BROADCAST CONCERT

Evening Post, Issue 11, 13 July 1936, Page 17

BROADCAST CONCERT

A MEMORABLE NIGHT

The joint concert of the National Broadcasting Service and the Royal Wellington Choral Union at the Town Hall on Saturday should, have substantially helped to increase the Mayor's Relief Fund. The hall was packed and the concert began a quarter of an hour late; whether it was the artists, the programme, or the object of the concert that attracted so large and so enthusiastic an audience is neither here nor there, but the fact remains that the evening was a musical occasion of the highest artistic importance taking into account the high standard 0 1"c various items in the programme and their performance. Probably the most prominent feature in the concert was Florence Austral s magnificent delivery of the battle cry of Brunnhilde in the opera "The Valkyrie," sung in German. Ignorance of that language proved no bar to the great majority of those who heard Austral sing and act this famous and exceedingly difficult aria. She seemed to have been' born for the part; at any rate she proved by her personality and accomplishments that she wholly identified herself with the mythical and splendid character as Wagner conceived it. Her cries "Ho yo, to, ho!" rang through the crowded hall and sent a" thrill through all who heard her, evoking a tornado of applause. Austral had already sung with great charm and artistic feeling Elizabeth's Greeting" from "Tannhauser," and it proved a fitting and beautiful contrast to the great dramatic effort to come. Excusably, the audience, following the "Valkyrie" selection, demanded more, and reasonably enough Austral had to decline the compliment on the ground that she had a slight cold, a fact which the tone of her speaking voice did not belie. Besides, she had sung earlier in the evening in "Hinemoa." Continuing reference to the grand opera features in the programme it has to- be reported "that Mr.- Sydney de Vries, singing in Italian, made a profound impression. His choice was the great aria "Cortigiani,. vil razza damnata" from "Rigoletto," in which he depicted in vivid colours the strange and pathetic motley of human emotions: hatred, rage, grief, paternal love, and despair. This number was preceded by the Prologue from "I Pagliacci," sung in English, which was received by the audience with shouts and cheers. By way of encore Mr. de Vries sang, a song entitled "Fear" by an Australian composer (Keats), a song eminently suited to the voice and artistic equipment of the singer. Mr. Browning Mummery's first number was "Thy Tiny. Hand is Frozen" from "La Boheme," which he sang with great charm and fine expression, and he should have stirred the feelings of the most lethargic of ins listeners by his artistic treatment or the "Narrative" incidental to this number. He certainly struck a responsive chord when he sang the beautiful Irish song "Has Sorrow thy Young Life Shaded?" (Hughes). This was followed, in order to satisfy an in?'Stent recall, by "I'm Falling in Love with Someone," an essentially popular song. ■ That eminent flautist John Amadio was given a rousing welcome when he came forward with three flutes. His great reception might have been attributable .to the fact that he was porn and began his artistic career in this city, but Amadio is one of the world's great artists on merit, a virtuoso in fact. He has, too, a happy way with him in dealing with an audience. He gave three solos on three different flutes. The first was a brilliant show piece as its title suggested —"Caprice Whirlwind" (Krant ). This was followed by Schubert's "Aye Maria," played on the bass flute,- with much expression and a feeling for the beauty of the melody, but mention may be permitted of the brilliant and unexpected embellishment with which Mr. Amadio concluded this number. Then followed an exceedingly difficult and prestissimo solo for the flute, "Moto Perpetuo" (Bridge), which it was not only a pleasure to hear as Mr. Amadio played it, but a delight to watch his wonderful digital skill. When recalled by the clamours of the audience he played with brilliancy the classic "Carnival of Venice." The concert began with Alfred Hill's epic "Hinemoa," by the Royal Wellington Choral Union, Mr. Stanley Oliver conducting. This lovely work, rich in melody and remarkable for its sound musicianship, is all too rarely heard in full in New Zealand. On Saturday it had the great advantage of principals of international repute taking the solo parts—Hinemoa, Florence Austral; Tutanekai, Sydney de Vries (who also took the part of the Tohunga); and Tiki, Browning Mummery. The flute was played by John Amadio. Mr. Oliver had good reason to be proud of the flue response made by his choir and orchestra. Ho used the alternative version of the stirring "Ra-ha" warriors' chorus which provides for women's as well as men's voices, and that with magnificent effect. The audience insisted on a repetition of this chorus. Delicate treatment of the "Lake" music was given by the orchestra. The principals in "Hinemoa" on this occasion gave the work the distinction it deserves but for obvious reasons it can so rarely receive. The inclusion of Mr. Oliver's "Egyptian Episode" for choir and orchestra was well timed. It is a curious example of modern music, and perhaps a reincarnation of ancient Egyptian music, at least it owes something for its origin to a song still sung by boatmen on the Nile. The episode was listened to with rapt attention, and had to be repeated to pacify the audience. Other numbers which did the union and its accomplished conductor great credit were Percy Grainger's "Australian Up-country Song" (unaccompanied), suggestive of the spaciousness, heat, and langour of the back country; and "As Torrents in Summer," from Elgar's "King Olaf," also unaccompanied. The concluding number was the mighty chorus "It Comes from the Misty Ages" (Elgar), a glorious climax to an unfdrgettable concert. The conductor of the 2YA Orchestra was Mr. Leon do Mauiiy, and the leader Miss.Ava Symons. Mr. L. Haggitt was at the grand organ. Accompanists were Mme. dc Mauny and Messrs. Carl BartImg..and Frank Crowlher,