AN ATTRACTIVE RECITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21827, 14 December 1932, Page 5

AN ATTRACTIVE RECITAL

THREE OUTSTANDING ARTISTS A very enjoyable music recital was given in Messrs Charles Begg and. Co.’s concert chamber last evening by Miss Eunice Meredith, the well-known . New Zealand soprano, assisted by Mr Hellmuth Hoffman, pianist, and Miss Ethel Wallace, violinist. There was a fair attendance, and the audience was not slow to show its appreciation of the work of the singer and other artists. The programme was opened by Miss Meredith with k bracket of pretty songs —Bach’s “Be Thou Contented’’ and “Stone, Beyond All Jewels Shining,” and “ Wiegenlied,” both by Brahms. The simple melody of the first number was fittingly offset by the vigorous . treatment accorded the second, of* which Dr V. E, Galway’s accompaniment was a notable feature. Probably the_ most attractive song was the third, which received a very sympathetic and restrained interpretation, Elgar’s " Sabbath Morning at Sea” was Miss Meredith’s next item, and this gave her plenty of opportunity for the display of her powers. “A Fancy” (German) and Horn’s « Cherry Pipe ” were attractively ; rendered, On the second half of the programme, the singer presented a bracket of bergerettes which included “Jeunes Fillettes,” “Lisette,” and “Bergere Legere,” by J. B. Weckerlin and “To Music,” and “Hark, Hark, the Lark,” by Schubert. Each of these numbers was delicately treated by the singer, whose rendering of the last-mentioned song was particularly attractive. Miss Meredith also provided the final item of the evening, singing the aria, “ Kitorna Vincitor,” from Verdi’s " Aida,” with telling effect. Mr Hellmuth Hoffman again proved himself to be a pianist, of unusual ability. On the first part of the programme he presented two Brahms numbers—lntermezzo in B Flat minor and Capriccio in B minor. . Though it might be said that the former was a little uninteresting to the unmusical, there could be no doubting Mr Hoffman’s executive ability, and his. work in the, Capriccio was altogether admirable. His offering in the second part was Chopin’s Scherzo m B Flat minor, which also received expert handling. . , Miss Ethel Wallace needs no introduction to a Dunedin audience, and she once again made it very obvious that she is a master of her'instrument. Both her items —Wiertiawski’s “Legend” and Hubay’s “ Hejre Kati ’’—presented many difficulties, but she did not at any. time fail to meet the requirements of the music, and her technique and interpretation were truly a delight. Dr V. E. Galway played the accompaniments in a skilful and sympathetic manner. 1 '