THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19010, 29 July 1933, Page 16 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

New Zealander’s 8uooes» In London.

. Miss Merle Miller, "formerly pianist at 3YA Christchurch, and' a wellknown dramatlo >soprano, accompanied her brothel*, ,Mr Malcolm Miller, to London at the beginning of the year with the intention of furthering her studies. ; : v ...

■ Within a month of arrivng in London Miss Miller was successful In obtaining a contract for nine months with the Vlo-Wells (the Old Vio ”- Sadler’s Wells) Opera for small parts. She starts rehearsals in August, and the season runs till May. Miss Miller considers herself extremely fortunate in obtaining suoh an engagement, as there were hundreds of applicants.

Hamilton Phllharmonlo Bool®ty. The Hamilton Phllharmonlo Soolety, under the capable dlreotion of 'Mrs. H. C. Ross, will give a concert on Tuesday, August 8. An attractive programme has been arranged. .‘A In addition to several interesting glees excerpts from “Faust” will be given. Judging by the progress made at practices the society’s performance should be very enjoyable. Interest will be added to the programme by the appearance of Isobei Langlands (Mrs. E.-R. Greenfield), the brilliant Australian violinist, whose exceptional career included tours tvith Stella Power “the Little Melba"), and Althouse and Middleton; joint reoltals with Sverjensky, the famous Russian pianist; concerts with the late Benno Scherek; as well as many personal recitals throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Items -will also be given by Mrs A. Pascoe, soprano, of Auckland; Mrs M. Fahey, elocutionist; Master W. Bonner, boy soprano; and Messrs G. Wheeler and Duff, duet. Song Reoltal In Hamilton.

The song recital to be given In the Lyceum Club lounge, Hamilton, on Wednesday evening, should prove of especial Interest to muslo lovers. The three vooallsts are senior students of the Myra Booth Studio, and this reoltal Is the first of Its kind to be presented In Hamilton. Miss Marjorie Klnnlbrugh, soprano, whose work has been appreciated by Hamilton audiences on several occasions reoently, will be heard in an aria from “La Boheme," and a group of songs by La Forge and Arnold Box Miss Klnnlburgh will also Include la her group “Lo Here the Gentle Lark.”

Mrs Coralle O’Connor, mezzosoprano, has chosen The Flower Song from “Faust," and a group by Sohubert, Stanford and Thomas Dunhill. Miss Ruby Sutherland, contralto, will include “The Enchantress" in her bracket of songs, and both this number and the aria, “Ye Powers that Dwell Below,” (by Gluok), hre especially suited to the singer. Besides solo work, the vocalists will be heard in well-chosen duets and trios, and two items by the Studio Ladies’ Choir will add materially to what promises to be a musioal treat. Striking Male Soprano. At the Invercargill Male Choir’s ooncert last week much interest was evinced in the solos of Walter Prlctor, a male soprano, aged 20 years. An Invercargill paper says:—Singers of a type similar to Walter Prlctor are very seldom heard. At twenty years of age he has a true soprano voice of a quality quite distinct from that of a boy soprano. It Is greater in range than most male soprano voices, more easily produced, more expressive, and (an all too rare attribute) unfalteringly true in pitch. There is, too, an Impression of stability and maturity not given by younger male sopranos. Mr Prictor sings in an easy, unforced manner, intelligently and attractively. His enunciation is of commendably consistent clarity and his tone fresh, pure and unflawed. Ilis first solo was “ To the Angels ” (Zardo), which was given a treatment of considerable artistic merit, while the audience was at once impressed by the striking unusualness of his vocal attributes. On his next appearance he sang Bishop’s celebrated “ Echo Song ’’ in a manner comparable with that of noted coloratura sopranos.