AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 176, 25 July 1907, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THE MARTS HALL CONCERTS.

Miss Marie Hall, the famous violinist, Miss liorrie Basclie, pianist, Mr. J- Nevin. Tait, and Mr. Davies, arrived this morning by the Ngapuhl from the South, and were met on arrival at Auckland by a large number of the leading musicians. The first concert will be given this evening the Choral Hall, and an exceptionally fine programme has been adranged. The beautiful concerto in G minor by Max Brueh with, its magnificent tone picture will be the opening piece. It is stated that no finer rendering of this concerto has ever been given in Australasia, and it will be of interest to violinists that the famous teacher Sevzik pronounced Miss Hall's interpretation of this composition the most perfect he had ever heard. Miss Hall will also play "Faust Fantasie," arranged by Wieniawski, Schubert's "Aye Maria," arranged by Wilhelmj, "The Bee" (Schubert), and several pieces by Hubay, Dvorak, and Tshalkowsky. Miss Lorrie Basche, a pianist of note, will play Liszt's "Lielbestraum" and "La Canipanella," also "Nocturne," "Etude" G flat, and "Valse in A Flat," by Chopin. Only three concerts can be given in Auckland. The second one is announced for to-morrow night, and the final one for Monday night. To-night's concert will commence at 5.15, and the subsequent concerts commence at 8 o'clock sharp. Seats can be secured at Wildman and Arey's, and special arrangements have been made for trams for the suburbs.

There has been considerable discussion of years past as to whether the English, as a race, are musical or otherwise, and in Miss Marie Hall, one may safely assert that music is inherited by her from her family, who are entirely English. To have achieved success in such critical centres as Prague and Vienna, instantaneously as was the ease with Miss Marie Hall, when but a girl of eighteen, augurs well for the musical future of our nation. Marie Hall evidenced great talent as a child, and her father first trained, her and spent considerable time in cultivating a taste for the harp, but his daughter had other views and often ■when she was supposed to be practicing that instrument,, she was overcoming the intricacies of the violin, and. one day her father discovered where his daughter's true genius lay, and he then gave her what assistance he could to enable her to study ttie instrument which she loved best. Many references to the vicissitudes of her career have been made concerning Marie Hall, which she states with some reservation are perfectly true. "It is a fact," Miss Hall said to a "Star" representative, "that we were extremely poor in. my earliest years, and very often I played in hotels and in the streets for a few shillings. I had a very great ambition to become a great artist when but a child, and after all my strange experiences, I realise that to be a great artist one has to feel the -'truth of life." The struggle for existence is hard to many, but one can surmount any obstacle by work and will. I am not physically strong, as you can see, but I play at 200 concerts a year, and when you consider how one has to travel about to do this work you can realise that an artist has to be "tuned" up to the ordeal. After my concerts here, I return to England, via Vancouver, and after travelling continuously for a month I have to play the day of my arrival! On being asked about her experiences or her present tour, Miss Hall states that she has enjoyed her visit greatly. In Melbourne and Sydney we had some splendid concerts, the audiences being both enthusiastic and discriminating. In New Zealand I find a great love for music exists, and on every hand they accord an artist a most encouraging welcome. My experiences here have been most pleasant, and those who have heard mc have, I believe, quite enjoyed by playing, and that is the best reward an artist can expect. One thing that snrprises mc in both Australia and New Zealand, is that the audiences seem to appreciate really good music best —by that I mean music by the great composers. Before my arrival here, I thought J would have to play very Topular , programmes, but I find thai a ■wide range of music is necessary. In the programmes that X will give here, I I will include both classical and modem compositions; for instance, to-night I will open with the "Max Bruch. Concerto," and finish with the "Faust Fantasie." and my other items are "The la Folia" variations, and a group of wellknown solos including, the"Aye Maria," Schubert'Wilhemrj; "The Bee," Schubert, and Dvorak's Humoreske,' the last is probably the most appreciated composition that I play, for I very often have to repeat it." Miss Hall thus informally chatted to the "Star" representative at the Grand Hotel soon after her arrival from the South this morning. Her Auckland season of three concerts commences this evening at the Choral Hall. Miss Lorrie Basehe, pianist, will also appear at the concerts as soloist and aceomnanist.