MISS WALKER'S RECITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17371, 19 January 1920, Page 6

MISS WALKER'S RECITAL.

VAN ENJOYABLE CONCERT. '..-- ! The vocal recital given by Miss Laura Walker, the brilliant Auckland soprano, in 'the Town Hall concert - chamber on Saturday evening, attracted what, must have f been, a record attendance for ' that place of entertainment. . At 8 p.m. a con. i siderable queue of would-be attenders' v was still .ii* waiting, and many of these had to ; return home without securing seats. - DurI ing thel three years Mks Walker has .been studying at Dame Melba's' Conßervatorium in Melbourne, ■ under the direction of the famous! diva, : her , fine voice has received further oiretul. training, and her musica. perceptions have materially, deepened. jAt Saturday evening's ; rocital -the young 60prano gave definite proof of the progress she is making in the various branches of her art,;-and readiiy secured the close attention and admiration of the crowded house in a, heavy programme. Miss Walker was warmly recalled after each budget of songs, and also received such a number of floral tributes that' the top of the concert grand was covered with tuem. The ordeal of facing, once more an Auckland audience woe considerable, and it was not surprising that Miss Waker was obviously nervous in her' opening bracket of songs—Landon Ronald's "Prelude" and " Love, I Have Won You." These were nevertheless sung with much intelligence and charm of manner. In the following dramatic. Air de Salome," from Massenet's " Herodiade," the singer rose to the expression demanded in the excerpt, and moreover voiced the higher intervale with ease and purity ;of tone. Miss Walker's diction was commendably clear in this, and other French numbers sung at the recital. A dainty and suitabe treatment, was accorded the "Aubade," from Lalo's "Lo Roi D'ys," while Massenet's '"Elegie" (with 'cello obligato) was invested with expressive dignity. The mood of Tosti's "Matt.nata" was very well caught, while the closing bracket, Thank God for a Garden" (dol Riego) and the blithesome "Morning and You'' (Aylward), won for Miss • Walker much apprbva.. Prominent in a number of encore songs were "Home, Sweet Home" (Bishop), " Love's Coronation" (Aylward), " Chanson de Florian" (Gbdard), and "St. Nicholfs* Day" (Easthope Martin). The voices of Miss Walker and Mr. Carter ! blended to the best possible effect in j Lucanioni'a duet, "A, Night in Venice," and in response to the enthusiastic deImands, Landon Ronald's " 0 Lovely I Night," was given. Mr. Hubert Carter (tenor) scored well-merited success in his ! artistically phrased songs: " A Spirit 1 Flower" .(Campbell-Tipton) and "Vesta la Giubba," from Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci." , Mr. Carter uses his voice well, particularly i In the head register, while he has a -fine i grisp of the mors poignant essentials of a ' song, as witness his singing of the latter excerpt. In the second part Mr. Carter won a double recall. The 'ce!lo solos of Mr. J. Cecil Little were conspcuous for clearness of detail and carrying tonequality. He was warmly encored after I each of his programme pieces: " Reverie" (Dunkler) and "Valse Apache" (Van Biene). In hie obligates Mr. Little displayed discernment. Mr. Walter Irapett, who directed the rccita!, tlso played the pianoforte accompaniments with his accus- ! tomed skill. ' '