MADAM LINA NYBERG

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2471, 26 May 1915, Page 4

MADAM LINA NYBERG

SECOND PROGRAMME, j TIIO favourable impression made by Madam Lina Nyberg on Mondny evening at the Grand Opera House was more than endorsed last evening. Sho had evidently conquered tho restraint that was apparently caused by her strange surroundings and the fact that the audience was composed entirely of pc-oplo quite strange to her, and 0110 which was for tho greater part uuablo to appreciate her French diction. Last evening Madam was quite confident in manner, and this access of ropose was reflected in her singing. In her opening number, an aria from Felician David's opera "The Pearl of Brazil," she interpreted with a verve and elan that were delightful, and her intonation throughout a perfect cascade of runs, trills, and vocal leaps was singularly pure and musical. It is a love-song of the birds of the forest ; an exotic gom of song, that was given an al- | most perfect realisation. What is distinctly impressive in Madam Nyberg's singing is her equality throughout the registers and the crystalline purity of her tone. The aria was rapturously received, and the "Lakmo" pastorell'e "111 the Forest" had to be added. Another delicious treat was Madam's dainty singing of the French pastorelles, ."Menuet de Martin," which tells of the love-making of Corydon and his little shepherdess in a playful spirit, and "Lison Dormeit," another cameo in song of love in a woodland dell, sung with exquisite refinement and naivete. The bracket clicited a warm demand for more, and Mimi's song from "La Boheme," sung with much greater impressement and case than on Monday, was the welcome response. In tho second half Puccini was again favoured, the opening number being a streamlet of melody from "La Tosca," phrased with that resource and artistry that showed the study tho singor had made of the music. Puccini writos nothing formal; his intervals are catchy and unequal, and it is only with a thorough knowledge of the £ pirit of the music that a singer can give anything approaching a satisfactory interpretation, and that Madam Nyberg certainly has. She also sang tho "Jewel Song" from "Faust," tho melodious "Florian's Song" of Godard, and "L'Eventail." Mr. Frank Charlton, who was in fine voice, and is improving with every appearance on the platform, sang two very impressive songs, "Inter Nos" (M'Fadyden) and "A Resolve" (Fontenailles) in a manner that surprised even his warmest admirers. and points to his being a vocalist to reckon with. He was equally successful in "Hamid's Song" (Gould), "Love Newly Born" Coningsby Clark), and a cheerful buffo song entitled "The Jester's Soiif" (Bantock). Mr. Baxter Buckley played in brilliant style Liszt's magnificent "Polonaise in E," a captivating "Valse Caprico" by Sapellnikoff (a modern Itus- ™ composer of great promise), \Vhims' (Schumann), and MacDowell s "Ungarische Rhapsodie." Mr. Buckley also played the accompaniments throughout tho evening.