MADAME CLARA BITT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 69

MADAME CLARA BITT.

A MEMORABLE CONCERT.

To the already fairly lengthy list of names of the world'f really grea.t aitists who have visited this city can now ba added another, since Madame Clara Butt has come, sung, and, of crurse. conquered. Privileges come nowadaj's to the stay-at-home dweller in the antipodes that in eailier years were wont to demand more seeking, so doth enterprise make the world sma.ler. To have long known Madame Clara Butt to bs a great singer is one thing ; to remember her as such is another. Her fame is established on the verdict of the cognoscenti of a more important part of the globs than this, and there remains in such case for us to add to much pleasurable anticipation the lasting impression that realisation conveys, and to accord tribute of praise in corresponding measure. And no artist that has visited us &«re lias assureclly created a, deeper impression that Madame Clara Butt, for her personality and her vocal pre-eminence combine to an unusual degree to this end. The voice of the century is memorable in inalienable assocation with the custodian of that voice, to use the phraseology which someone has aptly coined. Local music-lovers have been rather fortunate in hearing quite a number of contraltos of note at intervals, but they have always understood that there is but one Clara. Butt, and now they will be not less disposed to believe it. It was, indeed, a refreshing sight to see the enthusiastic audience that filled His Majesty's Theatre in all parts on the sth inst. As for the famous singer, her vocal powers and personality quickly took the audience by storm. One suspected that she could have swayed it here and there jus.t at will even still more than she did had she chosen, but she cast a spell none the- less sure because she made no effort to give a continued demonstration of the virtues of a wonderful vocal organ. Her natural endowment for the part she plays is bountiful in the extieme, and her gracious and, withal, commanding stage presence supplements the effect of a voice of remarkable proportions. It is, indeed, an organ of such noble volume that its most effortless notes still seem to surround the listener and reverberate to the faithest corner. In its range Madame Butt's voice is noteworthy, and that its high register is of unrivalled power it is e?sy to believe. In tone quality it is eminently agreeable, and not lacking lichness. Moreover, it possesses a variety that too many contralto voices lack. Not altogether inaptly might one say of, it with Words worth's tongue — " Two voices are there — one of the sea, one of the mountains." the one of the sonorous organ-like note, the other of the resonant clarion tone or that of still contrasting muted lightness. Madame Butt's methods, moreover, are so natural, and in themselves seem so altogether Tight and perfect, that they not a little enhance the charm of her singing. In them one only reads again the lesson of the paramount simplicity attaching to true art. As a popular singer she might well stand unrivalled, such aie the characteristics of art and individuality to which she adds dramatic power in abundance and sympathy in an apparently excellent measure. This much may be said, however : that to gather a really adequate impression of such an artist from simply the hearing of half a dozen songs, not all of them of particular significance, is an unieasonable expectation. Those who heaid Madame Butt on the sth must all have longed to hear more. They emphatically expressed that desire in fact, and doubtless the creation of that desire is a very important professional acquirement. The eminent contralto's most noteworthy contributions last evening were " O Don Fatale " (horn the opera " Don Cailos ") and the familiar '" Abide with me," Verdi's tragic aria, in which the Princess Eboli laments the fatal gift of beauty by which her queen has suffered, was magnificently- rendered, tlie dramatic intensity of the interpretation in the impassioned passages being a revelation of the scope of a voice responding remarkably to a great test of its middle and upper register. Nothing could hay« been more msmaifthlj; effective $n£ Ma^am.? lutt*

vociferously recalled, was speedily equipped with an array of beautiful floral offerings. As an encore number she contributed Huhn's entirely charming little- song " Si mes vers avaient dcs ailes." Whatever be the exact merit of Liddle's setting of the well-known hymn " Abide with me," there is no question as to its popularity with the average audience, and it is not difficult to understand why it is popular with, contralto singer 0 . It served Madame Butt well om ihe sth as «. mtdlum of a telling appeal to her hearers in vigorous declamation and expressive treatment, a level of great impressiveness being reaohed hi the climax. In response to applause of ardent enthusiasm Madame Butt sang with exquisite simplicity and feeling a charming little number of the lullaby order, entitled "My treasure," by Joan Tievalsa, and to allay prolonged applause that showed absolutely no weariness, gave another song of taking character, also composed by a woman, this being " Smiles," by Kathleen Maxwell. Very reluctantly, indeed, the audience allowed this to be- her last solo contubution to the programme. The concert company which is associated with Madame Butt is one of excellent merit, however, in its entirety. Great interest attached to the appearance of Mr Kenrerley Rumford, whose repute as a baritone singer had preceded him Possessed of a voice rf excellent quality, which he uses to much advantage, an equa'.ly good presence, and a capital style generally, Mr Rumford quickly established himself a favourite. His singing possesses the somewhat rare characteristic of distinction, and -his methods are artistic. His initial contribution, the celebrated aria " Largo al factotum " (from Rossini's " Barbiere ") pioved a severe vocal test, fioni which he emerged with great credit, though heard to leally better advantage in seme of his contributions. As an encore number he gave Schumann's " Dv Bist wie cine Blume " witb rare sympathy. Very acceptable later on proved the old Welsh air " All thro' the right." sung with adm.rab'e feeling, and " King Charles," by Maud Valeric White, which with its rousing refrain, contrasted effectively with its predecessor. Though his voice is not of particular power, Mr Kennerlev Rumford makes much of it, and his renderings r.re particulnily interesting and well studied. Recalled imperatively for his delivery of Bi owning' s verses, he gave " The little red fox." an old Irish air, with a felicity that deHghted the audierce. To conclude the programme. Madame Butt and Mr Rumford gave the rluet " Night hymn at sea." by Goring Thomas, with fine effect, and. being recalled time after time, and the centre of an enthusiastic demonstration, supplemented th's with another duet, "The keys of heaven." an old English composition, which achieved, from its quaint character, peculiar popularity. Variety of an instrumental character was lent the programme by the solo violin and piano contribiitions of Mr Carl Barre ?rd Mr Frank Merrick respectively. Mr Cail Barre created an excellent impression, and is a violinist of marked ability Ha produces a. fine -tone, anil his technique is in no way short of brilliant. The Schubert- Wilheling " Aye Maria " and Brahms-Joachim " Hungarian dance " received very skilful and muscianly treatment, while the violinist spec ally pleased the audience with Bazzini's "La Ronde dcs Lutins." to which 'he was constrained to add Mozart's " Minuet." Mr Merrick is an interesting pianist, aaid gave plrasuie in conscientious interpretation of the " Romance in F " (Brahms), " Rodo a capiiccio " (Beethoven), and " Etude in G flat " (Chopin), contributing an additional study from Chopin iv response to an emphat-c recall for his rendering of the last-mentioned composition He also took part with Mr Barre in a duo for piano and violin by Cesar Franck. The company also includes Mr Arthur Godfrey, who discharged the important duties of accompanist with admirable insight irto their requirements, while Mr J. Edwaid Svkps lent some of the vocal items the valuable assistance of an oigan obligato.