PETER DAWSON AND MARK HAMBOURG

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21385, 13 July 1931, Page 5

PETER DAWSON AND MARK HAMBOURG

Despite the lapse of years since he left Australia and New Zealand, Peter Dawr son. the famous baritone, will not come ! back as a stranger when he appears at the Town Hall to-morrow night, under the direction of Mr Hugo It’ris computed that during the last 20 years no fewer than 10,000,000 of Peter Daweon's records have been sold; - Everybody speaks affectionately of him as “Peter/ and he has a wonderful knack .of. getting in touch with audiences, even if it is only through the medium of the gramophone. By the way, some astute statistician’has computed that the Peter Dawson records placed side ,by side- would circle the earth. What is the secret of the popularity of this Australian singer? ;.v'iHis rich, resonant? voice has much to do with it, the clearness of his enunciation not a • little. Above all, ■'there is?£he inagnfetic personality that enables him to, make a vgobd song irresistible and a poor one so interesting as to be almost worth while. One thing must be credited to this Singer, the general level of musical; excellence of hiasonga is far higher than the average - popular vocalists. Barely do you heat .from him ,■ poor stuff, and when he bows to popular demand and. renders some saccharinelysweet' thing his .Superb: technique makes the very best of it. At home alike in classical and ballad music, he brings to each a glorious voice, :miisicianly skill, and an inimitable grace. Off the platform as on, Peter Dawson charms with his attractive personality. A great conversationalist, be impresses hearers with the way in which lie has profited by wide travel, and keen observation. A favourite with royalty, he;.: has by no means Tost the common touch. Unspoilt by' success, he puts on no airs and graces,' but is content to go on giving of bis best, sedulously practising, and ever on the lookout for ■ improvement in renderings that to most folk seem faultless.,; His is the art that conceals art. Records or wireless are welcomed by Mr Dawson, who considers that anything and; everything which brings music to the, people must eventually assist the artist;'personally. His Kipling songs are among ms most famous numbers, but his excerpts from grand opera and old English ballads display the remarkable range and. quality of his voice. , Mark Hambourg is an old friend of his, and the appearance of the two in one concert is unique. “We have played golf together for years,” said Hambourg recently, “ but this will be the first time we have worked together.” A copy of the programme chosen for the - opening concert in Dunedin is to hand,, and is the same as was given on the opening nights in Sydney and Wellington. From the list of requests furnished by the residents of Dunedin the artists have chosen a number of items which will be given as encores. Peter Dawson has selected numbers which will include “The Lute Player,” “The Floral Dance” “Boots” (his own composition), “Onaway, Awake Beloved, “ Fiagaro ” (“Barber of Seville ), and "The Song of the Flea,” in addition to his concert items featuring a group of Shakespeare songs and works by Bach, Brahms, and Loewe Bax, etc., whilst Mark Hambourg, in addition to. his programme numbers, “The Appassipnata Sonata” (Beethoven), a group of Chopin pieces and several Liszt numbers, will plav encores from the following request numbers:—“Marche Militaire (Schubert Tausig), “The Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven), “Naila False (DelibesDohnanvi), “ Soaring ” (Schumann), and Prelude in C sharp minor (Rachmaninoff). ■ , • Mr Hugo Larsen announces that the Dunedin season will be limited .to three concerts. The plans and 3s day sales are at the Bristol.