A BELGIAN SINGER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2470, 25 May 1915, Page 8

A BELGIAN SINGER

MADAM LINA NYBERG AT THE OPERA HOUSE Madam Lina Nyberg, the charming young Belgian soprano, who has come over tho waters of the world to forgot tho thunder of the Gorman guns that havo played such havoc with her bereft country and people mado her New Zealand debut at tile Grand Opera Mouse last evening, and succorded before the evening was over in creating a favourable if not 11 deep impression 011 those present. Tile stranger has the lightest ot lyric soprano voices, very sweet and true, and produced with evory evidence of a sound training in a good school. Her voice is light to a fine point of delicacy, a fragile flower in the garden of vocalism, and In her first two numbers her voice was affected by a tremolo, due unmistakably to nervousness, and consequently Madam was scarcely able to do herself justico. These were two charming French songs by Massenet, "L'Ame des Oiscaux" and "L'Eventail." Still she was cncorcd t and sang in broken English "The"Land of Slcy-bluo AVater," a melodious song of the Omaha tribe, arranged by the American composer, Cadman. On her next appearance Jladam Nyberg sang tho well-known aria. "Cara Nome," from "Rigoletto" (Verdi), in which the voice rang sweet and true, and the high 0 sharp was taken with bird-like case and clarity. Still there was a restraint and lack of vocal warmth, which detracted iVoni a fullest realisation of tho amorous invocation. The encore to the aria was a dainty and melodious little songlet, "In tho Forest" from Dclibes's opera, "Lakmc," in which the lair singer interpreted with decided charm, in the second part she sang with nice delicacy of expression a very beautiful "Berceuse" by Humperdinck (tho talented composer of the children's opera, "Hansel and' Gretel"), the pasioral "Vous etes si Jolie" (Tagliafico), and scorning all tradition Madam sang as an oneoro a verse of the "Berceuse over again with increasing improssivclicss. Finally she sang Mimi's opening song in "La Bohemc" (Puccini),in which she gave a gleam of her talent in operatic music. The number was interpreted ill a simple girlish 'manner quite appropriate to Muni s shvness and innocence on the occasion of'her first meeting with Rudolf. The "La Boheme" excerpt was warmly encored, the response being "Home, Sweofc Home," sung very sweetly, and without the usual top-»oto iinish, for which one was thankful. Madam Nyberg was assisted by Messrs. Frank Charlton (baritone), and Baxter Buckley (pianist). Mr. Charlton has a light baritone that is heard to much advantage in cantabile passages, the voice being resonant and sympathetic in quality. His first number was "Sci Vemlicata Assai," from Meyerbeer's opera "Dinorah," a tuneful old-fashioned melody with a. feeble accompaniment, which was very well sung indeed. "I Hear You Calling Me" showed Mr. Charlton's admirable control of the mezzo-voee. In tho second part be sang Walford Davios's find song "Hymn Before Action," which was sung with good expression, and elipited the pretty songlot "Qui Sait" (Lambert). Mr. Buckley, as a solo pianist, is deservedly popular with concert audiences in Wellington. The temperature was not at all favourable to tho best t'hat was in him, but he gave an interesting performance of Percy Pitt's prelude "Jet d'Eaux," and infused sparkle and flash into Rachmaninoff's liigTiTy picturesque and original "Polichinelle," and played Paderewski's "Caprice" as an encore. Mr. Buckley played Chopin's "Ballade in F" in the second half, which is interesting only in patchos, with studious care, and, encored, gave a quaint "Prelude" by j Sapelinikoff. Mr. Buckley also played Madam's accompaniments with tasto.

At this evening's concert Madam Nyberg will sing arias from Puccini's "La Tosca," "The Pearl of Brazil" (David), and the "Jewel Song," from "Faust" (Gounod), and Mr. Charlton will, among other songs, sing M'Faddon's splendid song, "Inter Nos," introduced to Wellington by Mr. Paul Dufault.