ALEXANDER KIPNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23539, 30 June 1938, Page 6

ALEXANDER KIPNIS

A CRITICS IMPRESSION Designated as one of the world's wonder singers and a past master of his art, Alexander Kipnis, the famous Russian basso, under engagement to the National Broadcasting Service, is. to make his first Sublic appearance in Dunedin on londay next at the Town Hall, in association with NoelNewsome, the New. Zealand splq pianist and accompanist. '., -, . f ' The 4 visit- of ,this distinguished artist may -well ! be designated the musical event of the year, and the Town Hall should be crowded to capacity for both concerts. A critic, writing in the Dominion, Wei-, lington, states:—"A mighty singer has come amongst us.- He is. Alexander Kipnis, Russian basso, who gaV£ his .first recital, in New Zealand- at the Wellington Town Hall in the presence of their Excellencies Lord and Lady Galway and a large audience, which the singer enthused in the < highest degree.. But faintly heralded, and' almost unsUng, this Russian, probably the first basso of the day in grand opera, and acknowledged as such in Europe and America, arrived unostentatiously. Only those who. follow .the course of. events and the cavalcade of the vocally-great in grand opera were aware of the exceptional power and fine'artistic virtues of this truly distinguished basso. Comparisons are odious sometimes, but it is in order to, say that this well-equipped Russian, with his impressive vocal breadth, his extensive range, his ad? mirable control, and the pleasing texture of his organ-like voice, takes a foremost place among the basses who have visited New Zealand in the last 60 years, among them Foli, Warwick Gainer, Mohwinkle, Travaglini, A. H. Gee, Fumigali, and others. Basso profundos are almost as rare as tenors, and some of them are so ' profundo' that they are not easy to listen to, but in the case of Kipnis, he is the basso one dreams about, for there is warmth and vitality in everything he does."