WILLIAM HEUGHAN.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 13

WILLIAM HEUGHAN.

——♦ A VOICE LIKE A GEM. Prom early youth upwards, William Heughsm has been tho fortunate psasessor o£ a voice, the beauty and power of which has amazed all who liavo hcarf it. Whiie still in his early leens, he left his native Galloway hille and journeyed to London to seels the opinion of the famous Professor Albert Bisetti as to its merits. The Profcesor aakei him to sing, and after listening to several numbers, exclaimed in wonderment: ' ivty bov, your voice is like a gieat uncut gem. i ha'vo, studied it lrom every angle aucl lind it to be absolutely Eaw'.css. Cut it, polish it, and ycu will have one of the finest bas3 voices the woild has known. In the capj able hands of the Professor, the "cutting ■\vas accomplished and the polishing commenced to be later completed by eminent Milanese Maestro Vincenzo Sabatini (John McCormick's teacher, and father of the novelist) who considered it to bo one of the finest voices he had ever trained. Ha is one of the few Britons who has mado a name in opera in that land of song, and his voice has now, to Quote a leading English critic, ."'not only great beauty but is essentia) ly a great voice. With this magnificent vocal equipment and powers of interpretation and dramatisation, ho has aroused the enthusiasm of great audiences the world over and everywhere the Press and public alike have beon eulogistic in tho praise of his voice and artistry. HU interpretations, it is evorywhero conceded, are something to remember for all time, and his dramatic renditions a veritable revelation. He is very ably assisted by tho brilliant young violinist Hyman Lenzer, who, in the opinion of the leading critics, is the finest violinist Australia has yet produced, and who, though but young in years, is in music a ripe artist. With excellent tone-production and purity, he combines skillful technique, while hie readings are miusicianly and expressive. He is further assisted by tho wellknown English pianist Gladys Sayor who has earned wide-world recognition for her art, both as a soloist and accompanist. In the latter sphere, the sympathy and understanding eho ehowa has everywhere 6ccured the highest praise. They return from seaeons of phenomenal success in Dunedin and Invercargill, and wUI give two farewell concerts in the Liberty Theatre to-morrow and Thursday evenings. Box plans arc at The Brletol.