MME. LILLIAN NORDICA.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1869, 1 October 1913, Page 8

MME. LILLIAN NORDICA.

THIRD CONCERT. By far the largest and assuredly tlio most enthusiastic of ilio three audiences which have attended tlio Nordica concerts assembled in tlio Town Hall last evening to give the brilliant concert party the hearty farewell it so thoroughly Every artist was applauded with a vigour and persistence that doubled the length of tlio printed programme, and in tlio case of Madame Nordica and Mr. Paul Dufault the appreciation shown amounted to a furore the like of which is but seldom heard in the Town Hall. The gracious diva, who was in excellent voice, sang a great range of songs during tlio evening, exemplifying her astonishing versatility as an interpreter. Her numbers radiated tlio whole gamut of the emotions, covering a vast expanse of song, from the playful "Will o' tho Wisp" (Spross) and "Mighty Like a Rose" to the placid and exalted beauty of lioder by Schumann and Schubert, and thence to tho steelier heights of Wagner represented in tho gravo Lieberstod from "Tristan and Isolde" and the electrical war cry of the mythical amazon Brwmliilda in "The Valkyries'.' (of tho Nibelungen Ring). It there was a preference that'might bo mentioned, it was to Madame Nordica's perfect art in tho singing of German lieder, represented by "Tho Zephjr and tho Rose' (Schumann) and "Mattinata" (Schubert), a duo of jewels in song which tlio singer inter, 'ted with consummate art. She also! sang 'l'osti's "Good-bye' (without which no programme seems to be complete), "Dauion" (Stange), with its alluring sixteen-seconds shake, "Le Nil" (Leroux), and "But Lately in Danco" (Arensky). . Such feasts of song are rare in Wellington, and tho audience recognised it. Mr. Paui jjufault's pathway was made triumphant by thunders of applause, and tlio presentation to that superb artist of a gaily be-ribboncd lu.urel wreath. AVith clarion voice he declaimed the great aria,^' 'What, If 'Tis I'm Chosen," from Verdi's opera "Aida," which displayed to tho full tlio wonderful resonance and power of his voice, and his splendid technical equipment. He also charmed tho audience in tho dainty "Sylvelin" (\vith_its beautiful accompaniment), "O'ai i'leure en Reve" (Hue), and " Birthday" (Woodman). In Holmes' fascinating littlo lilt of lovo and war, "Au Pays" Mr. Dufault fairly captivated the- a,udience, which would not desist from applauding until tho stirringly rhythmical song was ropeated. "The Swallows" (Cowen) followed, and "Mignon" (Guy d'Hardelot), and "Invictus" (Brulin) had to be appended to quell tho clamour. Without exaggeration, the concert was a veritable triumph to the Canadian singer, who takes rank as tiio finest concert tenor heard in these parts. Sir. Franklin Holding, tho violinist of tho company, also reaped a measuro-of the popular enthusiasm that marked the concert. Ho has played nothing better than the difficult "Zigunorweisen" of Sarasate, with its numerous technical pitfalls for tho unwary. His numbers also included the SchubertWilhelmj "Ave Maria," Eubay's delightful "Zephyrs," and Schubert's "Wcigen Lied." Mr. Romayno Simmons exhibited his usual brilliancy as accompanist par excellence.