THIRD CONCERT IS GIVEN BY ALFRED O’SHEA, FINE TENOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18546, 21 August 1928, Page 14

THIRD CONCERT IS GIVEN BY ALFRED O’SHEA, FINE TENOR.

The Municipal Concert Hall was largelv attended downstairs last evening for the third recital of Mr Alfred O'Shea, the gifted Irish-Australian tenor. He was in happy vein throughout the evening, following, it was whispered, a very felicitous day at Addington.

Mr O’Shea chose the ever lovely aria. “ Salut Deme.ur, Chaste et Pure.” sung bv Faust in the Garden Scene in Gounod's opera. He made of it something spiritual, singing without any attempt at display or power, but with sustained beauty of quiet, expressive tone. The tenor has facility in languages: his French is as convincing as his Italian. The enthusiasm over his singing rose high throughout the evening, and treble encores were the rule. In this case they were the exquisite Irish melody. “ Has Sorrow the Young Days Shaded?” to which a rich and ample accompaniment, has been given by Herbert Hughes; the “ Serenata ” of Toselli—melodious, graceful, typically Italian—which Mr O’Shea considers one of the most beautiful love songs ever written: and “ The Minstrel Boy,'' sung in a tryingly high kev.

For his second scheduled appearance the tenor bracketed a song by Erie Coates. “ A Song Remembered.” and Handel’s popular “ Ombra Mai Fu.” Handel’s songs are test pieces for singers; they call for skilled breath management and assured art in phrasing, both of which demands Mr O'Shea, of course, easily meets. He has thorough control over his voice. The mezza voce, which he uses considerably with artistic effect, is always delightfully sweet and effortless. Three encore numbers followed this second group, the “ Questa O Quella” from “Rigoletto” one of them (which he is particularly well suited in), and another the amusing

“ Eileen' Oge,” with laughter from the audience punctuating most of the lines. Mr O’Shea has an Irishman’s strong sense of humour.

The Massenet “Elegie" was given with violin obbligato and was followed by another trilog}' of encore pieces.

“The Snowy Breasted Pearl,” one of Ireland’s most touching gems, was the first. I last heard it from John MacGormack in America, the Irish-Ameri-can tenor having rescued the song from oblivion, and including it constantly in his programmes. It is a commonplace, of course, to remark that Mr O’Shea’s voice and singing remind most people of Mac Cormack’s. It has long been a matter of comment. Purcell's sixteenth century ballad “Passing By” and “Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms” were the other extras. The audience was insatiable in its demands, and stormy applause followed all the singing. The much-admired aria from the last act of “La Tosca,” “E Luce van Le Stelle,” was the closing number of the programme, but needless to say not of the concert. Mr O'Shea finds the Concert Hall acoustics excellent, and thinks it is very easy to sing in. The two clever young associates of Mr O’Shea, Miss Claire Hartge and Miss Kathleen Fitzgerald, won favour. Both have excellent technical facility, and play brilliantly. There will be an extra concert this evening, and Mr O’Shea announced that the names of songs desired to be sung may be sent in to The Bristol, and he will give them as wished. The Christchurch season ends the New Zealand tour. Mr O’Shea will give con certs in the Town Hall in Sydney im mediately after arrival in Australia. SYDNEY FRANCIS lIOBEN.