NEWBURY-SPADA CONCERT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1346, 25 January 1912, Page 6

NEWBURY-SPADA CONCERT.

A series of good popular concerts was inaugurated at the Town Hall last ovening by Mr. Philip Newbury and Madame Emily Spada, two concert artists of repute, whom Wellington knows of old. They were welcomed by a largo audience, which appeared to thoroughly enjoy the conceit, and if future concert programmes given by tho party are kept up to tho standard set last evening, there should be no lack of patronage.

Mr. Philip Newbury, whose superrobust tenor lias been heard on more than one occasion in Wellington recently, saug, as an opening number, "On with the Motley," from Leoncavallo's dramatic one-act opera "I Pagliacci." In this number the ningor allowed his big tone to dominate, with tho result that tho poignant anguish of tho character was not fully conveyed. The tenor was quite • happy in Sullivan's pretty "Sparkling Eyes" number from "The Gondoliers." Sir. Newbury also sang that charming song "I'll Sing Thou Songs of Araby" artistically, making effective use of the niezza voce. As nil encore lie sang "Annie Laurie," with embellishments, and was accompanied by Madame Spada. In tho second half Mr. Newbury sang "Salve v Dimorc" ("Behold, Thou. Dwelling Pure and Holy") from "Faust." in which he exercised fine vocal restraint. In response to an imperative encore, 'he sang tho "M'Appari" from Flotow's opera "Maltha"—a number which found so much favour that the singer was once more recalled, and. to tho delight of everyone, he sane "Sally in Our Alley," n song which Mr. Newbury tricked off with several of those little tricks of vccalism in which he is an adept. Mr. Hamilton Hodges and Sir. Newbury were associated in the famous invocation swuc between Faust and Mepliistoplioles, and, to conclude the programme, Mr. Newbury and Madame Snada resuscitated the "Miserere" duet from "II Trnvntore." the reading of which was somewhat marred by the inequality in strength of the two voices. The soprano was at times inf!in«d to be shrill and sharp. Madame Kpada's I««t number was "Aneels Fvor Bright and Fair." i» which her light lyric soprano found excellent expression. ' She sane the aria with much sweetness and '•everence, and was deservedly applauded. S'"> also sansr OleutFs daintv little son?. "Tho Eyes that from Ireland." prettily, and Alfred Hill's somewhat hackneyed "Wa'ata Pni" song. Mr. Hamilton Hodges was in excellent f"rf>. and gave his manv admirers in Wellington a taste of his old nualitv. He "nve a fine declamatory': reading of 'The Toreador's .S'oite" from "Carmen." setting in some broad effects quite consistent with the character in the onera and the lxiostful soirit nf the song. He was iondIv encored. The singer was also broadly lire ma He in his interpretation of BlunreiiHinl's "My Foe," though in his forte pos-'-ieos he wa« apt to produce notes of a blaring quality, sans "music. In softer mnnd he sane Tosti's "Venetian Song" with a. tender charm, which captivated the audience, and a verse had to ho vpr.«j>lerl. ptill u<iprr his very sympathetic half-voice, Mr. nodge.s was very effective in Lloyd's pretfv rondeau. "Were I the Streamlet," mi till the. last bar, where he emitted a full-nowered. bellow, not at all in koenin" with tho theme of the sonrr, and out of joint with his otherwise excellent interpretation. In respond to an encore, Mr. Hodees sane "F.vcs that Used t/i Gaze in Mine." Miss Pegev Bain, a violinist with a sine bow, and a strong sympathetic tone, became an immediate favourite, in her first, number, the Schu-bcrt-Wilhelmi "Ave Maria." with which was bracketed Sara=ate's difficult "Gipsy* Dance." As an encore Miss Bain plaved that exquisite air, "Le Cvene' (SaintSneiis), with nice feeling. Miss Madeline Webb was Mi*s Bain's accompanist paniments for the vocalists with sympathy and judgment.