A GREAT CONTRALTO.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1614, 4 December 1912, Page 8

A GREAT CONTRALTO.

MADAME KIRKBY LUNN'S CONCERT,

ENTHUSIASM AT THE TOWN HALL.

Pew scenes of such genuine enthusiasm as was witnessed Inst evening at thu T.jwn Hall can be recalled in the memory ot the most faithful of concert-goers, and Madame Kirkby Lunn, the eminent English contralto, famed among the elect of the vocal world, in whoso honour the demonstration was made, cannot have any reason to doubt tho warmth of the welcome vouchsafed, and tho appreciation so deeply felt. It was a depressing evening meteorologically—the kind of weather to put an edge on people's tempers, and a 1 check to anything like an exuberant display of enthusiasm for anything. Hut Madame Kirkby Lunn is not merely an ordinarily good singer—not an ordinary woman. There are qualities in her superb contralto voice that are newaiid strangely beautiful, which have not been possessed by any other singer one can easily recall. In an artist liko Madame Lunn, pre-eminent in opera pud oratorio, one must commence by admitting her technique to be beyond reproach; but it it is not only this, nor hor surprising range, and perfect production-tliero is something stirring behind it all, threaded in tho woof and weft of those beautiiul tone colours, which made a quick appeal and gained a-warm and immediate respouse. It was De Atussefc "\vlio said:--"Only the voice of the heart can reach the heart." Madame Lunn has "the voice of tho heart," developed and supported by a superb artistry, which gained in eftcct bv never once becoming obtrusive. As a rule contraltos—even those of standing—are inclined _to be vocally lymphatic, at times to ail extent that may almost bo described, as depressing. They sometimes appear to be the victims of compulsory stodginess by the nature aud character of thoir voice, and become quite in following the trail of other vocalists similarly equipped. Not for a single instant is Madame Ktrkby Lunn. to be . classed with such. She is animated, alive, radiant—and can thrill: She has a personality that is "felt" aa soon as she takes the platform, a style that is most ingratiating, a restraint in her art that is surprising, and a refinement and subtlety in interpretation which lends dignity to her work. With Madame Lunn a lovely voice is in purest accord witli heart and brain, and the result, is something approaching jjerfection, elevating and enchanting to Her opening number was "O Don Fatale," tie fine aria from Verdi s sel-dom-playcd opera, ''Don Carlos," a number in wliicli scorn, hatred, love and passion contend dramatically, and gavo the charming singer, an excellent opportunity to "tuno her lyre" for the. evenings work. It displayed the diapason of her splendid lower register to the best effect, disclosed the artist's exceptional <1 villi a tic capacity, and power of tone'colour ill tragic music. The sincerity and power of the singer, as much as the manifold qualities of 'her voice, evoked hearty and persistent applause. Not even Madamo.'s graceful curtsey thrice repeated would satisfy the song-hungry. She sang Goring Thomas's song, "A Summer Night,' most charmingly, and with just the correct measure of temperament to breathe life into its sentiment. . That was not enough—although good taste dictated that it should havo been—and once mora Madame Lunn took her stand in ■ tho "bay". of the grand piano, and carolled Cowen's "Snowflakes" with delicious feeling. But Madame docs not disclose the entire contents of lier pack at. once. -It was perhaps in her second—the' Brahms—group that sho rose to the highest artjstic height. What a remarkable singer of German lieder she is! _ Her treatment of the "Sapphic Ode," with its wealth of poetical colour and, tonal majesty was something to be remembered. "Von Ewiger Liebe," which followed, was also a perfect cameo -in emotional expression. Her encore was Schumann's delightful "Widmung," which revealed new beauties in a voice, full of inexhaustible charms. Her first bracket included "Loveis a Dream" (Pitt),, and a charming song by Florenco Aylward, entitled "Morning and You." A tempest of applause, which curtseying'would' hot check, was 'appeased by "The Three Fi'shers" (Hullali), a familiar ballad, which Madame Lunn transforms into a tragedy in being. It was a revelation, in interpretation and vocal sympathy, which dimmed tho eye and raised a lump in the throat. The audience fairly rose to applaud _ the singer, and once more she had to satisfy her clamant admirers' with "The Sweetest Flower that Blows," delightfully sung. . The company supporting Madame Kirkby Lunn is an exceptionally good . one. Sir. •William Murdoch, tho solo pianist, is an exceptionally brilliant artist, a facile executant, virile and electric in action,' and an abundance of temperament to illuminate his work. He played Chopin's "Berceuse" as it should be played—he achieved the soft, cool, flowing spirit of the berceuse; right to the final faintness, where the drowse becomes sweet sleep. In the "Barcarolle (Chonm) a good dwl of the beauty of rhythm was I lost by over-UFo of the loud pedal. The same com noser's. "Nocturne in F Sharp 'was added as an encore. Debussy, the mysterious, and now a fashion, was represented by an extremely unconventional and altogether beautiful sketch entitled "La Cathedrale Engloutie," which paints a graphic pioture of a cathedral with its clashing bells and stained-glass effects,_ depicted- in strangely beautiful r minor chords. It is a number Mr. Murdoch should play again. The pianist played Band's showy "Jeux d'eau" with admirable fire and spirit, and for an encore introduced Debussy's quaint Golliwogg s Cake Walk." Andre do Kibaupierre, the young Swiss violinist, established himself at once as a very fine artist. has a strong sympathetic tone, a good technical equipment, and was never detected deviating from true pitch. He played the first movement of Beethoven s Sonata in F Major" (with Herr Johan Wielaert. at the piano)/ Both were very generously applauded for their fine effort. M. Ribaupierre also played a "Gavotte" by Gossec, and "Variations" (Tartini-Kriesler). The- male vocalist of. the company is Mr. Andrew Shanks, a prepossessing baritone, with a fine ringing robust voice to which he is not afraid to give full play. He sang the Prologue from "Pagliacci (Leoncavallo), "King Charles" (M. V. White), "The Pipes of Pan (Elgar), and "Stonecracker -Tohn" (Squire). Mr. Murdoch accompanied Madame Lunn perfectly, and Herr Wielaert was associated with the other artists as accompanist. A complete change of programme will be presented at to-morrow evening's concert.