Evening star., 1950-04-04
Music
Elena NikoIoidi's
Debut Reveals One
OF Greatest Voices
By Alice Eversmon

One of the most notable contri-
buttons Greece has made to art in
this century is Elena Nikolaidi,
contralto, who made her local
debut in song recital in Consti-
tuition Hall last night. In return,
Miss Nikolaidi made q .contribu-
ton to her country, for the con-
cert was given for the benefit OF
the scholarship fund of Athens
College. which enjoys American
financial support. Her appearance
was sponsored by the Ambassador
OF Greece and Nine. Dendramis
and distinguished list of patrons.
Miss Nikolaidi has one Of the
greatest voices and is one Of the
most attractive stage personalities
before the public today. The lat
ter is important, but not nearly
so exceptional as the range, quality
and strength of her vocal endow-
ment. A real contralto is almost
a rarity today, so that Miss Niko-
laidi's opulent tones, perfectly
matched throughout the entire
range, are something few have
heard since Schumann- -Heink and
others Of like fame have passed on.
1t cannot be said that the Greek
singer can fill the niche left vacant
by these great ones completely.
Her voice has hardly the required
warmth and moving expressive
ness, nor has she the expansive
ness of style that can handle diff
ferent genre with equal ease. She
may not have been in the best
form last night. for tones some
times slipped little under pitch
and the high notes occasionally
took on a sharp edge. Nor did she
seem to put herself thoroughly
into the mood of her numbers
until the second half of the
program.
This followed the very fine
singing of BEL raggio lusinghier'
from Rossini's "Semiramide"
where her finished negotiations
of the coloratura passages evoked
an ovation that was increased, if |
anything, by her presentation of
the "Habanera" from Garment
as encore. In spite of its size and
power, her voice has extraordinary
flexibility, further shown in Ra-
vel's "Habanera," sung as a voca-
lise, De Falla's "Jota" and Obra-
doris "Coplas de Curro Dulce."
She has the rhythmic feeling and
the knowledge of racial style to
sing these numbers with out
standing effect.
The two simple songs by Rey-
naldo Hahn, Isl mes vers avaient
des allies" and Maj" found the
singer coloring her tones with
sentiment and singing with
greater freedom. Quite the most
satisfying work of the evening lay
in Spathy's "Layarni," Petrides'
"Achtida" and Magarites' "Neran-
zula" where the individual atmos-
phere was projected with telling
effect. 1t was a beautiful perform
ance well rounded in every
respect.
While Miss Nikolaidi's presen-
tation Of Schubert's "Nacht und
Traume." "Auf dem Wasser zu
singen," and "Erlkoenig," Strauss
"Traum durch die Daemmerung"
and "Staendchen," held all the
ear-marks OF one schooled in the
best OF lieder singing, there was
not the same impact nor the spe-
cial finesse that can bring out
every shade Of loveliness in these
numbers. The full scope of Miss
Nikolaidi's art. temperament and
vocal compass. however, was dis
played in the "SleepWalking
Scene" from Verdi's Macbeth"
which ended the program. Her
broad line of delivery and the
resonance of her tones through
out the range brought cheers and
excited applause that called for
the lengthening of the concert
time with encores.
The recital began with a noble
performance of the Largo" from
HandePs "Xerxes" to the accom-
paniment of William Watkins on
the organ. and the Bach-G -Gounod
Ave Maria" in which the open
ing theme and obligato were
played by Demo Geanakopoulos,
violinist, formerly of the Minnea-
polls Symphony. Mr.. Watkins, at
the organ, and Jean Behr at the
piano, provided the accompani-
ment for this number. Too great
praise cannot be given Mr.. Behr
for his support of the singer
throughout the rest Of the pro-
gram. His accomplishments were
exquisite. Seldom has such deli
cacy Of nuance and beauty Of tone
been drawn from the piano. He
Is an artist in his own RIGHT