GALLI-CURCI

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 268, 12 October 1932, Page 3

GALLI-CURCI

RECITAL AT OPERA HOUSE. A AIEAIORABLE EVENING. The supreme artistry of Madame GalliCurci and her magnetic and charming personality were acclaimed by a largo audience at the Opera House, last evening, when the famous coloratura soprano gave her only local concert of the present tour of New Zealand, now drawing to a successful conclusion. A more responsive audience could not be imagined, and the prima donna after a concert of two hours’ dura-

tion, during which she rendered no less than 22 songs, received an ovation that in seldom witnessed in this city. The resonance and vitality of her voice, the ease of execution, and the charm of expression captivated all who were privileged to hear the diva, and they were sorry to bid her farewell when the notes of the final encore number died away. Madame opened the programme with four dainty numbers, three of which were sung in her native Italian—“So Tu Ni’ami” (Pcrgolesc). “Chi vuol la Zingarella” (Paisiello) and “O del Mio Amato hen” (Donaudy)—and one, most delightfully, in English “Whither Runneth My Sweetheart” (Bartlet). The audience were able to capture the spirit of the songs from the prima donna’s wonderful interpretation, which conveyed the mood and expression of the composer—tsurely the supreme tc-st of artistry. As an encore “Petite Joanncton,” an old French delighted all. A little later Madame Galli-Curci sang in Spanish “Cantar Popular” (Obradors), then “Les Fillcs do Cadix” (Delibes), “JD’Unc Prison” (Ilahn) and the ever popular “Lo, Here the Gentle Lark” (Bishop). It was natural, perhaps, that the audience, most of whom were familiar before last evening with the prima donna’s exquisite rendering of this number should be stirred by it more than by any other, and before the final note died away vociferous applause was echoing throughout the auditorium. The remarkable flexibility of the famous voice was aptly demonstrated. Three encores were given before the audience were satisfied, one of which was the favourite, “La Paloma.”

In the second portion of the programme Madame rendered three most appealing songis in English, each of which was treated in flawless style—“ The Second Minuet” (Bctfiey) with its characteristic English theme; AlywtirdV “Deep in My Heart,” in which the singer’s facial expression conveyed the rich sentiment of the words; and Xovcllo’s “Little Damozel,” a gay number. The rapture of the audience was expressed in the persistent demand for encores and Madame graciously complied with “Kentucky Home,” “Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes,” “Little Raindrops,” and a dainty piece “Rccucrdos” (Gravier) for which she played her own accompaniment. Her final programmed number was “The Shadow Song” from “Dinorah” with flute obbligato by Mr Raymond Williams, and tho brilliant technique of the singer received its fullest scope in the difficult passages. Tho over welcome “Homo Sweet Home” was sung tenderly as an encore number and finally a dainty little trifle, “If No One Ever Marries Ale,” but even so tho audience would not bid the diva farewell and olio returned to bow her acknowledgment of the applause that swept the Opera House.

Accompanying Madame Galli-Curci, who received several beautiful floral tokens, is Mr Homer Samuels who besides playing in most sympathetic manner the accompaniments for tho diva, gave his auditors further insight into his brilliant art by rendering two widely differing compositions of Debussy—“ Reverie” and “The Golliwog’s Cakewalk.” A demand for an encore was acceded to with Chopin’s “Raindrop Prelude.” Memories of John Lomone, the great Australian flautist who appeared in New Zealand with Dame Melba, were revived by the presence of Mr Raymond, Williams, a flautist of exceptional ability. Besides playing the obbligatos to “Lo, Here the Gentle Lark” and to “The Shadow Song,” lie contributed three nicely chosen numbers —“Serenade,” “Hie Little Shepherd” and “Gigue,” each of which revealed his undoubtedly brilliant technique. It was a memorable concert and the audience will treasure the memory of the gracious .finger who captivated them with her artistry.