MISS MARIE NARELLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8309, 12 December 1906, Page 5

MISS MARIE NARELLE.

Miss Marie Narelle, who made her appearance ia the Town Hall, last evening, received a warm weloome from a large audience. Mies Narelle, who is gifted wi'h a beautiful soprano voice, justified all that had been said of her voioe, and those who were present at the Town Hell, last evening, had no oause to regret their visit. Miss Narelle uses her voioe with a fine effect. Iu forte passages it is ringing and clear, with a marvellous carrying power. In softer and more tender phrases her tones are sweet and liquid. Without any suggestion of effort she gracefully works up a stirring crescendo, and then with similar artless ease the zound dulcet notes die away into the faintest whisper, yet her enunoiation ia invariably distinct; every word can be heard, and its meaning as well as that of the muaioal sounds to which it is allied understood and appreciated. Her phrasing is artistic in every respect. It is. evident that every number she interprets has been made a serious study, and that the inusia of the composer has had in Miss Narelle not only an intelligent, but also a cultured student. Thin gifted lady seems to take a particular delight in what may be oalled Irish folk-songs. Her opening number last evening was that simple though much-admired ballad, "Come Back to Erin." The manner in which she treated it seemed to imbue the familiar words and wellknown melody with added charms. The singer was loudly applauded. In ''Angus Maodonald," a song Scottish iu eeutiment and character, Miss Narelle was heard in a very different class of compositiou. It is at once a pathetic ballad, and a stirring declamatory song of thanksgiving at the safe return of the victorious warrior. . But the singer was suited in either mude. Her versatility was further displayed in such songs as "Ihe Harp in the Air." "The Dear Little Shamrook," "O'Donnell Aboo," and "A Memory of Irelanpl." In each case she was successful in delighting her audienoe and each number was greeted with spontaneous obeering. Mr Chester Fentress also had a splendid reception. His fine tenor voioe was hearitily enjoyed. His first song, Florence Aylward's "Love's Ooronation," assured his hearers that he was possessed of a | voice of no mean charaoter or cul- ! ture. His quality of tone is rich and fairly robust, and he uses the mezzo voce in a manner, which none but a thoroughly well - trained veoalist could attempt. Qodard's "Berceuse de Jocelyn," Bunning's "Koseeu Dhu" and Moore's "Oft in the Stilly Night," were the songs in which be was heard, and each was delightfully sung. \ Miss Constance Brandon-Usher's playing of Moszkowski's tricky Waltz iu E and Liszt's diffloult Tarautella, last evening, showed clearly hov well sha has profited by the instruction she has reoeived in the Leipsio conservatoire. Mhs Usher also played the pianoforte accompaniments.