A FEAST OF MUSIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21986, 22 June 1933, Page 8

A FEAST OF MUSIC

MISS MARY PRATT HONOURED OUTSTANDING CONCERT IN TOWN HALL During the past few years Dunedin has produced many singers who have risen to remarkably high positions in their art in the Dominion, but there can be no doubt that, amongst the galaxy of vocal talent with which this .city is blessed, the star of the greatest magnitude at the present moment is Miss Mary Pratt, whose glorious contralto voice, artistic maturity, and singularly appealing personality have placed her in the foremost rank of her class in the Dominion. It was then no matter for astonishment that the Town Hall was filled to capacity last evening, when one of the most enjoyable concerts in the history of this city W'as given for the purpose of providing funds so that Miss Pratt might be enabled to continue her studies in the wider Ueld of art provided by England and the Continent, the birthplaces and polishing grounds of so many of the world’s greatest musicians and artists. That Miss Pratt is fully qualified to joint the ranks of those with international aspirations is beyond argument, for competent critics who have been privileged to hear world-renowned singers have spoken in the most eulogistic terms of her vocal and artistic qualifications, and there is every probability that, as the result of the broadening of her artistic outlook and experience which will be made possible by her mingling with the haut monde of music, Miss Pratt will ultimately achieve to the highest pinnacle of her artistic profession. The concert, which was organised by Mr Ernest Drake, to whom must be given a very great deal of credit for the education of Miss Pratt to her present high state of artistic scholarship, was one which embodied the best of the musical and elocutionary talent which this city can offer, the result being that the huge audience showed no inclination to become restive even when the hour became late, for the entertainment occupied close on three hours. _ Miss Pratt, who received an enthusiastic welcome on her first appearance on the platform, once again enthralled her hearers with the purity of her lovely voice and the great depth of her artistic expression, and was required to answer repeated demands for encores. Her opening number was SaintSaens’s “ Softly Awakes My Heart,” which she sang with appealing artistry, her recall numbers being “Harbour Night Song,” which was given with charming artistry, and “ Barney O’Hea,” a lilting and humorous little Irish ballad, which was sung with ineffable grace. Later in the evening Miss Pratt sang Beethoven's “ Praise of ' God ” and Handel’s “ How Changed the Vision,” with great depth of artistic feeling, and in response to insistent demands for encores sang “ Doon the Burn ” and “ The Bonnie Briar Bush ” with effortless grace and felicity. The programme opened with a particularly impressive performance of the overture to “ Oberon,” by Weber, by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of M. de Rose. Gyeat suavity of tone by the strings, perfect balance, and attractive crispness in attack were the predominant features of the orchestra’s performance as a whole, and it formed an excellent introduction to an outstanding concert, -in which practically every performer was required to give an encore. Mr Wilfred Kershaw gave a finely-shaded rendition of the Prologue to “ Pagliacci,” by Leoncavallo, hie fine bass voice being always under excellent control. Mr Alfred Walmsley was responsible for a virile and effective performance of Handel’s “ Sound An Alarm,” and Mr W. Ruffell’s attractive baritone voice was heard to good advantage in Cowen’s ever-popular Onaway, Awake.” Miss Meda Paine sang Debussy’s “Air de Lia ” with distinctive grace and charm of expression, while Mr Ernest Drake, in his presentation of Cyril Scott’s dramatic “ Lord Randall,” and his recall number “Annabelle Lee,” gave two of the most artistically perfect renditions of the concert. One 5f the principal features of the entertainment was undoubtedly the singing of Mr Drake’s Student Choir, a combination including many of the most prominent soloists in the city. Embodying excellence, balance, and splendid tone, this choir sang Pinsuti’s “ The Sea Hath Its Pearls ” with fine attention to interpretative colour, but reached the peak of its endeavours in its presentation of Maunder’s arrangement of “ The Border Ballad,” in which it established itself as one of the finest combinations of this kind in the city. Its precision of attack, balance, and wonderful tone quality, as well as the spirit with which it gave this rousing ballad, moved the audience to a high pitch of enthusiasm, and the choir was required to repeat the number. The Royal Dunedin Male Choir, under the conductorship of Dr V. E, Galway, sang with its customary competence and close attention to interpretative detail in its presentation of Ayton’s “ For Home and Beauty,” and Robertson’s “All in the April Evening.” while a fine quartet, composed of Messrs J. Kennedy, J. Macfarlane, A. Jeavons, and A. M'Dowell, sang Pinsuti’s “ In Absence ” with nice cohesion and blend of tone. The instrumental side of the programme was provided by Dr Galway, whose performance on ,tlie Town Hall organ of Vierne’s “ Finale ” was a delightful exhibition of technical and artistic brilliance, and Mr Maitland M'Cutcheon, always a welcome figure on a Dunedin concert platform, whose violin solo, “ Legende,” ,by Wieniawaki exemplified his rich executive and interpretative qualifications. Mr Max Scherek played the pianoforte solo “ Soaring,” by Schumann, with his customary taste and skilled execution. The dramatic “ Death of Minnehaha,” from Longfellow’s “ Song of Hiawatha,” was presented by Miss Anita Winkel with impressive wealth of expression, this elocutionary number being one of the finest expositions of graphic recitation beard on a Dunedin platform for a very long time. The entertainment was concluded with an inspiring performance of Elgar’s “ Land of Hope and Glory,” by Miss Mary Pratt and Mr Drake’s Student Choir, a _ presentation which was a fitting conclusion to a concert of outstanding merit. The pianoforte accompaniments to the soloists were artistically played by Mrs Ernest Drake, Mrs Alfred Walmsley, and Miss Muriel Caddie.