CHORAL HALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13121, 8 May 1903, Page 5

CHORAL HALL.

IMISS 'BUSH'S CONCERT. T'ho Choral Hall was full to the. doors last night, when a complimentary concert was tendered! to Miss "M. E. Bush, prior to her departure for the Old l Country, where she intends to pnos«cute her studies under the tuition of Madam© Belle Cole. 'Naturally, the principal interest centred around the singing of Miss Buiih herself. She is possessed of a good strong contralto voice, the middle register of which is perhaps exceptionally good, but, apart from this, she has little breadth of tone and no very great power. As a local concert singer she would, no doubt, score a very reasonable* success, tout it is dou'bliul whether her voice is of such a class as to justify so daring an experiment as a- journey to the Old! World, where voices of equal, if not superior calibre, are as common as the ■hips and (haws o'f "autumn. (Miss Bush, sings with, a good deal of taste and style, but her (registers are indifferently 'blent. This is, of course, a disability which could be remedied by proper tuition, .but no amount of teaching could give her that quality of tone which' is essential in a great singer.. Her singing last night was sweet and correct, but it was always soulless and flat in character, and the prospects of her scoring, anything like a superficial success at Home are most remote. She was. assisted tor Miss Dudney, a " baby " soprano, whose'intonation was faulty, whilst her Ringing was sweet and expressive; by Mr A. Millar, whose sturdy bass is always far above the average; by Mr L. Buckridge and by MV (R. Vincent, both, of whom fang well. * The 'Ladiies' Estudiantina Band played several enjoyable selections, and Miss Bush, also contributed a piano solo. This latter performance was in many respects superior to her vocalisation, and her talent really seems to. lie rather in this direction. The. accomipaniments were exceptionally well played by Miss Katie Young.