THE THIRD CONCERT

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11409, 4 January 1923, Page 3

THE THIRD CONCERT

ROSINA BUCKMAN-D’OiSLY A VARIED PROGRAMME. The years have brought Ro6ina Eachman's voice an astonishing range of power. If Miss Buckman sings a trifle less melodiously than she need to, she has matured as an artist. Experience, and her own restless inquiring brain | have made her a singer always delving : after meanings. And those meanings she has set herself out, conscientiously jto convey. To her beauty is seldom an end in itself; it must be wedded to passion, to emotion in some, form or other. She is, in other words, a dramatic soprano. Yet. curiously enough, her finest song last evening was the lively Musette's waits song from "La Boheme," which requires voice, and voice only, and which she sang with the clarity and grace of Alma Gluck. Her big aria, the famous “Jewel Song,” from "Faust," was a brilliant piece of bravura; but paled before the song from “La Boheme.” She also gave again Santuzza’s romanza, “Voi lo Sapete" ("Cavilleria Rusticana”), Liza Lehmann's quaint "Cuckoo Song," and a Tery beautiful .song by Rimsky-Korsakoff, "The Rose Enslaves the Nightingale." It was interesting to see that Miss Buekman had. included upon her programme a song by Purcell. Some day English platform singers will realise that Purcell,is by far our greatest song-writer, and then we shall have less rubbish upon their programmes. "The Knotting Song” was only another proof of the ignorance of the average singer who haa allowed Purcell to lie in the same obscurity which shrouds Schubert, and Grief, and Hugo Wolf. Last of all comes the powerful and strange song by Sibelius, "Dead Roses,” In which Miss BuckmarP "found full scope for her dramatic powers. _■ Mr Maurice D”Oisly is French in his sympathies, and it was when singing Massenet Chamii , de, or in 1 Parisian Argot that he wa» at his beet. His voice is .suited to the lightness and humour of sfcch songs as Weckerlin's "Margoton,” the amusing "When I was a Bachelor" (Gregory), or the surface sentiment of Massenet’s "Ouvre tes Yeux Bleus.' But Don , Jose’s perennially “delightful flower song from "Carmen," with its beautiful pathetic melody and great appeal, though correct and pleasing, he was not auite e"nal to the great demands of v the song towards its dose, and in the duet from "Madame Butterfly" which" requires a very robust tenor of the type of Mulling* or McCormack, the singing was a little one-sided in the later passages; But why will artists of the calibre of Miss Bookman and Mr D'Oisiy give a false worth to the banalities of D’Hardelot and Montague Phillips by allowing them to occupy space upon a. programme which might otherwise be filled by songs worth while? The exquisite love duet from the end of the First Act of "fladame Butterfly” was set down as the final number, and proved the triumph of the evening. Though taken, a thought too slow, the glorious melody and grace of this brilliant duet culminating in on outburst of passion and rapture was sufficient to atone for any imperfections, Miss Buckman, as always, when she singe Puccuii,’ being at her beet. The- passionate duet rstay, Stay Turridu”) in '‘Cavilleria Rfusticana,” where Santnzza upbraids her Whilom lover,. followed, admirably sung, Indeed, and In conclusion the inevitable "Keys of Heaven" was given. ■ ‘ ’ Miss Adelina Leon, a promising 'cellist, gave quite a pleasing rendering of Bach's rich "Air on G String."', The bsllance of her programme, however,, consisted of trivial pieces, GreigV popular "Humorsesk," a little Swedish melody arranged by Percy Grainger: Hamilton Ha tty's ineffective "Butterflies, Popper's Rhapsody" and a Tarantella by the 'cellist, |W. H. Squire. At the piano Mr Percy Kahn once again gave proof of the consummate .artist that he is. From the 'subdued -accompaniments to Miss Leon to the old world atmosphere of the YHjaotting Song" and the reduced orchestral piano part in the "Butterfly" duet, he was never found wanting "GOOD BYE'-'. CONCERT KEKfUEST- PROGRAMME SATURDAY \ .NEXJT. ~ V ■,[; :) [ ; '• A "good-bye" concert will be given by the popular singers on' Saturday evening next in the'Town Hall. This will positively bei their final appearance in Wellington, a request programme will ■be given. Selections' fori the programme should be sent to EL J. GraveStock, Town Hall. The box plans are at the. Bluebird Confectionery, next to the Opera House, and the day sales at Ned Perry's - >