ALFRED O'SHEA HAS BEAUTIFUL TENOR VOICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18544, 18 August 1928, Page 2

ALFRED O'SHEA HAS BEAUTIFUL TENOR VOICE.

SINGS DELIGHTFUL PROGRAMME AT HIS OPENING CONCERT. The tenor voice has an attraction all its own, and when the voice under notice has the quality of that of Alfred O’Shea its coming is an event. Mr O’Shea gave his first Christchurch concert in the Municipal Hall last night, and the impression he made was more than favourable. This singer typifies the more restrained tenor. He has enough power at his command to cope with any operatic excerpt, but his rretraint is admirable and he relics on purity of tone and richness of quality A very consummate skill in singing makes the effect one that is much mere acceptable than a continued burst of power. Last night it was a night of subdued tones. Mr O’Shea’s* numbers were admirably chosen and all followed a tuneful principle. The audience was not a large one by any means (which in the light of the singer’s capabilities is rather inexplicable), but the heid the singer exercised on them was remarkable. His platform manner is very restrained and quiet, and accords very well witfi the delicacy of his vocal renderings. The voice itself is very remarkable. The upper notes are as pure as pure can be,, with something of that resonance that marks the voice of John M’Cormack. and there is apparently no effort in the gaining of the most telling effects. The carry ing quality was there to a marked extent, and the very softest and most delicate passages penetrated with care to the people at the very back of the auditorium.

The programme consisted of combined selections of Irish ballads and folk songu and lighter operatic excerpts. It was noticeable that the majority of those items which were given by request were Irish. Right at the start Mr O'Shea gave “Che Gelida Manina,” the very popular poet’s song from “La Boheme.” The song is a fine example of sustained fine passages, essentially operatic and at the same time filled with melody, and it has been kept famous by every tenor that ever sang on the concert stage, as we 1 ! as by the life of the opera containing it. It is an excellent standard for comparison, as perhaps every member of every audience is more or less familiar with it, and the singer came out very well indeed by any standard. Every phase of his capability was revealed, and found immediate favour. The quiet sweetness of his rendering was most refreshing. This song he followed with an English song, “When Song is Sweet,” a beautiful little thing which he gave beautifully. Mr O’Shea must have gauged the public taste very accurately, for his second encore number was Toselli’s “Serenata,” which ma} well be ranked as one of the most brilliant love songs ever written. In this the singer’s artistry roused ths audience to high enthusiasm. “Questa o Quella,” from the first act of “Rigoletto,” “La Donna e Mobile,” from the same opera, and “Angels Guard Thee,” completed the more valuable numbers, and in all of these the singer did well. In the two firstnamed it was soon apparent that the voice is one which is equal to any demand the singer may make on it. “La Donna e Mobile,” that mo6t haunting of melodies, was received with the spontaneous applause that a good rendering will always receive, and it was more than deserved. The folk songs of the night were admirably selected and beautifully sung. Alfred O'Shea is one of the com paratively few singers who have visited Christchurch in recent years wh"> ,:an really shine in this department, his understanding and taste being unfailing The numbers included "Ben Bolt,” “The Low Backed Car,” “Annie Laurie,” “Home,' Sweet Home,” “Mother Machree, ’ “Has Sorrow the Young Days Shaded?” a beautiful thing, arranged by Herbert Hughes, and “Eileen Oge.” Two assisting artists of high calibre are Miss Kathleen Fitzgerald, pianist and Miss Claire Hartge, vio’inist. Miss Fitzgerald accompanied the singer well, and her solo numbers were beautifully played. Miss Hartge found favour with her solos, notably Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” The second, concert takes place this evening.