NORDICA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1865, 26 September 1913, Page 8

NORDICA.

AND A BRILLIANT COMPANY. Madamo Lillian Nordica, for long known as tho most brilliant of dramatic sopranos that America could claim as her own, sang at the Town Hall last orening to an audience which showed its approval of the transcendent technical graces of tho famous singer in no uncertain manner. Tho diva, whoso fnmo as an exponent of tho big dramatic roles in grand opera, and. in particular, those of tho arduous Wagnerian cycle, is recognised by tho world, is the happy possessor of one of those uncommon soprano voices which cannot bo classified as either lyric or dramatic, as her compi}S3 of expression covers both completely. Her tone values may not be as thoy were —that is not humanly possible—but her art, and tho technical structure on which it is based, is still flawless, and commends the highest admiration. It is the possession of those powers which enables her to sing tho great arias from master grand operas with vocal authority and dramatio appeal, and in a flash attune her mood to . the tonderest little ballads reflecting some passing sentiment. Her temperament is of tho rainbow; order, and enables her to lend precisely tho correct colour to tho song, and so lay baro tho innermost meaning of tho lyrist. This attribute was most delightfully illustrated in her first bracket of ballads—"When Cherries Bloomed," (Cadinan), "Zephyr" (Bleichmann), and "Damon" (Strange). Whilst each of these songs was delicately treated, the resource of the singer's art was the more obviously exemplified in "Damon," an idyllic pastoral, the concluding foature of which is a .prolonged shake on a single note, on which the voice rises and falls in power most wonderfully. To strugglers along the vocal way such an effortless feat in vocalism must bo a revelation as to what the human voice is capable of. Encored, the diva sang tho semi-hu-morous song, "Will o' th' Wisp," with eerio roguishness. An entirely unique number was tho recital of Bemberg's curiously impressive "Ballad of the jjespera'te" (words by Henri Murger), iii which Mr. Paul Dufault represented tho despairing poet at the end of all hope, and Madame.. Nordica tho Voice of the tempter at tho door. To tho pleading call of glory,' youth, love, wealth, and power, tho desperate man is adamant, and it is only as death that the shade is welcomed and ombraced. It is a gruesome bit of imagery, powerfully written, and quito effectivo as givon by Madamo Nordica and Mr. Paul Dufault, with the valued instrumental backing by Mr. Franklin Holding (violinist), and Mr. Ho'mayno Simmons (pianist). In tho second half of tho programme Madamo sang the beautiful aria from tho second act of Puccini's "Madame Butterfly." With fine dramatic pathos she pictured the tender hopes of tho deserted Clio Cho San that hor American husband will return to her, though her own heart tells her it will not bo so. Tho aria was enthusiastically received, and induced as an encore the weird battlo cry of Brunhilda in Wagner's opera "Die W r alkure" —a musical oddity which had to bo repeated. Debussy in song was represented by "Mandoline," an iridescent and elusive song, charmingly characteristic of tho composer, which Madame interpreted delightfully. Finally came 'The Erl King" of Schubert, a master-, placo in tragic song. Here tho singer exhibited her mastery of interpretation, giving a distinct individuality to each oi' the tTfree characters concerned in tho legend, with convincing fidelity, and giving full valuo to tho sombro climax. Supporting Madame Nordica is a company df. artists who would command attention anywhere. Mr. Paul Dufault is without doubt tho finest concert tenor heard in Wellington for many years. His voice is

full-powored, wonderfully resonant, and expressive of tho whole gamut of the emotions. His many attributes were recognised in Wellington when hero with Madame Cißneros last year, and the brief interval between then and now. has not dimmed their lustre. He was in magnificent voice last evening when ho sang his way into tho heart of his audience liko an artist. His reading of the aria, "Ah! All' is Indeed Over,"

from Massenet's "Lo Oid," which he sang in French, gave him the opportunity to display his beautiful tone quality as well as his histrionic capacity. As an encoro 110 sang Harriet Ware's distractingly pretty "Boat Song," which is embellished with a bewitching accompaniment. AVith Pfoiffer's passionate love song, "Maigro Moi," Mr. Dufault was charmingly in accord, hut it was in Bruno Huhn's "Moictus" (W. E. Henley's words) that 110 roso to tho artistic heights in declamatory vocalism. In contrast was sung a dainty number from Ambroiso Thomas's "Mignon." With tho samo alluring charm he sang "A, Spirit Flower" (Tipton), "Sylvelin" (Sinding), "Spring's Awakening" (Hawloy), and, enthusiastically recalled, a French patriotic song by Godard entitled "Come AVith Me." Another polished artist is the violinist, Mr. Franklin Holding, who plays from the heart with tho mind of an artist. His tone is strong, and pure, and 110 has a fine technical equipment. He played AVagnor's beautiful "Albumblatt," and Frank Iteis's remarkable "Perpotuum Mobile," in which there is not so much as a domi-somi-quaver rest throughout its agitated course. Kreislor's "Waltz," was delightfully played as an encoro. Ho also played with marked verve and polish Saint-Saens's "Rondo Capriccioso," and encored, Moskowsky's familiar "Serenata." In Mr. Romayne Simmojis tho company possesses an accompanist par excellence. He is magnetically alert and sympathetic and added graco to evory number on tho programme. Among those present wero tho Countess of Liverpool and a party from Government House. At to-morrow evening's concert Mme. Nordica will bo heard in the great aria from the "Queen of Slieba," and numerous English, French, and German songs. By special request the weird ballad of tlio Loreloi, "AValdesgesprach," will be included in the diva's numbers. A special feature will bo tho singing of tlio duet "Now Thou- Art Mine" by Mme. Nordica and Mr. Dufault, who, in addition to numerous delightful ballads, will be heard in an aria from "Mignon." Mr. Franklin Holding, violinist, will play tlio Prizo Song from "Die Meistorsinger," and two Krcisler numbers.