ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 14, 11 July 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

' OSSIPOFF. I The Melbourne Argus of a recent date says:—A good deal of interest was | shown in the debut at the Y.M.C.A. i Hall of the concert party described a.s the Russian Operatic Singers. The principal artist was M. Eugene Ossipoff, a full-voiced baritone, with an immense range, and a frequently eccentric style, his dramatic emphasis of expression, flrL'ck very oftai hit the mark, at other times failing through over-exaggeration. However, the voice 'was really rather wonderful in sonority and range, and the singer distributed resonant "high fi's" in the most reckless profusion. His popular success was made in the "Toreador Song" from "Carmen." Con-cert-goers, who have heard this number in Italian, French, English, and German, have now survived it in Russian. M. Ossipoff's dramatic vivacity was really extraordinary. He rounded-up his huh in the most intrepid manner with wild shouts, reproduced the cries of "bravo" by the spectators in the most spirited way, sustained all the time the rhythm of the "catchy" melody, and even then had an extra surprise in hand at the final phrase, which he took one note higher than any Escamillo who has yet essayed the song. Overwhelming enthusiasm greeted the Russian baritone, and strange sounds, probably equivalent to the Australian "Coo-ee," satisfied local connoiseurs that some of the singers's compatriots were in their midst. M, Ossipoff sung a3 an encore a very sparkling little Russian lmfl'o song,' and this, vastly taking the fancy of the house, the artist consented to repeat. M. Ossipoff rendered also in Russian, with unequal voice-production, and many fortissimo passages in alternation with pianissimo effects, the prologue to "I Pagliaeci," with a tremendously powerful and effective "nigh G', at the terminal phrase, "ring up the curtain"; and gave] as his extra number, in English, Mine. > Guy d'Hardelot's "Because." Altogether.! the huge-voiced stranger made himself i popular in his own way. M. Ossiqoff! will give two farewell concerts at the | Theatre Royal on Thursday and Friday i evenings next, The box plan is now open at Hoffmann's.