout the Empire. Miss Ackland, who appeared here years ago in company with Jean Gerardy, the famous Belgian ’cellist, is the possessor of a velvety contralto voice, every note of which is musical, while her mature artistry ensures that she is never at fault in reflecting the poetry of the lyrics of her numbers. She made an immediate impression Fast evening by the calm serenity and sincerity with which she sang "In Questa Tomba” (Beethoven), and the brightness of hep tone, and a certain ringing quality in the upper register found delightful expression in the lovely aria, “Connais tu Pays,” from Ambrose Thomas’s opera, “Mignon,” which so lyrically breathes love of one’s native country. In response to much applause, Miss Ackland sang that noble fragment of Handel’s “Ombra Mai Fu,” beloved of contraltos, and unfailing in its sombre appeal. Such was the satisfaction of the audience that the singer had to return once more, this time to sing, with infinite sympathy the quaintly-named, but ever so romantic, ballad, “Four Ducks on a Pond.” In all save the latter number she had the assistance of the orchestra, which was a little too insistent here and there. . Later in the evening Miss Acklantl gave efltial pleasure in a bracket of songs which included “Maureen (Robertson), “Song of Soldiers” (Hely Hutchinson) and “None but the Lonely Heart,” beautifully sung. Then followed a lively reading of “The Road to the Isles,” and expressive singing ot ‘•Whatever Is Is Best” (Bohr), ‘live Little Piccanninies,” and a thrilling interpretation of Geoffrey O’Hara s fine song, “There is No Death,” splendidly declaimed. The singer was accorded an ovation so emphatic atul prolonged that it seemed as though the audience would like Miss Ackland to continue to sing indefinitely, but even if there is no death there is such a thing as vocal exhaustion, even in the case of such a generous and ingratiating singer as the visitor. Miss Ackland was given just the right support. Mr. Reginald Morphew, a ringing baritone of genial appearance and habit, sang the “Toreador’s Song” from “Carmen” (Bizet) with fine vigour, and was even more vital in Figaro’s lively song from “The Barber of Seville” (Rossini), in which he made the most of the inherent fun this aria exudes. In the second half he sang the roistering song, “Fill the Glass wth Golden Wine” (Quilter) and the romantic “Love Can Only Tell Me” (Capel). As an encore the baritone set the audience alight with his mummery in “The Demon Song” from “Our Pantomime” (Oliver), which is sheer vocal fun, and again in the lilt, “In the Garden where- the Praties Grow.”

Mr. Noel Newson, the gifted Christchurch pianist, gave pleasure- in Liszt’s Sixth Rhapsody, a Chopin study, the same composer’s brilliant Fantasie Impromptu, and a very animated “Bohemian Dance.” Another welcome and artistic contributor was Mr. Vineent As-pey, the Auckland violinist, who played the “Siciliano and Rigaudon” (FrancourKreisler), and Bazzini’s “Ronde des Lutins” in a finished manner.

The 2YA Orchestra, under Mr. Leon de Manny, played very well “Russland and Ludmila” (Glinka), the dainty “Praeludium” (Jarnefelt), four characteristic w’altzes by Coleridge-Taylor, notable as much for their rich orchestration as their melodious invention, and, finally, the march from “Tannhauser” Ctyagner).

Mr. Leo Whittaker was the accompanist.