BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 20 July 1946, Page 2

BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY

VOCAL AND PIANOFORTE FIELDHOUSE, WILLIAMS, ANSIN The third concert of the British Music Society was a departure in tnat vocalists provided the major portion of the programme. This was to the taste oi tne audience, which proved to be very responsive, rue numbers comprising the programme were well chosen lor variety and for the purpose of revealing tne several abilities of the individual artists. The duets were very much appreciated. Gretta Williams, soprano, has a beautiful voice of extensive range, the upper register being particularly attractive. Sne has the advantage ot having mastered the technique of the actress, permitting her to be equally at home in both opera and folksong. Her recent appearance in Christchurch, when she sang the role of Marguerite in Faust with the Royal Choral Society, the Male Voice Choir and the 3YA Orchestra, must have been a very attractive performance judging by her work in Wanganui. The voice of Nellie Fieldhouse has a range and quality which is exceptional in contraltos. The contralto tends to heaviness and to the static, which frequently robs it. of its attractiveness. This artist has rich high notes, delightful flexibility, while her tone may be described as entrancing. She is an experienced concert artist, having been for some considerable time professionally engaged in that work in England. Her “Easter Hymn,” arranged by F. Bridge, was very attractive. The duets by these two artists were such as are seldom heard in New* Zealand, and it was these numbers that drew much applause and deservedly so. Their voices blended most happily especially in Dvorak’s “Spinning Song” and “In Springtime,” byLiza Lehmann, which numbers were highly appreciated. The young pianist, Yvonne Ansin (who substituted for Miss Winifred McCarthy, who usually accompanies the singers), promises to develop into a highly competent concert, pianist. Her solo numbers showed great control and a good musical sense. Her accompanying was a distinct contribution to the songs.

The programme comprised songs by Brahms. Mozart, Schumann. Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Delius, Edward German, TJsa Lehmann and Gran ■ ville Bantock, and others, comprising

a catholicity of taste that was gratifying to the society under whose auspices th<» concert was held.