JOSEPH HISLOP.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 64

JOSEPH HISLOP.

Delightful artistry and splendid vocal powers yvere the outstanding features of Joseph Hislop’s first concert of the Dunedin season, which was opened in the Town Hall on Thursday night before a large audience. Anticipating, as it undoubtedly did, a recital of unusual quality and charm, the audience yvas not disappointed, its frequent and prolonged demonstration of enthusiasm indicating to what extent the distinguished Scottish tenor had fulfilled its expectations. In a programme of excellent variety the singer gave striking proof of his flayvless artistry and exceptional interpretative ability, for in his presentation of either a dramatic operatic aria or a musical version of one of the nursery rhymes beloved of childhood, he held his hearers spellbound yvith his facility of expression and superb stagecraft. Opening with Henry Purcell’s “ When I am Laid in Earth,” from “ Dido and JEneas,” Mr Hislop went on to sing “ Le Roj d’Ys,” a serenade of delightful charm and exquisite sentiment, the dramatic “O Paradiso” from “L’Africana”• (Meyerbeer), the ballad “Trees,” sung in a setting by Katherine Heyman, “ Windy Nights” (Stanford), the romantic ballad, “I Heard You Singing” (Eric Coates), “The Fairy Tree,” by Vincent O'Brien, “ The Next Market Day,” an old Ulster melody of a delightful character, “ Mary of Argyle," Cyril Scott’s “ Lord Randall,” and the aria “ E Lucevan le Stelle,” from “Tosca” (Puccini). The selections presented as recalls included “ Five Eyes,” tyvo old favourites, “ Bonnie Wee Thing ’’ and “ My Love, She’s But a Lassie Yet,” and three charming nursery rhymes—- “ Mary’, Mary, Quite Contrary," “ Wee Willie Winkie,” and “Dr Foster’’—a most enjoyable programme concluding yvith “The Tollgate House” (Alec Rowley). Mr Isidor Goodman, the solo pianist appearing with Mr Hislop, early demonstrated that he was a musician of un--usual capacity. Although still in his early tyventies, he h<js the polish and vigour of a pianist of ripe experience, and in all his numbers gave proof of unusual technical ability and interpretative powers. Added to this, he has a sensitive and sympathetic touch, which was fully apparent during his accompaniments to Mr Hislop’s numbers, the pianist maintaining an artistic background for the singer. His solo numbers were the Liszt arrangement of Bach’s “ Organ Prelude and Fugue in A minor,” a Chopin bracket. “ Etude in C major,” which was followed by the meditative “Nocturne in D flat major ” and the brilliant “ Prelude in B flat major,” “ Arabesque in A flat ” (Leschetizky), “La Campanella” (BusoniLiszt), Schulz-Evler arrangement of the Strauss waltz “ Blue Danube,” a truly delightful programme concluding yvith the airy “ Butterfly’ ” number by Chopin. Mr Hislop concluded his season on Saturday night, yvhen he presented another splcndid programme.