SONG RECITAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10133, 6 December 1910, Page 5

SONG RECITAL.

IN ST. MATTHEW'S SCHOOLROOM. St. Matthew's Schoolroom was well filled last evening on the occasion of the Song Recital given by Mrs A. A. Pikett, assisted by Miss Hampton, A. Mua. T.C.L., and Mr Clifford O'Keefe, late 'of the Royal "Opera Company, Melbourne. The stage, presented a -mostpleasing appearance, -having- been artistically"-'decor-, ated to represent a drawing-room.' Mrs Pikett, who has been studying under Mr Spencer Lorraine, with a view to teaching, made her firs; public appearance last evening "She has a very pleasing mezzo-contralto voice, of good range, and with capacity for development. Her efforts were'rewarded, not only with applause, but with floral tributes from the audience The programme opened with a pianoforte solo by Miss Hampton, entitled "Valse Caprice" ;(Chaminade>. An easy and graceful Interpretation of the piece was given, and in response to an encore Miss Hampton gave "Moon Moth." Mrs Pikett's first number was Handel's celebrated "Largo." The opening recitative, alwa3 T s a moat difficult obstacle for vocalists, was rendered with a certainty of intonation, atlhough the soloist was palpably suffering, from nervousness. This defect, however, wore off to some extent in her second number, the well-known "Ave Maria" from "Cavalleria Kusticana." Mr-Clifford O'Keefe, who is the possessor o£ a fine bass voice, gave a magnificent rendering of "Vulcan's Song," .Gounod, from the Opera, "Pnilemon et Bancis," and in response to a decided encore sang "Out on the Deep," Lohr, withlgoo.l effect. Mrs Pikett was very successful in her interpretation of "Sapho's Farewell," Gounod, the recitative being attractive, with a confidence that was distinctly creditable. This was probably her best number, and for an encore she gave ."On Emblem," 'Jhomson, which was followed by "Rose Softly Blooming," Spohr, The next pianoforte piece by Miss Hampton was "Polonnaise," in C eharp minorChopin. The execution was clever and pleasing, and "Albumblutt," which was given as a recall number, was equally successful. Mr O'Keefe scored a triumph in his rendering of "Se 11 Rigor," Halvey. v'"he(audience were not satisfied r .til he had given another item—"Son of the Desert,''—and even then they were not content until he had repeated the last verse of this piece. One of the beßt items of the evening was Mrs Pikett's rendering of "Che Faro," Gluck, and her voice was heard to great advantage in the encore piece, "Sister Awaue." The duet. "Still as the Night, Deep as the Sea," by Mrs Pikett and Mr O'Keefe, was well received though difficult of interpretation. The accompaniments were in the capable hands of Miss Hampton.