NEW ZEALAND'S SOPRANO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 37, 19 February 1901, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND'S SOPRANO.

" New Zealand's Soprano" ii what Miss Kate Oonnell, gold medallist o! ,th« Royal Academy and aa associate of Trinity College London, has been called. Tbac nhe well deserves the proud title is the opinion of the manj good judges who have heard her, aa will as of the larga body of musiolovers who, while not having claims to be spoken of as expert*, etill make or mar the debutante. Of graceful stage presence, she has a voice full of possibilities, a voice that cannot fail to pleaee, because of one great quality, that of purity. But purity is not the only harm. There are also power aid tinge exceptional, besides which the ,-oung New Zealand songstress sings with taste and expression and a clearness of enunciation which is, aka t SO> noticeably lacking in the efforts of otherwise goad siiigers. Possessed of at naturally robust and tuneful voioe r Mini Oonnell has been through a leaf course of training, and has much t* thank her teachers for. That she baa proved aa apt pupil is proved by her I success. When Mr. Moore, the examiner for the Roynl Academy, heard the young lady sing he was surprised, and expressed himself in such terns el warm approval that the Press Assocmtiek deemed his remarks of sufficient moment to bo telegraphed all over the colony. Mr. Moore was in no wise pparing of his admiration. He spok* of the exceptional purity of Miss Oenuell's voice, be praised her execution, and even went so far as to suggest that the young singer should bo sent to tha old world to finish her studies. " I have," said (in effect) Mr. Moore, 11 heard Amy Oastles, and consider Mis* Oonnell has a bettsr voice." Mill Castles gives promise of adding to tha> laurels won for Australia by Madams Melba, Amy Sherwin, and Ada Oroesl(,y, and in Miss Oonnell New Zealand baa evidently a singer destined to take a prominent place among the celebrities of the world of song. Since Mr. Moon give his opinion—valuable as well aa fluttering—Miss Oonnell has sung t good deal in public, snd has earned tba undisguised admiration of all who hava bad the pleasure of hearing her. Wellington crities were toad in their praises, while the audiences shewed their approval per medium of vigoroua recalls. In ballad, eratio, s«rio-eoasic, or operatic musio, Miss Oonnell ia equally good; she has the true artistia in«tinct. The Theatre Royal shoald be filled on Wednesday evening, 27th inst, when the talented singer, supported by a strong company, will gire a ooaoert. It may be the only opportunity New Plymouth people will have of hearing her, for it is rnmoured that she will ba leaving for England at a comparatively early date. That those who attend will be pleased we can have no doubt i after what we have read and heard. Among the singers of more than pane* i ing ability who form Miss Oonnell'a company is Miss H. Lorraine Tansley, a contralto who has justly earned a reputation in many towns in the North Island. At New Year, the Hawera Oaledonian Society was fortunate ia seouring Miss Tmtlsy's services for its annual concert, and her singing proved one of the attractions of the evening. Her full, mellow voice was heard to great advantage in the several numbers with which she heated her audience, and encores were the result in every instance. The company is under tha direction of Pt'ofetsor Highass, a musician f f skill and experience. The box plan is now open at Mr. Gilmeur's.