SINGING AND VIOLIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 July 1928, Page 2

SINGING AND VIOLIN

SPLENDID RECITAL

MWN ASSHETON ANJ> JLASZCO BCHWAJRTZ Miss Dawn Assheton’s soprano voice and Mr Laszio Schwartz with his violin gained high favour with those music lovers who attended the recital at the School of Music last night. The interesting hut unusual programme presented was obviously very much enjoyed by the audience who demanded many recalls.

That dine contralto voice possessed by Miss Assheton is of a pure and sweet quality and of considerable range, and its several capabilities are used always with the same impeccable taste. But. her voice is only one contribution towards Miss Assheton’s art for she combines with it an ability to act which adds greatly (o her interpretation of the many songs in her repertoire. The costumes worn by the singer, too, are very wonderful in colour and design -awl no doubt of special interest to the ladies in the audience. Miss Assheton had several changes last night and each new costume seemed even more gorgeous than its predecessors. Miss Assheton has a splendid stage appearance and looked equally well both in the comparatively simple costume of a Spanish woman and in the elaborate many-hued otufit of a Hungarian damsel. Miss Assheton created a great first impression with an aria from “Traviata” (Verdi), which enabled the singer to give almost a complete display of what her voice could do. But real sympathy between Miss Assheton and tlie audience began when she had sung the first of a little group of Oriental folk songs. She was clad in appropriate costume and delivered the songs with considerable, dramatic power. “GhariZa Drums”, an East Indian song arranged by Lily Strickland, was specially good. “Ma Lay Lay,” a Burmese song, struck a light note but was equally enjoyable. Three little Spanish songs, “Fickle Lover” (liague-Poss), “My Toreador” (Jose Padilla) and “La Clavei” (K. A. Lively) were well-received and the encore was “Who’ll buy my violets?”

The Hungarian ahd Slav folk songs were represented by “My Mate,” “Liliomsyal” (Dienzl) and “Oj Dana,” a traditional Polish song. The humour of the last-named was carried a step further by the encore “Three Little Chestnuts.” Miss Assheton also sung “Children, Children” (Ghetto Ballad) arranged by Mr Schwartz, “Santy Fair”, a traditional Irish air and “Caller Herrin,” a well-known Scotch folksong. “Annie Laurie,” sung by request was rendered very beautifully. As a violinist Mr Laszio Schwartz is as versatile an artist as his partner is a vocalist but in addition he is able to speak on musical subjects in a manner that holds the interest and excites the imagination of his listeners. Mr Schwartz speaks several languages but it is somewhat of a. surprise to find a foreigner using our language with such ability. He introduced the recital with a short talk on the work he and Miss Assheton had done collecting folk music. He stressed the need for sincerity and simplicity in music rather than the complicated and bizarre cacaphonies produced by tire modern and futurist schools of composers. It was the simple melodies found especially in folk music that had the power of attractions most people and the speaker consequently felt that he and Miss Assheton would have served a really useful purpose if they succeeded by their interpretation of the world’s folk niusic, in inducing those Who heard them to.develop a greater taste for music. Later in the programme Mr Schwartz described “Hungarian Folk Music in the Making”—a most interesting word picture deftly painted. But this is but a preamble to the best thing that Mr Schwartz has to offer and that is his playing of the violin. His technique is excellent and he produces a tone of a rich quality and sweet without being too “sugary”. Several of his own composition—for he is a composer of considerable note—were included in last night’s programme ranging from the simplicity and beauty of “Exrice” to the almost unpleasant realism of “Bhapsodie Impromptu”, a protest against war in all its sorrow and terribleness. Mr Schwartz, too, played much folk music including “Eili Eili,” a traditional Hebrew lament; “So They Say” (Korbay); “Love Song” and Hungarian Phantasy” both arranged by Mr Schwartz. The three last named" are folkmusic of the Magyar and they were followed by “Song of the Island,” des-

scribed by the. violinist as one of the IT awaiiaus, Another encore was a very spirited “Balkan Dance" from Ronmariia.

The finale lo I lie programme was Mascheroni’s “Avc Maria” sung by Miss Assheton with violin obligato by 'Mr Schwartz. This was very well done indeed and was a fitting close to an evening’ of fine music. A less c»nspiouous but very valuable performer ir. the recital was the accompanist, Mr Eric Bell of Auckland. Be-, side's having obviously mastered tho J piano itself he lias also perfected that , very difficult phase of pianoforte work that, is required of an accompanist. Mr Bell is a young man who should do well as he progresses along a musical career. A second concert Will be given at the School of Music to-night and the programme arranged holds much in store lor those who hear it.