WILLIAM HEUGHAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 358, 19 May 1928, Page 15

WILLIAM HEUGHAN

COMING TO AUCKLAND “He came, he sang - , he conquered, is the way to write it when speaking of Heughan, the incomparable actorsinger,” wrote a well-known critic of one of Heugiian’s recent appearances in America. “'lt was not only his magnificent voice, the equal of which is seldom heard anywhere, it was not his perfectly delightful personality—though that is practically as matchless as his voice—but in addition to both these attractions, Heughan possesses the power of creating atmosphere. He has the gift, all too rarely seen, of creating a setting that is simply perfect for the thing he does. And that makes one stop to think what it is he does. He sings, he acts—yes, more than that, he lives the thijLg be is putting over. Mind and heart, soul and body, are all engaged in interpreting the life of the people he is singing about. It is useless to try and tell what his voice is like. It must be heard, because words are not sufficiently expressive. It is a big voice, a musical voice, a soft and gentle voice, a winsome voice, a lilting, laughing voice, or it is stern, sorrowful, pleading, triumphant, hopeless, reverent —it is anything he wishes to make it. and at all times it reaches the heart and commands a response. He is prodigious—undoubtedly a. genius with a superb voice, a most winsome smile, and a personality that has no equal on the concert stage to-day.” ’ On this his second visit to New Zealand, he is accompanied by Maud Bell, the celebrated English ’cellist, who has scored recital successes in London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, and practically all the capital cities in Europe. Gladys Sayer, the wellknown pianiste, whom many will remember as being associated with Heughan on his last tour, will also assist. The recitals will be given in the Town Hall on Monday, 2Sth inst., and Saturday, June 2. Box plans for the two recitals are at Lewis Eady, Ltd., and open on Tuesday morning.