SONG RECITAL.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20181, 9 March 1931, Page 4

SONG RECITAL.

MR HUBERT CARTER. Previously known only by his intermittent appearances with the Royal Musical Society, Mr Hubert Carter, now permanently ©f Christchurch, came to our .closer 'acquaintance on Saturday evening when, at the Badiant Hall, he presented a vocal recital ia aid tof the Mayor's earthquake relief fund. His abilities extend far beyond oratorio. The programme which he sang oomwith encores, no fewer than six operatic arias and 20 . songs—old English, modem English} lied©r» and ohfi&ooofl* Tb« choice of songs,sif a little lavish in number, is at once to be commended as a choice beyond and above the ordinary. The _same Commendation might be given the singer. Mr Carter's voioe, -hie use of it, the intelligence of his singing, his ability. to impart the highest artistic expression are, all distinctly above and beyond the ordinary. In each section,* and particularly in opera and Heder, his tinging was-equally distinguished. Of' the first group, . "Phyllis Has Such Charming Q races" v was. a model of . graceful expression.' The 'Second group, beginning witlj two rather pseudo-dramatic songs by Walter Kramer and Sidney . Homer, , was ■hardly as good as the others, although Mr Caiter ended it at a high level with Elgar's ?The Biver." Among the lieder the places ■fal Schubert, Schumann, .Brahma, and Strauss were taken'by Grieg,'-Kjenilfs, and JBeynaldo Hahn in two exquisite lyrics. A light chanson by E. Jaques-Dalcrose, Le Coeur de Ma Mie," was brightly added, the operatic group offeredxPonohielli, Mas? senet, "Wagner, Puccini, and . Leoncavallo, ceding witn- the two favourite, none the less worthy, arias, "Your Tiny Hand Is i'losten" and "On "With the Motley. If "Walther's Prise. Song" vtaa * little dis-, appointing, Mr Carter more than made amends in the Puccini- piece which was a triumph of beautiful singing and expression. The turbulent moods of Chopin'a -Ttevolutionary" Study and the Schubert-Liszt "By the Sea" were completely realised .and imposingly played by Mr Ernest Empson, the solo pianist. ,He ■. added ,ft Chopin Sarorka and, in- encore, the study ia K ajor. Snob excellent playing surely de< mends from Mr Empson a full recital. Mr Harold Beck is so frequent and popular a performer that - his qualities have >no need to be emphasised here. Hia four solos were admirably played as ever. Miss Lilian Harper, who completed the trio of assisting artists, .had perhaps the hardest task of all, thai of accompanying no fewer thfcn' 80 songs and ' 'cello eolos. - Yet there was - no fault to be found with her -work, in entire sympathy with the two soloists. Although he appeared on. the programme only as manager, Mi - Gladstone Hill 'held the stage impromptu while Mr Beck "came down the street," and with such good spirit that he deserves the final wprd at praise for a most successful *and satisfying recital.