MISS AMY MURPHY'S RECITAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 795, 19 April 1910, Page 6

MISS AMY MURPHY'S RECITAL.

Mies Amy' Murphy, noy a resident of Sydney, has been visiting her natiw Dunedin, and, en passant, gave a recital in the Concert Chamber" of the Town, Hall last evening/ Always a favourite, in Wellington, the overflowing audience last evening testified that she has not lost. her power to attract audiences and hold, them ,by._her.- vocal charm. She wag in-.splendid, voice last evening, and, though it has perhaps lost a shade of the eoftness of ten years ago, she has gained ia breadth and thai dramatic essential for the modern concert platform. She sang, inter alia, the mad scene from Ambroise Thomas's "Hamlet," which ia really one of the tests for the best of grand opera artists. It is an eerie composition, teeming with' tricks for the vocalist, and demands a perfect command over the, voice and an .unimpeachable production. Miss Murphy interpreted the number with an abandon and vocal .breadth that -delighted her admirers, and spoke volumes for the diligence with which she has prosecuted her studies.in Sydney emce/she-abandoned the light opera stage. The many tryinj cadenzas and trillings were sung with a truth and clarity that, were admirable, and though just mfariTi); (&e thrill whick OpheKaV madness should conwy, she overcame the technical difficulties with the ease of an artist. Perhaps Miss Murphy was at her best, however, in Lisa Lehmann's bird songs—"The Wood Pigeon," '"Fhe Wien," and "The Owl," three prettily-written songs, which the singer interpreted charmingly. As an encore she gave Alfred Hill'e 'T?oi Song." In the second half of the programme Miss Murphy sang Prank Tour's ballad "Mother o' Mine" and Jenny land's "Echo Song," written ;to display- the glorious upper register of that incomparable singer.- The singer excelled herself m this exposition of florid vocalism, showing in the quick changes, from double forte to the whispering echo, the fine control which she has over her voice. The inevitable encore .■ produced that ■ pretty, trifle, 'Tf No One Ever Marries Me." As a .finale Mis 3 Murphy • eang ' Tosti's "Good-bye," which has haunted every, concert programme since Melba gave the.song.a fresh fillip. , - Miss Murphy was not the only successful singer last, evening: Mr. Ernest' Parkes, whose rich baritone voice is always heard with pleasure, eclipsed himself in- songs of a type which he hai neglected qverlong. .His particular success last evening was in Schuberf s "The Wanderer," which was really magnificently interpreted. Departing from his usual methods, Mr. Parkes used th« mezzo voce with rare effect, which in combination with his natural force and superb quality. made' the effort a re- ' markable one, in an advancing singer. An imperative encore elicited Schumann's song, "I Would Not Grieve," which, was ■ilso well sung! , Mr. Parkes also eang "The Curfew" (Gould), and ' was once more encored. The solo pianist was Mr. Horace Hunt, who always plays with rare intuition. He contributed Chopin's "Bal- , lade in A-flat," Eoff's "Eigandon," and, as eiwores, Nos. 1.. and 2 of ,f Liszfe' "Liebestraum." Sir. Hunt accompanied Miss Murphy, and.Mr. D. Kenny omciat- ' cd in a like capacity for Mr. Parkes. The concert was given under the man- • agoment of Mr. Hugo Gorlitz. " • ■ " • It is the intention of Miss Murphy and Mr.' Hunt to give a.concert in Auckland in a fortnights, time. '.