ALFRED O'SHEA CONCERTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20175, 8 February 1929, Page 14

ALFRED O'SHEA CONCERTS.

EXCELLENT PROGRAMME. The varied tastes of concert-goers wore fully ratced for in tho Town Hall last evening, when tho brilliant tenor, Mr. Alfred O'Shea, presented tho most enjoyable programme of tho season. He gave liberally from a veritable storchouso of vocal gems, and in responding to tho unstinted applause, submitted many numbers which further displayed his mastery of all styles of vocalisation. The clarity of his silvery tonor tones was a marked feature of Mr. O'Sheu's delivery of his opening number, tho rnelodiors " Flower Song " from Bizet's opera " Carmen " and ho carried the audience with him in every phrase. Finished vocalisation was conspicuous in Cowon's beautiful song, " At tho Mid Hour of Night," while Tosclli's " Sereniita " was given with refined expression. Massenet's " Elegio," sung with violin obligato, was in every way impressive, and so roused the hearers that Mr. O'Shea responded at this stage with two additional solos. Ono of these was the warmly devotional " Agnus Dei " (Bizet), which was featured with piano, violin, and grand organ iiccornpaninlont, tho organ being played by Mr. E. S. Craslon. After a lengthy introduction by tho trio of instrumentalists, the singer wove his part into tho magnificent bar rnoriic structure which waxed in volume and improssivenoss to the closing bant.

Further popular successes by Mr. O'Shna included trie Coate.V, " A Song Remembered,' and " 1 Hear a Thrush at Eve " (Cadman), as well as a host of recall numbers with a strong appeal. Tartini's fine variations on a Corelli theme formed Miss lna Bos worth's principal violin contribution, while Miss Mavis Grevatt again gave pleasure in her harp solos, " The Rising of the Lark " (Thomas), nnd "'I lie Last, Rose of Summer" (Moore). Miss Thoo. llnlpin acted as accompanist and was also responsible for the pianoforte solos, " Polonaise in B flat " (Chopin), and a " Nocturne " from her own pen. which displayed much originality. The final concert by Mr. O'Shea nnd his musical associates will be givon in tho Town Hull to-morrow evening.