AMY CASTLES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 37, 13 August 1923, Page 2

AMY CASTLES

FIRST CONCERT AT TOWN HALL.

Miss Amy Castles had a most cordial welcome at the Town Hall on Saturday night. She then gave the first oi a series ol farewell concerts, and, incidentally, ensured the artistic success of the rest of the series. She was heard in many and varied numbers on Saturday,' some of them great operatic arias, others simple songs of the people; and she proved herself to be as consummate an artist on the platform as. on the stage. To those who had been fortunate in hearing her before, oftimes or now and again, she gave great plea-sure, confirming, the place she made for herself in their admiration; to those who heard her for the first time "lie probably came eb n, revelation. Pier voice was.particularly sweet in the lower range, and' on the upper was at times ciazzlingly- beautiful. She provided a rich feast for those oh whom much coloratura singing ha* a, stimulating and refreshing effect. . That Amy Castles is a consummate artist was made abundantly clear on Saturday night. She gave what may. be described as "spectacular " renderings of Ophelia's mad scene ironi j " ■^am'e'> " °f Amberoise Thomas and to the "Octopus" aria hi Mascagms splendid but little heard opera, " Iris," with great dramatic power. Miss Castles not only has enormous vocal resources, but a keen insight into all the possibilities of operatic arias of the kind she selected. She invested both scenes with an atmosphere more of the operatic stage than of the concert platform. Her temperament and understanding com© to her aid wli-en she 16 singing, and the result in operatic or highly emotional numbers—as. for example, her singing of the Jewish iament "Eli. Eli" —is that, she impresses all who heal her a? ?. ra;rely endowed and highly capable Singer, sure of her ground, knowing her. strength; knowing also. hei limitations. Her singing of "Home. Sweet Home" and "Those Endearing Young Charms " and Gounod's " Serenade," were exceedingly papular, but musically less important than her operatic numbers. Miss Eileen Castles, although not blessed with a voice of the great dimensions of that of her sister, made a most favourable impression on the audience, and was recalled again and again. She elected .as her principal numbers the " Jewel Song " and "Waltz Song " from Gouhod'a "Faust." She has a particularly sweet, flexible and well cultivated voice, and a personal charm withal that will ensure, for her-a repetition of her popularity on Saturday. She was particularly successful in some little French songs; dainty but'difficult'trifles and immensely popular. With Miss Amy Castles is Sigrior Tor-, zillo, a harpist of many parts, a disciple of the famous John Thomas, the Welsh Virtuoso, arid a brilliant exponent of his worka s of which " Winter" was the opening number. There fallowed -jome variations, on Welsh airs and on the ancient melody, " Blue Bells of Scotland," that were followed by a storm of applause. Sig'nor Torzillo is .hot only o, master of technique, but he nlays as a true artist.

Mr Charles tuckwell, a clever solo pianist, played two Chopin pieces and' Webster s dazzling " Moto Perpetub " carefully. As he subordinated his accompaniments to the singer, the listener is keenly alive to. the beauty of his tone and the sympathetic charm of his play-TO-MORROW'S PROGRAMME. Miss Castles will give her second con- j cert at^ the. Town Hall to-morrow evening. Th 6 programme has been carefully arranged to suit all musical tastes. Mies Castles, will %ing excerpts from "La Bblienie," " Madam Butterfly," and "La Traviata/' as well as several new ballada. Alberto Torzillo (harpist), Charles I luokwell (pianist), and Eileen Castles will offer new songs and old melodies that have been so successful during their Dominion- tour. The box plans are at Ihe Bristol. . Students may claim a concession.