ANTONIA DOLORES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 128, 24 February 1919, Page 6

ANTONIA DOLORES

RETURN OF THK CULTURED FRENCH SINGER.Antonia Dolores has always been made very welcome in Wellington, and | the reception accorded to her on Saturday • evening on making her appearance was certainly enthusiastic enough for any performer, it indicated that'the I'rench mezzo is well remembered, and that the iiiiinte charm of her personality still holds the public. One would scarcely describe Millie. Dolores as one of tho great singers. The niche she has made for herself iu the public regard Was not created so much by her purely yocalqualifications as it was by the art of her interpretation, phrasing, breathing, enunciation, and the ability she possesses ot suggesting the spirit of the song, tonally, Mademoi'elle's voice is not whal.it was. Many of her notes, particularly in the upper register, are hard and without resonance. She appears to have to sing forte above the mid-register to get- her effects, and. they are not infrequently marred by a tendency to flatten-, at time.- rather embarrassingly so. btiU there is behind the voice a very beautiful ai't to admire. She has the bcl canto method of production down to a line point-she breathes the note without forcing emission, and (hero is infinite grace in the manner of her execution ot a turn or trill that budding vocalists would do well to note. Tho programme on Saturday evening was a delectable one. It opened with a delightful bracket of seventeenth century English song, fragninth- reminiscent of lavender and 'old lace. The songs included Purcells "Come Unto These Yellow Sands," tho always charming "It was a Lover and HisLass" (Moriey), and the not so well known, but extremely melodious, Shepherd, Thy Demeanour Vary' (Brown), and to these was odded the Early .Victorian song, "Away to the Mountains Brow," composed by Alexander. Leo (son of a pugilist and tavern-keeper), who also wrote "Auld Robin Gray" and _ lie Macre"ors' Gathering." Mademoiselle treated this old song with an airy .buoyancy quite delightful to hear The singer put' on another mood in the highly emotional recitative, "Ah, Perfida, and air "Per Pieta," of Beethoven, not heard in

Wellington for many years. The. number Rives the fullest scope for dramatio expression, and was very finely 'fterpreted. Her pleading accents in Per Pieta" were hipl) avt. As an encore Mademoiselle sang the old Italian sons, "Prayer to . the Virgin," known to every Neapolitan, In this song, which depends largely on its rhythm to please, Dolores was inclined to make a too extended use of the rubato, and so lost something of eitect. Hie nest bracket submitted was full of charm, ami interestingly represented the wide contrast between the lueLnods ot songwriting of to-day and those of centimes back. The moderns were Ravel and Debussy. The former's "Sainte is a eon? »em of the purest ladiance, a dainty etching, impressionistic, with s™ l "®' l glass" effects in the accompamment. Iha lyrics, by Stcphane Mallarme, are extremely beautiful., Ilie late lamented Claude Debussy was. represented by a sweet little eong, "Romance (words by Paul Borget), and the glamourous Mandolins," introduced -here by Nordic.i some years ago. .The eucoro was the Rubinstein song, "Oh, Fair and Sweet and Holy." A sense of flatness, rather marred the "One Fine Day aria from "Madame Butterfly.'* Mademoiselle was better suited. in the encore .C.onun I Thro' the Eye," sung with merry archness, to which she appended Home, Sweet Home." Finally she sang the "Swiss Echo Song" (Eckert), in which she succeeded in suggesting the the mountains very cleverly. \Mien lecalled she gave a spirited rendering of her own national hymn, "The Marseillaise. Mr John Prouse was in wonderfully good voice, and his contributions were a decided strength to the programme. lor his opening number lie selected the gieat aria, "0, Ruddier Than the Cherrj, which the giant Polyphemus sings in Handel's "Zeis and Galatea," in praise of the beautiful nymph. Mr. Prouse lent force and meaning to every note in tlia aria, and was acclaimed. H:s encore was Dibdin's fine old sea song, Blow High. Blow Low," sung with rare zest. Mi. Prouse's vocal resonance, strength, and fervour found excellent scope in the Allitsen bracket, winch consisted of "Not Quite Alone, the fiery _ Pf'" c f Ivan's Son?," and Voice is Heard Thvo' Rolling Brume. I" of this order, Mr. Prsuse still holds his ownwith the best. His work is al"' a s' 6 H*? 1 and illuminative. Mr. Harold Smith accompanied tyun abe manner, and aso nlayed Chopin s "Polonaise m A tlat, not bv any means an impeccable performance but withal one which found favour with' the audience. His encore pieces •were pretty but somewhat .inconsequent trifles. ' i SECOND CONCERT TO-NIGHT. Mdlle. Antonia Dolores will give-her second concert in the Giiujd Opeia House this evening. The assisting aitists will 'he Mr. John Prouse baritone, and Mr. Harold Sniith, pianist. 1 lie concert numbers ; this evening will include '"M'n I'resa" (Paradies). T'ur Dicebb (Lotti) "Ln Procession (Frank). «* e JJ mnsv songs by Dvorck, "I Chant My Lay, sfow My Triangle," "Silent ami Lone," "Tune Thy Strings, 0 Gipsy. Songs Mr Mother Taught Me,;' ' Cloudy Heights of Tatra." recit. Ou.i lource Soil'," and air "Je Suis litania, Thomas's "Mignon," Fairy , Lul (Mrs. Beach), and Would (M'Cov). Mdlle. Dolores oiMYednesdnj will sing the recitative "Ml larro. tioin "De'demona" and "Caw.one Pwngea: from the fourth act of "Othello, and Verdi's "Ave Mflria.