WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 39

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

By P. Komster.

May 19. Dear Papqutn,— Tt fec-om^d to me doubtful wL.eth.ev Dm ward Lely could draw Wellington wioh a ten-K- voice. Menfolk don't care much for tc-no;r., and women don't r«,vs a£ter man led tenors. Probably something like this argument atmok the astute manager, for clever Fraulein Iflllie Viulin Fuchs became— -^nd she did become it, too—attached to the programme aft the last moment. TcLs much-bcomed youug person dtew to the Opera House last night many Continentalists who must have listened wi' deeficultie to Lely's Suoiticisins. There's a way of cracking jokesi dear boy, That is a style quita English — And Scotch that's Fingli3h, don't you know, Is hard to undistHsguisb. ! But given Germans in tbe house That's packed most part for Lely — To some his Scotch is Double Dutch, * Whilst others wish 'twere r&ally !

Mr Smytlie-Lely opened to a standing-room-only houss last night, and everyone had a good lime.

Fraulein Fuchs (call her Jfoohs) is remarkably clever at technique, but gives one the impression of beiujj a "clevev" girl rather than a gifted musician. The question debatable is, Has she Soul? She is thoroughly German in appearance — big built, slrong-physiqued, heavy in movement and feature, and looks as phlegmatic as they are made in Germany. The Fuchs boom in Wellington has had behind it all the interest of local sons of the Fatherland. Hence its big-bodied success.

Yet another of our musical bodies has held its annual mesting, this time the Liedertafel. The chief point in the report is the statement that for the first time the 'tafel can show a credit balance. The balance sheet submitted showed that at the end of last year there was a debit balance of j£s3. That had now been w.iped off, and there was a credit balance of £14 odd. The election of officers resulted in practically the le-eleclion of the whole of lasb year's officials— viz. : -President, Mr E. Pearce; vice-presidents, Messrs A. H. Miles and W. Gill ; secretary, Mr W. E. Dasent ; treasurer, Captain Barclay ; librarian, Mr C. Laishley ; conductor, Mr R. Parker ; auditor, Mr J. Stevens; committee, Messrs King, Whittall, aud Chambers. The society numbers 27 singing and 100 listening 'tafels.

By the way, some of the 'tafels say they can't Rot along harmoniously without the solo Voice Feminine. The question of Shall She ?or Shan't We? is to be discussed at the next meeting. One opponent said : " I think the Liedertafel i» the only society in the world from which ladies are now excluded — and they should continue to be. Lady soloists can be hcavd at any social. For my part I would strongly oppose the suggestion." During the discussion some interesting 'tafel history was given. Originally Liedertafels were purely political organisations in Germany, and composed entirely of men, who, after the transaction of business, indulged in a little conviviality and sang sonsts. When there was no longer any need for the existence of these political societies, the Liedertafels took up solely the study and practice of all classes of music. In Australia, several speakers averred, great, success had attended the intioduetion of ladies into the Liedertafel choirs. Among the arguments advanced in opposition was one thai the proposal, if carried into effect, would be altogether opposed to tlie exceptional position the Liedertafel held. The Blenheim Operatic Society is rehearsing " Les Cloches de Corneville." |g Madame Amy Sherwin and her concert company are giving farewell concerts iv the Skating Ilink to-night and to-morrow night. Madame Amy Sherwin's tour of Naw Zealand has been eminently successful, both artistically and financially. Since her arrival in this country last February! madaine liaa given 90 concerts, and every city and town of any importance has been visited. I clip this regretful pal\ from Moaday's Posfc :— " Musical circles will vegret t» learn that owing to overwork and the necessity for rest, Mr Maughau B.arnett has be.au compelled to give up his Musical Society, which foy thvee seasons past has bo delighted Wellington auaieucea by its finished and excellent concerts. Mr Barnett has also received three months leave of absence a? Conductor of the Wellington Orchestral Society, and his continuance in that position will depend uaoa his health at the sjtßlmtioa of- that peHacU

[ It is intended to hold a final concert of*- the Musical Society al-out the ond of June or in i July, piirticulars'of which will be announced, in ' due tour-e."

Blenheim talks of building an up-to-date theatre or hull — the public min-l hasn't quite made up which ret.

This is what t lie Post man s>aya of the St. Gjoi'ge.,' >-!isi'-* in list week's Lop at the Kink :—: — " UndouhtcTy th • main fe.itr.res and probably the chief attiaeiions at the popular concert ia the SkAhing Kiak List night were the contributions of Mr and Mrs Kt. George, who occupied the gtase duiing the whols of the sec md portion of the entertainment. Mr St. George's means of entertaining seemed to be almost inexhaustible." He has a gjod voice, and show e I him-e'f to be possessed of no small nius'cal talent, extractiDg music from about a dozen diffeient instruments —if such they can be called — ranging from a tiuwhisi.le and bottles to a cigai-box and broomhandle violin. He was ab'y assisted by Mrs St. George, who has plenty of vivacity, anri the two performers were warmly applauded for thaiv efforts."

Profes^'jc fle'ller haf ssut word piong thai he is making W- J.Jineroi>wani« fro'ii your part of tLe ooiony. " P.K." will b^ gla<i to renew tlie acquaintance of the Man of Myatery

A variety co -.'pany. voder t.be style of " Greyes'a Bright; L'Kbts." is giving bi-weekly sliowa at the Exchange Hall — Wednesdays and Saturdays. The roster in- hides the names of Thomas Curran, C. Lasker. A. Greyes, VV. and J. Leino, and Misses Lilian Moore ami Ethel Laurie.

The next b~oui iv musical circles here ia likely to be op. behalf of that talented youa_ster, Miss 15-irnpSer, w'g.t has •' one everything in her power to deserts success, and has 'had the hardest of h^rrl luck " Jest now this little miss is in (Jhristchurch, where I understand she will receive violin exercise under the direction of Mr Wallace during a v«;ry short stay. Quite recently Herr WillimofT, of Auckland, gave Miss Dampier a few lesbons— iu fact, the wee lassie is enthusiastic in her search, after improvement, and is striving now to raise sufficient to en Able her" to go Home for the best available tuition. Now, if a foreigner, utterly unknown, can drop, as from a balloon, ia upon us and catch, many useful shillings, why should we not do the same for a native-bovn ? Anyone speaking ? Writing of the outgrowth of the young idea in its efforts to spread itself in the Culture Spheie reminds me that two voun*; Wellingtonians ar«s seeking more than local knowledge. Yountc ten-year-old flautist Amajlio — a gifted youngster whose name has crept into this column ere iliis, and who has been under flautist Hill's tui< iongoes to Sydney next week to yursue musical study ; and Miss Violin H-muah, who wove a, Ballarat gold medal at our Wellington Exhibition Contest, where she won further jewellery, is already studying in Melbourne. She is a, niece of Piemier Seddon. ,

I hear that Miss Ada Junoan's Burlesque Company opens in. Auckland on June 11. I suppose Miss Ada's Wellington Optra Hoase pencilling (Jur.e £3 for three veeks) ■■rill now be written in

Both the Times and the Post critics highly pr_ise the violin playing of liVauleia b.llie Fuohs, whose concert last Friday was a great success, and, taking the girl's age into account, the Post does not hesitate to dub her " the mo3t remarkable aitist who has ever visited the colony." Whilst lacking the passion of TJwo, V/ilhclmj, and Musin, " for a very giilieh sirl of 17 to have even proved herself worthy of . eing put in compv'acn with Mich first flight artists as theae, and have S.er 'Pi'tormances jujged by the standard of theirs, is i:i itself sufficient indicatiou to those who had uut the good fortune to be present of the general quality of her work, and of the eminence to which she roay be expected to attain when, with the ocflow of time, her now precocious musical tD}fcuts have matured. Sh«: tackled her work with the utmost ease and cc.ilideace and a p'rftciion of executive that was Mmply ftiiiaKing. ISo violinist of >auy- age that tbiß colony has yet "heard has excriJed her in mastery of tb.e sresojrjes of-thf> viohn. For the'opening of the ccno/rt sho chose the enormously difficult ' Faust ' >"ar\t*sia of "Vyieniawski. Ths moment the bow was across tie strings the girl was alisoibed in the artist, and aftsr tho prslirainary passases she was hsard at one raomant negotiating the met Porid of yhya-cs. the next giving out In cairlatile niothod some Oi Gounod's lovely melodic», »f3ii. souading liquid harruonicjs jr sustained double-atopping," said ojice mere sweeping hor btrings. 4o produce the grandest of full chords— in short, employing with con'-ummate skill all tbe aits of a flcishei violinist."

Madams Melba arrived in 'F/isco on ths 17th April, and was to begin a week's season -on the 19th. From a Chronicle just tg hand I gather some notes of an interview in which tbe writer does some " spreading " in a two-column article. I give the first and last pars. :--" Patti's mantle, so long and regally worn, fell upon the shoulders of Melba, and the young woman from the colouies, the first Australian to achieve artistic prominence, has worn it nobly ever since. All the great critics acknowledge that among her contemporai ies the Australian diva has no rival. Aud she is yet but 33, in the very heyday of her youth and popularity. She guards her voice as her moat cherished possession, and well she may, but it iH in perfect condition, and Melba, with all tlie strength and physical perfection tbat might be expected from a new country, will keep her slippery throne for many a year. ... To anyone sensitive to loveliness and splendour of tone, to the connoisseur keenly alive to the qharm of unforced vocal emission, this singer is a revelation. And no one enjoys it more thoroughly than Melbi herself, who would rather sing than do unjthiug else. Therein lies half her charm."