MR PETER DAWSON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 10

MR PETER DAWSON

SUCCESSFUL SECOND CONCERT The second concert presented by Mr Peter Dawson in the Town Hall last evening was attended by a somewhat smaller audience than that which greeted him on Tuesday evening, but in a number of other respects the performance was, if anything, a trifle more impressive than the opening concert. In the first place, Mr Dawson himself appeared to be in slightly better voice, whilst Mr TapiaCaballero, the solo pianist, was using a different instrument and one which obviously suited him better than the piano on which he performed on Tuesday. On the whole, the standard of the concert was fully up to the level which might have been expected from two such artists as Mr Dawson and Mr Tapia-Caballero, and the audience fully compensated for its lack of numerical strength by the obvious approval with, which it received the various vocal and instrumental offerings during the evening, both artists being required to give numerous encores, a matter in which their generosity fully matched the audience’s appreciation. Mr Dawson’s first number was Arne's vigorous and rollicking “ Hail, Immortal Bacchus,” which he sang in rousing style, this being succeeded by Jonathan Battishill’s “When Valiant Ammon,” a fine declamatory composition which gave Mr Dawson an opportunity of displaying his superb executive and interpretative qualifications. In response to repeated demands for recalls, he sang German’s over-popular “ Rolling Down to Rio ” and the dramatic “Yon Assassin is My Equal,” from Verdi’s “ Rigoletto.” The lovely Brahms “Nicht mehr zu dir zu gehen ” was sung with artistic restraint and attention to expressive detail, while Felix Fourdrain’s “ Marins dTslande ” received a dignified and finely-shaded rendition. Campbell Tipton’s “A Spirit Flower,” an imaginative and deeply romantic number, which was sung with appropriate feeling and expression, was in sharp contrast to Loewe’s grisly and intensely dramatic “ Edward,” in which Mr Dawson achieved and sustained to the full the atmosphere of horror which is a feature of this number. encores he sang the light-hearted “Largo al Factotum,” from Rossini’s “ Barber of Seville,” and Kernochan’s “ Smugglers’ Song.” The final bracket of songs opened with a sea song of an unusual type, “ The Pirate Goes West,” by J. P. M'Call, in which the atmosphere surrounding the dying pirate as he recalls the exploits and impressions of his youth was admirably reproduced. In different vein was “ Route Marchin’,” also by M'Call, a rousing and martial number which Mr Dawson sang in his usual vigorous stylo. His final recalls were the Irish ballad “ The Pride of Tipperary,” “ Trees,” by Rasbatch. and the ever-popular “ Boots.”, Mr Tapia-Caballero’s first appearance of the evening was in his presentation of Schumann’s “ Etudes Symphoniquesa composition of sharply-varied moods and great melodic charm, of which he gave a singularly attractive interpretation, the wealth of expressive detail and the great amount of atmosphere and colour infused into his reading, as well as the skill of his technique, calling forth prolonged applause from the delighted audience. His second offering was Mozart’s Sonata in D minor, to which his delicacy of'artistic expression lent added beauties. The rippling and joyful allegro was succeeded by a thoughtful and gracefully restrained interpretation of the adagio 'movement, while the dainty, vivacious allegretto which concludes the sonata was a delightful exhibition of technique allied with a thorough insight into the composer’s mood. His concluding group consisted of a bracket of three coinpositions by Moussorgeky, which was introduced by the strongly rhythmic “Gopak.” This was followed by the hauntingly lovely “ The Old Castle,” and in striking contrast was the twinkling and airy “La Couturjere,” which was played with considerable grace. Ravel’s Toccata, a brilliant and complex composition, received vigorous treatment. Included in Mr TapiaCaballero’s encores were Chopin’s “ Impromptu in F Sharp,” in which he achieved great sonority of tone, a strongly rhythmic dance by De Falla, and Brahms’s lovely little “Valse in A Flat.” Mr Hubert Gveenslade’s pianoforte accompaniments to Mr Dawson’s songs were again in perfect sympathy with the singer. The final concert of the season will be given to-morrow evening.