A TALENTED DEBUTANTE

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 4

A TALENTED DEBUTANTE

FROM THE BARTH PIANOFORTE SCHOOL " “The Misses Barth have much pleasure in presenting to you Maisio Macdonald, F.T.C.L., L.A.8., in a pianoforte recital to be held in tho Bristol concert chamber.”. In response to this invitation, and influenced by reports from some who have heard Miss Macdonald play, a large number of musiclovers assembled last night, and gladly praised the performances of this young lady. That is but a mild and ‘insufficient statement of tho position. Miss Macdonald deeply impressed the audience. It was lier first single-handed recital, and, being before critics, engaged on a programme not unworthy of Paderewski, over-anxiety might have hroughUahout all sorts of cripplings. No such happenings, however, occurred. Miss Macdonald went through her task; with a nice combination of modesty and confidence, remarkable skill being associated with deep insight, and the general verdict was that, having now gained all the letters to her name that can bo bestowed in New Zealand, this highly-promising debutante may, if she chooses to pursue her studios, go ,on to distinction. Already she counts amongst the really good young pianists that Dunedin teaching has produced,’ thanks to native endowments cultivated by tho Misses Barth. To begin with Miss Macdonald played Bach’s ‘Chromatic Fantasia,’ therein commanding all the required masculinity, clean, fingering, and, great power in chords, and imparting variety by her resource as to touch. Then she paid her respects to Beethoven in a no less exacting example than the 1 Appnssionnta.' With much cleverness she gave out the idea of a searching about for utterance in the introductory passages, and then proceeded to the development of the discovered theme in splendid definition. Once or twice her'left hand may have been heavy, bat she got balance in the last movement of the sonata, and made it one of the successes of tho recital. Imagination was effectively imparted into the delivery a very fine example by modern music, tho ‘ Yier Rhapsodic,’ by Dohnanyi; the water music of Ravel came next, also a good study; and the two last offerings were from tho Liszt library, the ‘No. 12 Rhapsody’ and the ‘Concerto in E flat,’ Miss Mica Wilson at the second piano. In those two fastmentioned pieces Miss Macdonald's playing was quite notable. A screened listener, unacquainted with the performer. would never have guessed that such rich and broad performances were proceeding from a mere girl. The whole programme was gone through by Miss Macdonald from memory and without a sign of tiring. She is a student whom it must bo a real pleasure to present. '