SIGNOR NOTARIELLO

Evening Star, Issue 17696, 24 June 1921, Page 6

SIGNOR NOTARIELLO

SECOND CONCERT. The second concert of the Dunedin season of Signor Antonio Notariollo and his colleagues drew a fairly largo house at the Burns Hall last night. It should have been a crowded house, for music of the standard of that provided by the little company of artists does not come our way very often. This is particularly true in regard to Signor Notariello, who is endowed by nature with a glorious voice of pure, rich tenor quality. Last night a slight huskincss was noticeable at times iu the soft passages. Indeed, it appeared as though the singer was using undue restraint there, throatinoss being the result. Possibly lie suffered from a slight cold. But when he “let himself go’’those magnificent, full organ notes of his filled his heavers with admiration and delight. There is no doubt that Signor Notariello i? a great singer, and will yet be greater when ho attains to that perfection in technique that is displayed by some singers who have delighted us in the past, but who had not nearly the same natural gifts. His programme items, to which, of course, several encore numbers had to bo added. were the solo ‘ Stars Ever Brightly’ (from Puccini’s ‘La Tosca’), ‘My Life Ideal’ (Tosti), and ‘Lo! 'Smiling ’ (from ‘ The Barber of Seville ’). His final solo, the popular ‘ Beneath Thy Window,’ was warmly acknowledged. To say that the audience was enraptured by the playing of the young violinist, Miss Ray Fox, would not be very much overstating the, case, judging by the warmth and persistence of the applause which greeted each of her contribution. She plays with all the freshness and confidence of youth allied to talent that promises an alluring future. Her initial appearance was in a duet with Mr Gordon Short (piano). This was Grieg’s Sonata in C (first movement), and was beautifully played. Then she gave Wieniawski’s ‘ Legend,’ and was twice recalled, the encore numbers serving to onco more reveal the violinist’s wonderfully good fingering. Amongst her other numbers was Mendelssohn’s ‘ Concerto in E Minor,’ which was a splendid effort. Mr Gordon Short’s work on tho piano was most cordially accepted; his accompaniments particularly won approval from the discerning musicians in the audience. Of his solos, 1 Eevo Angeliqne (Rubinstein) and ‘Harlequin’ (Rachimanioff) wore very choice select ions, indeed, and scarcely less so were Brahms’s ‘ Intermezzo and Rhapsody.’ Miss Elsie" Kell essayed two'“test” pieces, in the aria ‘ One Fine Day ’ (from ‘ Madam Butterfly ’) and the ‘ Waltz Song ’ (from ‘ 'Pom Jones ’), with both of which she pleased the audience. Her encore items wore also well received. The third concert is announced for Saturday evening.