DAME CLARA BUTT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19234, 25 January 1926, Page 13

DAME CLARA BUTT.

ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS. The Town Hall was a scene of remarkable enthusiasm on Saturday evening, when Dame Clara Butt once more proved her vocal superiority and capacity to set new standards of interpretation in a programme which amply testified to her catholicity of taste. Aucklanders have evidently assimilated the concert habit in no half-hearted manner, since all parts of the auditorium were thronged as well as the choir seats. ... The famous contralto appealed to all tastes in widely divergent numbers, and ! the sincerity of her art was vmmistakable. There were many "supreme moments" as the programme ran its way, but none more so than when Dame Clara sang the lament, "Cho Faro Seuza Euridice," from Gluck's "Orfeo." This great exjcerpt, written at a period when music scarcely possessed the emotional sweep of more recent times, was given a searching interpretation. Everything contributed to an unforgettable tone-picture, the poignantf vocal utterances being supplemented by the pose and gesture of tho singer, who clearly entered fully into the mood of the music. Grief, passion and despair alike had their part in this tonal drama, the audience being held in thrall at each fresh manifestation. At the close of this exacting text, Dame Clara was vociferously recalled, only to find her hands filled with numerous bouquets, the climax being fittingly reached when a beautiful laurel wreath was handed up. The resultant encore numbers included a triumphant rendering of Handel's "Ombra Mai ,Fu"' with organ and piano accompaniment, and Squire's heart-appealing song, * entitled, "Tho Fold." Dame Clara's trio of_engaging numbers in the _ second part of the programme were given with her accustomed finish. These were, "When the Mind Is Without Fear" (White), "A Fairy Went a'Marketing" (Goodliart) and "Yonder" (Herbert Oliver). Double recalls followed, bringing to light Harold Craxton's dainty song. "The Snowdnop," and Elgar's "Land of Hope and Glory." In the last-mentioned tho audience, on the invitation of the contralto, joined lustily in the refrain, no doubt to tho dismay of any musical "highbrows" present. After the closing duet, "Love Has Come to Stay" (Torrens), by Dame Clara Butt and Sir. Kennerley Rumford, tho assembly was again delighted with "The Keys of Heaven" duet. Mr. Kennerley Rumford was well received in his interesting budget of songs, which included "Where-er You Walk," "More Sweot Is That Name" (Handel), "Vagabond" (Ireland), "Silver" (Armstrong Gißbs) and "The Rejected Lover," arr. Cecil Sharp.' as well as numerous additional contributions. All these were artistically given by tho baritone. Tho brilliant French pianist, Mile. Marie Antoinette Anssenac, whose touch and technique are so unerring, infused much poetic charm into her playing of Chopin's C minor nocturne, and the heroic "Polonaise in A Flat," as well as making light of the many difficulties of Ravel's wonderful "Jeux d'eaux," and Saint Saen's "Etude." Mile. Aussenac was warmly encored after each appearance. Mr. Roy Ellett at the piano and Mr, Bernard Page at the grand organ both lent valuable assistance in the domain of accompanying. Tho final concert will bo given at tho Town Hall this evening at 8 o'clock. Included in the programme will bp "Abide With Me," "Softly Awakes My Heart," and "Land of Hope and Glory." )