DOLORES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 65, 17 March 1911, Page 5

DOLORES.

AN ARTISTIC RECITAL

Of all the sweet trillers known to Australasian audiences, Mile Dolores is the most popular, and the reason !is not far to seek. Her singing has iin it more than art; it appeals to jthe sympathy of the. veriest tyro in musical knowledge and at the sametime commands tho admiration of the advanced student. The recent visit of Miss Amy Castles rendered many in last night's audience prone to make comparison, but m th-> case of Mile Dolores comparisons are more than usually "odious. In the first place they would not be tanto Miss Castles, who does not claim, the artistic experience of the matured Dolores, and the voices are dissimilar. Miss Castles is a mezzosoprano, albeit of a fair range, and Mile Dolores is a soprano whose greatest power and charm lies in what is sometimes called "the voice above the lines." Last night a hyper-critical attention could not. have noticed any tendency to weakening in the upper notes, though Mile Dolores could have been pardoned for getting voice-weary. Her singing was a- revelation to the majority of her audience last night, and Blenheim's approval was manifested in remarkable outbursts of applause throughout the evcniiij/. Mile must have been weary at the completionof the task she set herself last .ight,. but the audience were never v.oary, and the "Oliver Twist" attitude "they adopted, whilst certainly complimentary, yet showed a want of consideration for the singer. Yet she did not seem to mind, but returned again and again with perfect good nature and the- Dolores smileand gave them the "some more" asked for. The stage resembled a florist's shop before the recital was ended, as floral offerings were therule throughout the night. When Mile Dolores first appeared she was [ welcomed with a truly Blenheim welcome, and at various points of theprogramme the audience were worked' up to a pitch of enthusiasm rarely seen in the Town Hall here. Ml!©: sang in all 18 items, and the freshness of her remarkable voice stayed until the last. Some of her numbers were by the old masters, sonjjs. which are now almost.forgotten, and practically new for the reason that, they are so old. There is no need" to mention them all in detail, but: the most'pleasing may be mentioned, as a hint of the public taste. Handel's "Angels' Ever Bright and Fan*"' was magnificently sting, and thehouse rose at the singer, and she' was persuaded to sing again. On her return she gave Gordigiani's beautiful prayer "O Santissima Vergine Maria." Another charming little song was "I've Been Roaming" (Horn), which was given as an encore. The house was aga^n:. moved to enthusiasm after "I -ani. Titania," and when, the pianist played the symphony of the recall,, and the well-known "Comin' Thro' the Rye" was developed, there wasanother outburst. In Thomas's aria Mile gave nn exhibition of her power of voice control, and the lark-like-trills, beautifully rounded and clear,, held the audience entranced. She again received an ovation for choosing as an encore "Killarney." After her final programme number was given the audience cheered and clapped and brought the singer back three times, the third time eliciting; the well-known "When Love was but a Little Boy." She was again recalled, and again she came forward1, smiling and Completed a uniqueoccasion with a quaint "Laughing Song." In Mr Slwimplin Mile has with her another artist with a temperament, and his contributions were also warmly welcome. He was bracketted for a "Romance" # and "Caprice" by Schutt; the audience would not acecpt his bow, and ho had to return and play again. His encore piece was Nollet's "Elegie. 3* Later on he played "Le Chant do Naiitonier" (Rheinhold), and as an encore "Barchetta" (Nevin). Mr Shrimplin must be thanked for his finished accompaniments, Mile also had to thank him for much. Jn some of the items, notably "Killarney," the piano Avas singing with the singer, and. was more than a mere accompaniment. After the recital Mile held a reception on the stage, where she was met and congratulated by some of our local singers and musicians.