SONG RECITAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13908, 20 May 1909, Page 6

SONG RECITAL.

BY MLSS LLOYD HASSELL. Seldom in Timaru, has a binger r..et with a more sincerely nattering rociptiou tliau that accomed lo *\i-..->.> jjn.,d rtasselL on tlie occasion of her apjiearance in a song recital at the Assembly Rooms yesterday afternoon. Considerably before the time at which the recital was announced to commence a largo and fashionable audience were competing for seats, and at 3 o'clock the hall was closely packed in every part, notwithstanding the fact that a large number of extra seats had been placed in the room for the convenience of the later arrivals; altogether the audience could not have numbered far from two hundred and fifty. The decorations of tho stage were very tastefully arranged 'and provided a" pleasing background for tho performers. Though tho greater part of tho work of entertaining the audience fell to Miss Hassell, she was fortunate in securing the kindly aud able assistance of two such finished performers as Mcsdames P. Elworthy and A. S. Elworthy, who rendered some fine violin and piano duets in a manner that elicited tho most cordial expressions of approval. Miss Hassell was "in splendid voice and thosu who were fortunate enough to have heard her in her former appearances in Timaru, would have noticed yesterday a marked improvement in her singing, not so much in technique, which remains as before of a verv high order, but in the feeling aud sympathy with the style of song she is singing, whether gay or sad, reverential or frivolous. The programme submitted was made up of songs widely differing in character and it speaks well for Miss Hassell's art, that she gave so convincing and satisfying a rendition of all, though some \vere obviously more to the singer's taste than ethers. The recital opened with a bracketed number, two charming songs by Amy "Woodford Finden "A Kashmiri Song" and "Till I Awake." tho last named being a sweetly sad little composition. A lament by Lambert followed, and then tho singer rendered the two songs that were undoubtedly tho gems of the repertoire inimelv a "Yveigenlied" by Schubert and "Gute, Naeht" by Franz, compositions that were received by the audience with such warm expressions of appreciation that Miss Hassell had to reappear and sing the first named over again. Tn the second half of tho progrnmmc the singer's most successful effort was in Liza Lehmamrs two impressive songs from "The Persian f-'irdoii," ' ; Ah! Not n Drop" and "The "Worldly How." Tho solemn recitative in" the first part was exceptionally well handled and the whole was a mr>=t prtistic piece of work which met with the approval it richly deserved and the artiste hn'l again to respond to a. recall. Miss Hassell's other ii"™b"is wee ■'Crossing the Bar" fWil-W-.v'l. "Four by the Clock" (Mallison). "Eves that used to f/aze in mine" (Lohrl. ••Vus Meinen Gres<-on SHiermarzen" fl'Yanz) and "Tho Dawn" Guy

d' Hardelot. Tho compositions chosen for tho violin and piano duets by the Mcsdamcs Elworthy were Grieg's "Sonata in E flat," a, romaneo by Carl Bohm and mazurka, by Wieniawski. Of these perhaps tho last two were the happiest and most appreciated, hut the manner in which the difficult sonata, was played by Mrs I*. Elworthy, shows that she. possesses an enviable mastery over the queen of instruments, and in response to an encore tin? beautiful song "Still wie die niiclit" was played. The accompaniments to the violin solos wvro played by Airs A. S. Elworthy and those for the songs by -Mrs N. K. Cox. with tho exception of an extra item given by Miss llasscll, "0 Heedless Flower'' (Lambert) when the singer accompanied herself.