ROSA ALBA FAREWELL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18324, 15 August 1921, Page 2

ROSA ALBA FAREWELL

Not in many years has an artist sung herself so swiluy and so etlecuuilly into the hearts 01 the Dunedin puolie as has Miss Rosa Alba. Tho large audience at Burns Hall on Saturday inglii on tne occasion of her farewell concert bore testimony to a popularity won not alone by her rich musical gilts, so artistically displayed, but to an extent also by reason of the cnarm of person to winch her art is wedded. Miss Alba’s contributions to Saturday night’s programme, embracing, in response to insatiable demand, a generous supplementary list, included many ol the numbers which had found special favour at her various concerts here. Her work throughout was fresh and vivid, the voice of belllike quality, oadenzos and trills exquisite in their purity, diction well nigh impeccable. The audience singled out lor special approval Felicien David’s aria ” Charmant Oiseau” (to the charm of which Mr J. Stewart’s flute obbligato contributed appreciably), “Sing, Sweet Bird,” and Tosti’s “Good-byo.” “Herdsman’s Song” (Berg), “Norwegian Echo Song” (1 hrane) were two numbers noteworthy for excellent voice control. the quality being preserved to the vanishing point of a beautiful diminuendo. Her additional songs were: “Caro Nome” from “Rigoletto.” Dvorak’s “Songs My Mother Taught Me,” “Springtime” (Vidal), “Tiho Tale of the Wind,” and, by way of benediction, a verse of “Home, Sweet Homo.” There was nice understanding between Miss Alba and Mr W. Gemmell in the duet “The Barcarolle,’ from “Tales of Hoffmann,” and indeed this duet, in which Mr Gemmell merited a full share of the honours, was received with marked enthusiasm, which was sustained until a verse had been repeated and an extra number, “Night of Stars,” added. Mr Gemmell’s dependable voice and nice appreciation of the dramatic lights and shades -afforded pleasure in a range of songs which included “Pagan” (Lohr), “Elegio” (Massanet), “Tomorrow” (Peel), “Star,” and an old Irish song. “Gentle Maiden.” Mr J. Stewart contributed, in addition to the obbligato, the flute solo “Les Soupirs” (Kalkbrcnner) and an encore piece. Besides enriching the efforts of the other artists by his cultured accompaniments, Mr Chas. A. Martin presented an enjoyable reading of Vogrich’s pianoforte solo “Staccato Caprice,” an encore being inevitable.