ARTISTRY OF SINGER

Southland Times, Issue 24881, 22 October 1942, Page 3

ARTISTRY OF SINGER

Recital By Madame Mae 1 Brodie The visit to Invercargill of a singer with an international reputation is so rare that it is unfortunate that the enterprise should receive scant support from the public. Madame Mae Brodie, the New Zealand mezzo-soprano, who gained fame in recitals in Europe, has many claims on the support of New Zealanders. She is a singer with, a voice of beauty, range and power, whose performances are marked with rare artistry and who has a very considerable repertoire. Her recital in St. Mary s Hall last night was a delight which might have been more widely shared. The programme was international in character, including British, Italian, German, Russian and French songs. There was a slight Continental flavour about several of the English art songs, but national Scottish and Irish songs were captivating in their sincerity. The emotionalism of the Italian songs, particularly dramatic operatic arias, was not unduly emphasized and the singer showed great fluency in that tongue. However, the highlight of the programme was in two lovely German songs of tne lieder style by Richard Strauss, “Morgen and “Allerseelen,” which were beautifully sung. They were gems of the song writers art performed with deep feeling. Three items sung in French were also of interest. They were one of the worlds great songs, “L’heure Exquise” (Hahn) ana the hauntingly melodious “Aimant la Rose, le Rossignol” (Rimsky-Korsakov) and Triste est le Steppe” (GrechaninofE). Other itmes were “Down in the Forest” (Landon Ronald). “The Homeward Journey’ (Debus). ■The Star” (Rogers), “Fairy Tales of Ireland,” “O Cessate di Piagarmi’ (Scarlatti), “Nel Giardino” (Santoliquido), the Prmcesss aria from “Adriana le Couvreur (Cilea), "Vissi d’arte” from “La Tosca (Puccini), “Annie Laurie,” “Songs My Mother Taught Me” (Dvorak )and “Cockles and Mussels. Two delightful songs written by Madame Brodie’s accompanist, Dr E. Kost, “Invemo and “A Te,” were included in the programme.