GERTRUDE JOHNSON CONCERTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17974, 29 June 1920, Page 3

GERTRUDE JOHNSON CONCERTS

The enterprise of the modern Australasian entrepreneur usually expends itself upon the exploiting of imported talent, and the result is that the local artist is too often overlooked. The fact that in Australia and New Zealand there aro singers and musicians equal in all respects to the best who have come here from abroad, has, however, impressed Mr Victor Beck, the well-known director of numerous high-class entertainments which have toured this country. He has organised a concert tour of the dominion, under the management of Mr G. S. Garland, of Auckland, by some of the finest artists in the musical world on this side of tho globe. They are Miss Gertrude Johnson, the phenomenal young operatic soprano and prima donna, of Melbourne Mr Horace Hunt, the brilliant Auckland pianist, musician,, and composer; and Mr Charles Russell, the celebrated Australian flautist. Early this year Miss Johnson was in the dominion as prima donna in the J. C. Williamson Grand Opera Company. She was a triumphant success throughout New Zealand, as she had previously been in Australia. Opera-goers will remember the furore she created in fler two principal roles, in " Lucia do Lammermoor" and "Rigoletto." In ro7 'owing her work in the former opera, a Wellington musical critic said: " Miss Gertrude Johnson was cast for tho name part • ■ a revelation. Than that of Lucia it js difficult to name a much more exactting.role in grand opera. Yet Miss John son was singularly successful in it. In fact hers was a brilliant effort.. Her vocal qualifications for Lucia are of a high order in respect to both range and tone, and, she had the exact expression required for i_ "words. The elaborate embellishments 3/nd ornnnifiiitfll pussies associated with Lucia wero sung with perfect ease. Her greatest effects were obtained of course in the mad scene, a power, ful piece of acting, and tlazzliiin- ln the bniia.ncy oi eingmg. The house was moved not only to applause, but to loud cheering, M>ss Johnson was ' recalled again and again, and deservedly so. Bho had full and sufficient grounds for beinc herself wholly satisfied with har mcnt, for a sweet reward it is to know for one's self that one has done well." Mr Horace Hunt, who' will appear coniointkwith Miss Johnscn, is on the same hHi plane of excellence. His art has been perfected to a pronounced degree, in the last few years. There is nothing so valuable to tho musician as a wide experience of tho world and of the world's great artists and their methods. This knowledge Mr Hunt has acquired ditring a lengthy period of hard practice in the intracicies of his art. He has returned to his native land a now personality, with perspective widened*and broadened, with his power of expressive playing intensified, with all his talents as it were concentrated and crystallised and he will very speedily impress those who are wiia enough to hear him with tho mastery of the piano- he has gained. Tic box plans for the series of local com arts will open at the Bristol on Thursday.