SUCCESSFUL NEW ZEALANDERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19764, 15 April 1926, Page 10

SUCCESSFUL NEW ZEALANDERS

MISS COLLEEN CLIFFORD. MISS VERA MOORE AND HER TREASURES. (From C ir Own Cobbes. ondent.) LONDON, March 10. Miss Vera Moore, the Dunedin pianist, is the proud possessor of the piano which belonged t< the late Mr Leonard Berwick, under whom she had studied for a 4 msiderablo time. The piano became her property at a special price, hut there were other things belonging to Mr Berwick which have been presented to her—including the famous pianist’s own original edition of Mozart, two manuscript translations for which he was widely noted, ard a photograph of Madame Schumann, which the trustees have handed on to her keeping. Miss Moore is doing a great deal of private pianoforte' playing at present, and a certain amount of teaching, while in addi tion she has been associated with J. S. Kruse in four sonata recitals for violin and piano. Kruse was a pupil of Joachim, and played for 12 years in his famous quartet; afterwards Kruse formed a quartet of his own, of which Charles Schilsky (well known In New Zealand as examiner for Trinity College of Music) wag his second violin. The recitals are all taking place in London, at private residences, those who have lent their houses being Mrs H. Lousada, Mrs Eyre, Mrs Crosthwaito Eyre, and Miss Sutherland. At a concert given in the Holywell Music Room, at Oxford—the oldest and most his toric concert hall in Europe—Hiss Moore played tw-o groups of pianoforte solos, including Leonard Berwick’s arrangement of Bach’s Chorale from Cantata 147 —‘Mean, Joy of Man’s Desiring”—and the same author's Chorale Prelude, “O Lamb of God." It should interest musical New Zealanders to know that both these arrangements are to be published shortly by the Clarendon Press, This concert was the! three hundred and thirty-fifth function arranged bv the Oxforo Ladies Musical Society. Violin solos were played v y Miss Grrca Pernei (Feme! Wilson), the vocalist was Mr Gilbert Bailev, and the accompanist Dr Harris. Miss Moore'now has her own studio in Hampstead, and is finding her professional work all-absorbing and full of interest. MARGARET COOPER'S SUPERIOR. Miss Colleen Clifford has returned to London after a very successful tour of 30 weeks with the Lydia Kyasht Company, and, although offered another long engagement by the same company, she has decided to remain for the present in London. Throughout her travels she has had excellent receptions from the public and the press, her talent being immediately recognised and her win mng ways ensuring her hosts of admirers among , patrons of high-class variety productions. Some of the most recent criticisms will interest Miss Clifford's numerous friends and appreciators in the Dominion. Thus, the Glasgow Evening Times: "Do you remember Margaret Cooper 'I She has her superior in Colleen Clifford. If Miss Clifford is already a shining light among the sky signs in Piccadilly she will forgive my cave man provincial ways in hailing hei as a new star. Stars, I might add in more poetic vein, are cooling gases forming into solid masses. The days when this young lady will cool into artistic solidity are far distant, 1 imagine. There are more vapours of class comedy about her songs at the piano than I can condense into words. Her voice is surprisingly full of colours, and her eyes play a tune of fireworks on their own. Glasgow Evening Citizen: “There is a little girl who sings at the piano. Her name is Colleen Clifford. If she is not a genius in her own line, then I will swallow my pen, and give up writing. The strangest thing about her is that nobody had heard of her; but she won’t remain unheard of *° Edinburgh News: “This sparkling and talented little lady. . . What a rare and spontaneous humour she has; bubbling mirth combined wbtb musical ability of a high cider.” * The Scotsman: “Miss Colleen Cliuoid, a young artiste, evidently ba» found her stage metier in character songs at the piano. She is on several planes higher than most or the vaudeville artists who have chosen this sphere, and more will be heard of her. Oxford Chronicle; “Miss Clifford has a style of her own, is simply irresistible, and received the really rapturous applause of the evening." . , Liverpool Express: “Petite Colleen Clifford with songs at the piano is as entertaining as one would wish an entertainer to be. She ib not only an accomplished musician, but she has a repertory of songs as original as her style.” . . .. Derby Express: ‘Miss Clifford is so highly successful that she looks like being the fate Margaret Cooper's legitimate successor, both in originality and versatility. The Hull Press finds her ‘ as entertaining as one would wish an entertainer to be. an accomplished musician with a repertory of songs original as her style.' The Dally Telegraph is appreciative, while tl., London Evening Star refers to her con -.plcuous talent, and adds: ” Her nmging, nlaying, diction, and characterisation are every bit as good as Margaret Cooper s, and she can wish for no higher praise than that.” „ „ , A Yorkshire Journal concludes: M.ss Col letn Clifford at the piano Is along worth seeing. She Is a capable singer and playe and her humorous ditties were accompanied by a wealth of delicious mimicry which created Immense enthusiasm, and her audience was loth to let her go." Miss Clifford spent Christmas with her mother, who lives at Taunton. “ HINBMOA.” “Hlnemoa,” the attractive opera written by Mrs Brumfit (Miss Ethel Goode. Wellington) and performed In November by the Kingston Dramatic Society, is to be produced in Manchester this month by the amateur dramatic sreiety connected w th Messrs Vickers Metropolitan Company. It will be staged at their own theatre, and good representation of the haka has been volunteered by the overseas students asaocla'ed with the company. It will run for about a week in tbie centre of theatrical discernment, and everyone hopes that the story, with its part-setting In New Zealand, will prove popular and successful, and that It will ultimately be produced on even a still bigger scale.' Friends await with Interest the result n i;s first presentation in 'he provinces.