Dunedin Flocks To Hear Mary Pratt

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 51, 30 June 1933, Unnumbered Page

Dunedin Flocks To Hear Mary Pratt

Singer to Continue Her Studies in Europe URING the past few. years Dunedin has produced mary singers who have risen to remarkably high positions in their art in the Dominion, but there can be no doubt that, among the galaxy of voeal talent with which the city is blessed, the star of the greatest magnitude at the present moment is Miss Mary Pratt, whose glorious contralto voice, artistic maturity, and singularly appedling personality, have placed her in the foremost rank of her class. It was then no matter for astonishtnent that the Town Hall was filled to capaeity on Wedhesday evening last, when one of the most enjoyable cohcerts in the history of the city was giyen for the purpose of providing fuhds so that Miss Pratt might be enabled to continue her studies in the wider field of art provided by England and the Continent, the birthplaces and polishing grounds of so many of the world’s gteatest musicians and aftists, writes the musical critic of the "Otage Daily Times." That Miss Pratt is fully qualified to join the ranks of those with inter- . national aspirations is beyond argu‘mént, ‘for competent eritics who have ‘peen. privileged to hear world-re-nowned singers have spoken in the most eéulogistie terms of her vocal anid artistic qualifications, and there is every probability that, as the result of the broadening of her artistic outlook and experienee which will be ihade possible by her. mingling with the haut monde of miisic, Miss Pratt will ultimately achieve to the highest pinnacle of ‘her artistic pro-. fession. The concert, which was organised . by Mr. Ernest Drake, to whom must be ‘given a very great «eal of credit for the education of Miss Pratt to her pregent high state of artistic scholarship, "was one which embodied the best of the musical and elocutionary talent which this city can offer, the result being "that the huge audience showed no inclination to become restive even when . ‘the hour became inte, for the entertain- " ment occupied close on three. hours. ‘ Miss Pratt, who received an enthusiastie welcome on. her first appearance on ‘the platform, once again enthralled her hearers with the purity of her lovely yoice and the great depth of her artistic expression, and was required to answer repeated demands for encores. Her opening number was Saint-Saens’s. "Softly Awakes My Heart," which she sang with appealing artistry, her recall numbers being "Harbour Night Song," which was given with charming artistry, and "Barney O’Hea," a lilting and huthor‘ous little Irish ballad, which was sung with ineffable grace, Later in the evening Miss Pratt sang Beethoven's "Praise of God," and Handel’s "How Changed the Vision," with great depth of artistic feeling, and in response to insistent demands for encotes, sang "Doon the Burn," and "The Bonnie Briar Bush," with effortless grace and _ felicity.