NEW ZEALAND SINGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20987, 25 September 1931, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND SINGER.

ZELANDA'S TOUR BEGINS, j SUCCESS OF FIRST CONCERT, j The possessor of a charming dulcet voice, beautifully trained and controlled, and an engaging presence, Margherita Zelanda, the New Zealand singer, who made such an impression at the recent radio exhibition, opened a Dominion tour with a concert in the Town Hall concert chamber last evening, 'the smallness of the audience can only be explained bv the musical counter attraction in the adjoining auditorium, for her concert contained all the dements of a popular success. A Dunedin girl, who has been pursuing her studies with Italy's operatic masters. Margherita Zelunda has acquired more of the Italian bel canto than has met the endeavours of any other New Zealander for many a long day. Everything she touched in last evening's programme was turned to gold by the magic of a charmed voice, not, tremendously powerful, but rich, pure and velvety in texture and capable of infinite gradations of tone and meaning. Although sho was wonderfully at ease in tho operatic arias which liberally sprinkled the programme, her strongest individuality was felt in tho ballads, serenades and fragmentary songs of modern origin that, called for light and airy treatment. With such gossamer melodies as "The Tell-tale Stars" and " 'Oh, Bother,' Sang tho Thrush," to win their hearts, the audience could have stayed all night to listen. Tho operatic section, however, was not without its features, and tho exquisite coloratura rendering of tho famous "Indian Bell Song" from Dclibes' opera "Lakme" met an enthusiastic reception. Here Zelanda reached dramatic power and thrilled her audience by a succession of vocal embellishments of tho purest quality; but it should have come in the •first part of tho progrannno. ller second pieco do resistance was the aria "Charmailt Oiseau," from David's "Perle de Bresil," with (he voice gracefully answering and imitating tho bird-liko trills of j tho flute. Grace and artistry could not have been moro delightfully blended. The softest gradations of tone wero [ achieved in tho fragment "Caro Alio Ben" (Giordani), a pretty daintiness in Freiro's Spanish serenade, "Ay-Ay-Ay," and a fine crescendo in Frances Bonner's "Elegy." Tho singer was called upon to givo several encores and received many floral tributes during the evening. Air. Julian Dunn served capably as obligato player and gavo a number of flute solos in a finished manner, including Gen-man's "Saltarello" and the fantasia "Alasaniello," arranged by Tulon. Zelanda's second Auckland concert will bo given in the concert chamber to-morrow evening and a final concert will be given in the main Town Hall on Tuesday evening-