GERTRUDE JOHNSON CONCERTS

Evening Star, Issue 17394, 2 July 1920, Page 4

GERTRUDE JOHNSON CONCERTS

Something quite out of the common in the way of a musical treat is promised to Dunedin concert-goers in the first appearance here on the concert platform of Miss Gertrude Johnson, the voung Australian prima donna. The "season of three nights begins at His Majestvfe Theatre to-morrow. Also in the company will _be Mr Horace Hunt, an Auckland pianist, and Mr Russell, Australian flautist. Miss Johnsons .success in grand opera ha s been meteoric. New Zealand playgoers will scarcely need to be reminded of the tine showing" she made when she was here recently with the J. C. Williamson Grand Opera Company. An Australian critic, writing of her performances in_ 'Lucia de in Sydney, said: "I write now after a performance of ' Lucia' with the memory of one of the greatest triumphs I have seen in Australia. The triumph was made by Gertrude Johnson, whose singing as Lucia, especially in the mad scene, drove the packed audience half-crazy with joy and excitement. Opening well* in her ana and scenes in the first act, her voice was beautiful, and her execution and technique fualtless. She also showed strong dramatic instinct, putting fresh life into the old bones of the opera and making a triumph in the niad scene ht-.trioukallv and vocally. The equal of this triumph I have not known in a long experience of this opera. Unquestionably Miss Johnson is the prima donna of the company,' and, if I mistake not. she will awake "in the morning to find herself famous." Mr Horace Hunt, alreadv an accomplished pianist when lie left for England and Europe before the outbreak of the war, has returned even better equipped musically by reason, of the experience he gained. Tn the Ruhleben prison camp (where he was interned with other British civilain prisoners of war) Mr Hunt wrote incidental music for the camp performances of a dramatised version of the Maori legend. 'Hinemoa.' The camp had a very fine orchestra, and Mr Hunt was able to extend n*is acquaintance with modern developments in music, especially the works of Russian and French composers. While in England after his release from internment Mr Hunt took every opportunity (of which ihere were mar>v) of hearing the best exponents of the musical art. Box plans for the season are at The Bristol Piano Company.