GIGLI SINGS BETTER THAN EVER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 83, 31 December 1937, Page 9

GIGLI SINGS BETTER THAN EVER

Signor Beniamino Gigli, who will be visiting 16 cities in the British Islts before he returns to Londan,' began his tour with a recital at the Albert Hall. which draw a "capacity" audience, says a London paper. He was singing better than ever. We have always known he could ride to triumphal success on a tenor's battle charger, and he did so again. But his programme included many songs which precisely because they are apparentlv simple, demand the very quintessence of vocal style. Such songs were, for instance, Caccini's "Amarilli," and a couple of modern examples by Wolf-Ferrari and Respighi — the latter a gem demanding tha utmost delicacy of treatment. These gave a special character to his perfor mance, for he has not always excelled in the finer shades of his art. As usual, he was generous with encores. To the first part of his programme, comprising officially six songs, he added four, three of which were th« Flower Song, "La Donna e Mobile," and "Vesti la Giubba." To throw in these, as, so to speak, "make-weight," gives the measure of a great tenor's capacity. And there was still "Celeste Aida" to follow, not to mention other exacting arias. It is small wonder the audience grew almost frantic in its enthusiasm.