ENJOYABLE CONCERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20690, 9 October 1930, Page 16

ENJOYABLE CONCERT.

MISS STELLA MURRAY. A TALENTED PERFORMER. The vocal recital given in the 'lown Hall last evening by Miss Stella Murray introduced to Auckland a contralto singer of rare talent. Although the audience was not as large as might have been expected, those who attended will be able to recall with pleasure their memories of a most enjoyable evening. Miss Murray possesses tho happy faculty of telling a story in her songs and does not allow clear enunciation of the words to sufier in any attempt at vocal acrobatics. Her programme last evening consisted of a variety of litiln musical tales, the rendering of which was a line to her vocal art. She was accorded an enthusiastic reception and was obliged to respond to numerous and insistent demands for encores.

In her programme of sonic two dozen songs, which ranged from deelamatmy recitative to the lightest of tinkling ditties, Miss Murray showed an efiortless case in rendering light and shade which could only be the product of an excellent voire excellently trained. Particulai ly attractive was her singing in the middle register, a pitfall in which many contialto singers are prone to harshness. The opening number was Cesar Frances "ranis Angelas," which was sung with organ and piano accompaniment. In this number, and even more so in a later number, the "Creation's Hymn ' of Beethoven, which was similarly accompanied, Miss Murray's voice showed a rare degree of power. The recitation and aii tioiu Cluck's "Clytemnestre" were delivered with equal power and possessed a lire dramatic quality. "Dido s Lament v. a» sung with bell-like clnvity, and maining song in the hrst group was 1 uicell'.s '•'There's Not a Swain on the Plain." An outstanding number was hiiMnstein's "The Asrn," a song which contains a fascinating mixture of languorous beamy and the. fatalism of the .Muslim. "Ihe

Sad Little Bird" was a beautiful liM'o poem in strong contrast to the two fyp'rally Russian songs which followed, "H* Dreary Steppe" and ''My Native I.aml. A bracket of songs by Hugo Wolf was given a good reception by the audience and offered a variety of moods. "Hi* Friend" was sung with very sincere emotion and the following number, "C"itv, Mary, Take Comfort," contained a soft tenderness entirely compatible with the subject. The third song, "The (Jardciier. was a charming flight of iancy. 1w o songs by Strauss, "Rest 1 bee, My >; •! it aid "Devotion" were given an ev.<!Cnt rendering, as also was 1* ran/, s "Dedica tion." "Four by the Clock' was sutig witu very fino effect and successfully coii\e\ed the impression of the hush that accompanies the hour before dawn. Slow, Horses, Slow," the first song in the final group, was notable not only ior i!" 1 spirited feeling put into it by the singer but also for the excellent effect worked into it by tho accompanist. "We Sway Along" was another spirited song, deputing tho helter-skelter rush of scenery past the. windows of a railway carriage. The pianoforte accompaniments veto very symphathetically played by Mi. Cyril Towsey, and Miss Nellie Ormond rendered the organ accompaniments.