SONG RECITAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 897, 17 August 1910, Page 5

SONG RECITAL.

« _ A MUSICAL TREAT.

The song recital given by Mr. C. H. Stephens at the Sydney Street Schoolroom last evening was a good one, although it had been fouiid necessary to rearrange tho programme at the eloventh hour to some extent. Miss M. Donaldson, .whoso iuiniQ appeared opposite a series of very fino violin numbers, was, announced Mr.' F. V. Waters before the commencement of the recital, indisposed, and had therelore hnd to cancel her engagements lor till) presimt. .Her plaeo on tnu progrummo was. very kindly rilled at short notice by Mr. Herliert Uloy, though nobody would huvo supposed iroui his rendition of his several Hems that he had literally been flung into the breach ut the last moment. Thu principal of the evening was, of courso, Air. Stephens, who is really one of the most cultured tenor singers heard in Wellington for some, considerable time past. Mr. Stepbena's items last owning were urrungud lnoro or less as suites. In the German, he sang "V«rborgenheit" (H. Wolff). "Allerseelen" (Richard Strauss), "Ein Ton" (P. Cornelius) and "Sonntng" (Brahms) in a most cultivated way, his enunciation of tho language being exceedingly good, and the whole expressed with that intelligent phrasing anil appropriate animation which alone determine the proper 'understanding and appreciation of tlio language. Mr. Stephens was equally at homo in the ■French, quickly adapting himself to the essential change in the "atmosphere" of the songs. This cyclo included "Plaisir d'Amour" (Martini), "To Simvicus Tα" (Godard), "Jo Connais un Berger," and "Chantons les Amours do Jean" (J. li. Weckerlin). One was inclined to regret that the translations of the Cierman and French suites wcro not included in the programme, so permitting of a deeper analysis of those very fine numbers. In the second .part of the programme Mr, Stephens sang in English a cycle of Sir Arthur Sullivan's-(l) "At the Window," (2) "Gone," (3) "Spring," (-1) "The Letter," (5) "No Answer," (G) "Still No Answer," (7) "When?" These, an admirable series of musical chapters in a love episode, were very well sung. Four charming Elizabethan lyrics by Battison Hayues, and a triolet of H. Walford Davies's, "The Cuckoo," "The Bough of May," "When Childhcr Plays," concluded tho vocal numbers, which were tastefully accompanied by Mr. E. F. B. Waters. Mr. Herbert Bloy, who wns accompanied by Mr. ITorace Hunt. Mus. Bach., contributed a "Reverie" (Vieuxtemps), Tartini's "Devil's Trill," and one of Hubay's characteristic numbers, "Ilejre Kati." Mr. Bloy was in good form, despite his emergency call, and waa heartily applauded for his masterly playing .of Tartini's intricate and exacting "Devil's Trill."