MISS ROSINA BUCKMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1922, Page 6

MISS ROSINA BUCKMAN.

NEW PLYMOUTH CONCERT. t A NOTABLE PERFORMANCE. The attendance at the concert given by Miss Rosina Buckman and her company on Saturday night was so large that every seat in the Empire Theatre was taken, while a number of the audience had to stand. It is many a long day since music lovers have had the opportunity of hearing such eminent artiste as these visitors. Naturally Miss Buckman herself was the chief attraction, not only on account of her early connection with New Zealand, and. more especially with Taranaki, but also on account of the great reputation she has deservedly won in England. This reputation she amply maintained on Saturday night. Much to the regret of the audience, Mr. Graveetock, the director of the tour, announced immediately before the concert began that she had been suffering for several days from a cold, and that, in consequence, she was not in as good voice as usual. Her singing, though here and there showing traces of this cold, was brilliant and effective. The outstanding features of her singing are power and clarity, both of tone and enunciation. To hear such an artist sing is an education for all amateurs, and songs which are often put aside as having no special merit are shown to be works of sterling merit. Her first number was ‘ One Fine Day. - ’ from Puccini's “Madame Butterfly.” All the qualities mentioned above were amply demonstrated in this song, which is one of those whose merits good singing reveals, while anything falling short of an artistic rendering condemns. The expectancy of the waiting betrothed and the reminiscent longing were exceedingly well brought out by the singer. In response to an imperative demand for an encore Miss Buckman sang a charming little : love-song entitled “The Cuckoo,” the ■ iteration of the cry of the cuckoo by the lover, and the answer by the maiden with the recurrence of the phrase in the accompaniment was very effective. The naive manner in which the song was sung was very delightful. So pleased was the audience that d second encore was called for. The singer very gracefully sang a third song, "A SpinningSong.” The eminent sopranos next i item was three bracketed num- | bers—Arne’s "The Lass With the Delij cate Air,” Montague Phillips' "Butterfly Wings” and “O Ship of My | Delight.” As a first encore Rosina I Buckman sang Hill’s “Maori Maid.” ! This was excellently done, and the spirit lof the song with the poi-dance rhythm in both the vocal and piano parte was irresistible. The manner of the singer I greatly enhanced the effect. All singers attempt “Cornin’ Through the Rye” and few succeed. It must be said that Miss Buckman is one of the latter. The audience demanded yet another encore, and received Hill’s “Waiata Maori” in response. It is not a great composition and is too melodramatic. It is well, perhaps, that the composition of a New Zealander should receive from another New Zealander all the assistance a great artist can give it. If a criticism may be ventured upon it is that no song she sang during the evening was characterised by the "bel canto” of Svengali. Of course she is as great an artist in such songs as in others, but we cannot help regretting the absence of at least one such song. Miss Buckman and Mr. Maurice D’Oisly sang an English duet from Act IV. of Gounod’s "Romeo and Juliet.” This fine composition gave great scope for dramatic ginging, and full advantage was taken of this. The two voices blended beautifully, the soprano being perhaps a little too powerful for the tenor. As an encore the singers gave the finale of Act I. of Puccini’s “La Boheme.” This was so much appreciated that a third recall had to be granted. The item given was the old favorite, “The Keys of Heaven.” Needless to say it was excellently performed in every respect, the little dramatic byplay adding greatly to the effect. Mr. D’Oisly sang as his first solo Coleridge Taylor’s fine song “Eleanore.” His clear and flexible tenor voice, welltrained and thoroughly under control, enabled him to bring out the climax in the song to perfection. As an encore he sang an old English folk song, “W hen I was a Bachelor,” in which he brought out the humor very effectively. £lis second item was four bracketed songs— Montague Phillips’ “Dolorosa,” Percy Kahn's' "The Willow Tree,” Pessard’s “Adieu du Matin” and Weckerlin’s

“Petronille.” AIL this was sung with great taste and all the beauty and special point in each was fully brought out. The third and fourth were sung in French and formed a complete contrast to each other. The “Adieu du Matin” was characteristic of a certain sweet and melancholy class of French poetry bearing traces of the "maJ du sieele” period of the first half of the nineteenth century. The hymn-like music expresses well the words, and the singer was very happy in his interpretation. In the “Petronille” the playful lilt of the light and somewhat Latin Quarter words and music was crisply and playfully rendered. Indeed, Mr. D’Oisly seemed at his best in these two songs.* As a first encore he sang Coningsby Clarke’s “Blind Ploughman.” The .serious words and equally serious music demanded great power and care in the performance, and it can be truthfully said that Mr. D’Oisly succeeded admirably. A second encore was an old negro song. "Didn’t it Rain! Here again the trifling song owed its acceptation entirely to the naive and humorous rendering of the singer. Miss Adelina Leon, the violincellist of the party, created a most favorable impression from the first. It is to be regretted that she did not choose music more in keeping with the spirit of the instrument. Further, the playing of music characterised by lightness and digital dexterity combined is trespassing on the; domains' of the violin, the worst feature being the fact that the broadness of tone and depth of expression, so specially essential in the case of the violoncello, is impossible under the circumstances. Apart from this criticism Miss Leon played beautifully. Her first item. "Scotch Airs,” was heartily received and as an encore she played "Butterfly.” by Hamilton Harty. In her second appearance she played two bracketed number.*. "Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes” and a “Country Dance.” by Squire. As a first encore Miss Leon' played a Beethoven “Minuet.” and a< a second "Cinquaintaine” by Gabriel-Marie in a style that left noth ing to be desired. Het last number was a “Rhapsody” by Popper. The accompaniments were perfectly ployed by Mr. Percy Kahn, the com-

poser of one of the songs on the programme. The. quality of his playing caused regrets that he played no piano solo. SECOND CONCERT TONIGHT. The second and final concert will be given -to-night, when a different programme will be given. Miss Buckman will sing the popular “Jewel Song” from "Faust,” Mimi’s song from “La Boheme.” A group of papular numbers, “Waiata Poi” and “Waiata Maori” will be repeated by request. The duets will include the famous duet from “Madame Butterfly” and the well-known “Miserere Scene” duet from "II Trovatore.” Mr. D’Oisly’s songs will include the “Flower Song’ from Carmen. Mr. E. J. Gravestock announces that there are still a number of good seats available at Collier’s for to-night’s concert, and early application is advisable. Standing room will be sold at the doors.