CHARLES HACKETT, TENOR

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 28, 1 August 1924, Page 3

CHARLES HACKETT, TENOR

A GREAT MUSICAL EVENT.

Everything seemed to conspire against the successful first appearance in Wellington last evening of Mr. Charles Hackett, the now famous American tenor. Up to an hour or so before his arrival at the hall he was in bed with a slight cold, and when he did arrive he came through a hard westerly gale and heavy rain—two obstacles, it might be thought, that would .make the concert a complete success impossible. All was to the contrary, for Mr. Hackett was in perfect voice, and the large hall was crowded. The fame of the singer had rippled across the oceans to break on these distant shores, so the large audience evidently knew well beforehand what to expect. It was not only not disappointed, but its cup of delight was filled to running over, judging by the vehemence of its applause. It recognised in tha first of Mr. Hackett's numbers, the celebrated "Racconto ,di Rodolpho," from "La Boheme"—an emphatically Caruso number—that a truly great tenor had come; but this was followed by an "extra" that from every vocal point of view was superior, viz., the great classical test of tenors, "II mio tesoro" from "Don Giovanni." With commendable wisdom Mr. Hackett has acquired a repertory enabling him to compile a programme containing somo number or numbers that will ■ strike a. chord in every responsive listener. For proof, take his programme of last evening. In addition to the numbers above mentioned, it included "Star Vicino" (Salvator Rosa), ■ "The Fuchsia Tree" (Roger Quilter), "Spiagge Amate" (Gluck), "Sea Fever" (John Ireland), "Faery Song" (Rutland Boughton), "Serenade" (Brahms). There were several other numbers old and new, but sufficient have been indicated to show the variety and afford sharp contrasts. Mr. Hackett's . official . grand opera numbers were but two, and it would, no doubt, have been as enjoyable as Instructive to have heard him in more of them. Both were sung in Italian, so were two songs jn the first part of the programme.

Mr. Hackett did not let himself go in his operatic numbers, singing rather for the platform than the stage. He appeared to tho audience as an artistblessed with, good looks and a most agreeable personality; a singer in whom the artistic sense is highly developed, one who knows what he is singing about and feels it. His voice is one of rare beauty and great capacity, pure, resonant, and used with, consummate skill. Into the highest altitudes reached by great tenors he did not climb last night; but then his numbers • did not call for such vocal feats as Caruso was able to perform, feats .that are often attempted by lesser singers with great popular results but not always in good musical taste. Mr. Hackett may be described as having sung as a gentleman. He is a cultured singer in i'ie highest sense. Diction, accent, phrasing, all perfect; breath control, marvellous—especially conspicuous in the "Don Giovanni" number.

Musical enthusiasts owe much to Mr. E. J. Gravestock for inducing Mr. Hackett to travel this way and bring with him some of the' fire with which he has thrilled and warmed great audiences in older countries. But the debt to the entrepreneur does not end there. With Mr. Hackett is'M. Yovanovitch Bratza, a quite young Serbian violinist, who has established a name for himself in London—a truly great and difficult achievement. M. Bratza made a deep impression on all who heard him last night. Ho began with the allegro moderate movement from Tschaikowsky's Concerto for Violin in D (and the pianoforte part was admirably played by Mr. C. Raybould). . This took twelve minutes. It gave plenty of room for the display of the superb technique of M. Bratza; but in his following numbers, Slavonic Dance in E Minor (DvorakKreisler). Preluds and Allegro (Pugni-ani-Kreisler), and Gavotte (Baeh-Kxeis-lor) he completely captivated his hearers. Three times was he recalled, and three times did ho play after his concluding trio of pieces, '"Romance" (I'almgren), "La Cnpricieuso" (Elgar), ami "Moto Perpetuo" (Reis). So young and yet in his art so mature, it is easy to prophesy a great career for M. IJratza,. Altogether tlio concert was a great musical event in the annals of the city. For his second concert to-morrow night, Mr. Hackett will sing "0 Paradise," from "L'Africaine" (Meyerhecx) ;■ "Questo o Quella," from "Rigolctfc" (Verdi); "E Luceven la stelle " from "La Tosca"; "Les Papillons" (Chausson) ; "Clair de Lune" (Szulo) • "Mai" (Saint-Saens); "Ah! Moon of My Delight" (Lehmann); "In the Forest" (Ansorge); "Love Went A-Rid-ing" (Frank Bridge); "I Heard Yon Singing" (Eric Coates); "Marcheta," 'Duna (M'Gill). etc. M. Bratza will play the Max Bruch Concerto in G Minor. "Havanaise" (Saint-Saens) "Prelude in E" (Bach), "Chant d Amour (Suk), "Tambourin Chinois" (Kreisler), etc. Ttie final concert will be given on Monday night. The box plan 13 at The Bristol, and tho day sales at the Black Cat Confectionery next Grand Opera House.