The mezzo-soprano voice can be something of a musical Cinderella, lacking both the brilliance of the soprano and the warmth of the contralto. But Miss Alexandra’ Cook’s lunch-hour recital yesterday (Rhodesian Academy of Music) proved that when intelligently used it can have an appeal all of its own.
Her presentation was exemplary. She managed effectively to get under the skin of everything she sang without any of the archness which afflicts so many singers on the concert stage.
Her intonation occasionally wandered a little sharp, and her legato was better at full voice than in quieter singing, but he unpretentious musicality made her recital one of the best so far in the academy’s series.
She was sympathetically accompanied by Hugh Fenn.