ROSINA BUCKMAN

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1922, Page 2

ROSINA BUCKMAN

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL CONCERT.

Few of the gTe.it singers who hay» visited Wellington in the past have won the affection and admiration of theirt audjences so completelyl as Miss Rosina, Buckman, New Zealand's own singer, in, her short season here. The weatbeiv could hardly have been worse than it was last night, yet the Town Hall was filled with an enthusiastic audience, which applauded to the echo the singers,, Miss Buckman and Mr. Maurice D'Oisly, and the instrumentalists with thorn,Mis 6 Adelina Leon and Mr. Percy. Kahn. The programme, with the recalls, covered a very wide range. Miss Buckman'* first contribution was the inexpressibly, touching "Willow Song,", and. ."Ave Maria," from Verdi's "Othello," rendered- with an artistry that wove a spelt over the audience. In response to tlia applause the singer gave the merry song of Mussetta from "La Boheme," and then, "enthusiastically recalled, she added the Scotch character song, "Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town," striking a, responsive chord in the audience. Seldom could three successive items show such contrast and bo rendered with such versatile grace. Later Miss Buckman. surpassed herself in "Mimi's Song," from the first act of "La Boheme," and scored another triumph. It is in such parts from Puccini that she reaches the heights of her powers. Then came another delightful contrast iv the sweet simplicity of Guyther's setting of James Stephens's bird, song, "So.-Early in the 1 Morning, 0!" revealing an absolute perfection of pure clarity of tone. Popper's Stately Easter Hymn was followed by the ever popular "Waiata Poi," which Miss Buckman introduced to the Old Country so effectively. And again in Tosti'sf- "Good-bye" Miss Buclnnan brought back memories of great singers of the past. . ; .. ... . ; *■ Mr. Maurice D'Oisly's contributions were all distinguished by the work of the finished artist. To ' Coleridge Taylor's "Eleanore" he added the comical ballad of "Little Billee" (Peel), and then came the fascinating "Chanson dv Tambourineur," the rollicking ditty of "Casey tho Fiddler," , "Nina" (Perg'olese), and "The Hour," to which the composer, Mr. Percy Kahn, played the accompaniment, while Mr. Bernard Page provided organ effects. The. recall brought the quaint old song, "When I was "a Bachelor." The final piece on the programme was a duet between the singers from "Manon" (Massenet), Miss Buckman as Manon I'Escant and Mr. D'Oisly as the Chevalier Dcs Grieux. The audience appreciated the operatic gifts of the singers. In response to insistent recalls Miss Buckman and Mr. D'Oisly gave ' the .old 'favourite, "Keys of Heaven," with all its charm, and closed with the singing of the superb duet of Mimi and Rudc^>ho in "La Boheme." Not the least enjoyable . among the .items of a, notable concert were the instrumental contributions to the programme of Miss Adelina Leon, the 'cellist of the party, whose mastery of the 'cello was shown in' Moffatt's "Scottish Melodies," Loskowski's "Serenata," "Valse Tmste" (Sibelius), and an arrangement of "Silver Threads Among \the Gold." . . FINAL CONCERT TO-MORROW. To-morrow evening an extra concert will be given • to, meet the demand for tickets for the Rosina Buckman-D'Oisly concerts. This will be the final opportunity for hearing the popular singers, and will bring to a close one of the most successful concert seasons given in Wellington for many years.; A very popular programme has been arranged. Miss Buckman's selections include the aria from _ Madame Butterfly, "One Fine Day," "Evening Song" (Liza Lehmann), "June's First.Rose" (Eric Coates)7 "Tlie Scarecrow,". (Davies),' Kahn's "Aye Maria," with organ' and.'cellor obbligato, which met with such a big reception at Tuesday's concert. The diva's extra numbers will include "The Minstrel Boy," and" Tosti's "Good-bye." The duets include one from Debussy's "L'Enfant Prodigue," and the famous Miserere Scene from- "Ilv1 Trovatore," with organ. Mr. D'Oisly's numbers include "On. with the Motley" from j "Pagliacci," "Dolorqsa" (Phillips), "Obj stination" (de Fontenailles), "Petronille" (by; request), and "Summer Time on Bredon" (Peel), with 'cello and organ obbligato. The box plans are at the Bristol, and the day sales at Ned Perry's, Manners-street.