OMA HALBERT

Evening Star, Issue 21835, 26 September 1934, Page 3

OMA HALBERT

VIOLINIST OF EXCEPTIONAL TALENT ASTONISHING TECHNICAL ABILITY One of the most interesting events of tlie musical year was the debut in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last evening of Oma Halbert, a youthful violinist, comparable, in some respects, to the famous prodigies of that instrument. This eight-year-old boy undoubtedly lias exceptional lalent, and a tcclimquo that is positively startling, and if he receives carefn I —very caroln) --tuition, should enjoy a remarkable career. He obviously has an aptitude for the violin (of which, curiously enough, he is a left-handed exponent), and a retentive mind that does not fall far short of phenomenal. Hut lie has some equally definite faults that should on no account be allowed to develop. The first of. these is the impetuosity that, quite apart from his immaturity, makes him ride rough-shod over the primary essentials of tone and rhythm. With curbing from the best possible bands, he should have a big future. The programme the boy presented last evening'dearly intrigued nis whole audience, it consisted of a formidable and rather astonishing array of the works usually reserved for the masters of the violin. Onu first played the Francoeur-Krcisler ‘ Sicillienne et Rigaudon,’ which was included in the programmes of both Szigeti and Tossy Spivakovsky. The audience was delighted with his naivete, and insisted on several encores—Mendelssohn’s ‘ Mnekentanz,’ the Haydn-Lovett variations on the ‘ Emperor Hymn,’ and the Goosee ‘Gavotte.’ The performances were not unnaturally to a pattern, but in each there was extraordinary technical development without the slightest hesitation. But in oacli there was exaggeration of tempos that was decidedly incompatible with the intentions of the composers. On one occasion his accompanist was doing all that was humanly possible in frying to keep with him, but Oma inevitably forged ahead, and then turned what appeared to be an impatient head in her direction. He concluded a most arresting exposition with the Mendelssohn ‘ Violin Concerto.’ which monumental work ho accounted lor in under* twenty minutes. There was no trace of uncertainty in his attack, and, even with its deficiencies' in tone and rhythm, it was still an engaging effort. Miss Ruth Perry is clearly among the best three singers of this citv, and it was a great pleasure to hear her again last evening. Both her voice and style are a delight, and to further that sne sang a batch of particularly fine songs —Rutland Broughton’s ‘ Faery Song,’ Henry Smart's ‘ Ladv of the Lea,’ the Frederick Keel ‘ Lullaby,’ an old Irish air, ‘ 1 Know Where I’m Going,’ Rachmaninoff’s ‘To the Children.’ and Graham Peel’s ‘ Wind of the Western Sea.’ All were charming, and the Smart and Frederick Keel ballads exquisite. There was another exceptional artist in Mr Frederick Page, of Christchurch. Mr Page is a pianist of much distinction. His preludes, sarabande. and giguc from the Bach ‘ Partita in 13 Flat * were crisply and cleanly fingered, and a most agreeable fluency pervaded his Chopin, the finest presentation of which was the study in F major. The andante from the Chopin ‘ Sonata in A Minor ’ was a scholarly performance. Mr Page’s encore was the Brahms ‘ Waltz in A Flat,’ which was beautifully played. Mrs Halbert and Mr Page shared the accompaniments. There will be a further concert in the Main Town Hall to-morow evening.