ANTONIA DOLORES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13340, 31 March 1911, Page 7

ANTONIA DOLORES.

THE FIRST SONG-RECITAL. To be a famous singer does not neces-. sarily imply ili'at' the singer is a great ; artist, hut while there is no doubt of Antonia Dolores’ fame, there is equally no douiit of her artistic capabilities. She is an artist to her finger tips, refined to a: degree, never causing the least jar to the most extreme sensibilities, soulful, restful, and altogether satisfying. The enthusiastic audienpe, which gave her such a warm welcome on her re-appearance in Wanganui last evening, knew all these things, and expected them. And the occasion was one of those rare ones where realisation more than fulfilled expectation, where in fact it exceeded it. For Mademoiselle Dolores is singing in better voice than ever. Her technique and her artistic and in: telleotual powers have always shown her to be superbly equipped, but each successive visit she has paid has shown her voice to he ripening into fuller power. It is now simply glorious: pure, rich and flexible. Dolores is now at the zenith of her power, yet that zenith promises to be. a long one, for she never strains, her ease and tirelessness are amazing, and the conservation of her powers, is such that at the end of last night’s heavy programme of (including encores) 17 songs, she sang as freshly and as sweetly as ever. It is no wonder that wherever she goes, her audiences arc full of enthusiasm. Last night’s wag no exception to the rule, applause and recalls being insistent, and the closing number being followed by a perfect stoim of handclapiiing. Hie item most relished by the audjence last night was Handel’s "O Worse than Death Indeed,” and. the air “Angels Ever Bright and Fair.” This was magnificently sung and took the audience by storm. Two English songs, and a charming Irish folk song, bracketed as the concluding number were also charmingly rendered, and as an encore number Dolores delighted her hearers with “Killarney.” Loosing over the programme, one cannot but be struck by Dolores’ wonderful versatility. Whether in devotional or dramatic pieces, oratorio, operatic music, or ample ballads, she is not only equally at ionic, but equally capable. She was -■• si is enchanting in the lively “Jo suis Tir,ania” and “La Zingarella.” as. in the dainty “Le Vioiette,” or the dramatic “Sous .in Ormcau.” What a feast os melody hei indienco is given may be judged from the 'ollowing, which formed last evening’s/ engthy programme:—l (bracketed), “Le Vioiette” (Scarlatti), “Selve Amiche” (Callara), “La Zingarella” (Paesiello), “Sous in Onneau” (Gluck), “Le Calebre Monuet “Exaudet” (Anon), and as an encore, ‘Jeuncs Filletes” (Wekerlin); 2, “0 Worse than Death Indeed.” and ‘Angels Ever iright and Pair” (Handel), encore number)’ “Les Femmes de Magdala” (Masseet); 3, “Mondnaeht” and “Der Nnssoaum” (Schumann), encore number “In 'er Marznacht” (W. Taubert); 4, “Oui lour ce soir,” “Je suis Titahia” (recitative and aria from A. Thomas’s “Mignon”), encore number, “I’m Owrc Young to Marry Yet”; 5, “Irish folk song” (_rthur Foote), “In the Woods” (McDowell). ‘Would Yon?” (McCoy), encore number, ‘K Blarney. ” Mr Selwyn Shrimplin, pianist, proved himself a capable and sympathetic accoroaanist, and a fine solo player. He played two solos, for each of which ho was re■alled, viz., “Romance,” and “Caprice” Schutt), encore number “Barohetta” (Ncnn); and “Le Chant du Nautonicr" Rheinliold)—this was very finely played—•ncoro, “Elegie” (Nollet).

TO-NIGHT,

To-night Mademoiselle Dolores gives an'ther recital, when an entirely new pro--ramme will bo given. There should be a urge audience, as it will probably bo a or.sidorable time before we have another ■pportunity of listening to one of the flnst and most charming singers who have -ver visited' Australasia.