SINGERS AND PLAYERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 209, 2 September 1911, Page 16

SINGERS AND PLAYERS.

Miss Eileen Castles, who recently made a very successful first appearance on the English platform at Madame Clara Butt's Coronation concert in the Albert Hall, is a member of Madame Melba's grand opera company. She is to play second parts, such as Musetta in "La Boiieme," and Mioaela in "Carmen." Miss Dolly Castles, who is to appear in London again in the autumn, is paying a flying visit to Australia with her sister, and will return to England with Miss Amy Castles after spendinng a few weeks with her family in Melbourne.

New York papers write in high terms of Blanche Arral's appearance in that country, and arc practically unanimous in their praise. Spa, the name which has been adopted by nearly every watering place ia Europe, is a little village in the Ardennes, where the accomplished prima donna is announced to take her residence in 'the near future. It appears that a New York company has been formed, with Mons. Herold Bassett at its head, to take over the entertainments in the much visited village for a term of years, and the new concert hall now being erected will, when completed, seat 5000 people. It is here that the musical programmes will be given throughout the 'season, in which the name of Mdme. Arral will figure.

It is questionable whether any collection of genius, talent or great reputation has given greater pleasure and pride to a good proportion of an audience ! thau did the New Zealand concert at i the Crystal Palace, in connection with i the Festival of Empire (writes the ■ "Star's"' London correspondent). Concerning the concert the musical critic of the London "Telegraph" says: ! "Those who were responsible for its arrangement were naturally not a little ; handicapped by the paucity of material ; whereon to draw. For until yesterday : not a single note of orchestral music by a New Zealander had ever been heard I in London, and it would appear that our i kinsmen in that particular part of the Antipodes are not very much given to the writing of mus : " at aIL However, our first introduction to such as they have produced proved so satisfactory that it is to be hoped that we shall soon be vouchsafed the opportunity of hearing more. The Adagio from Mr. Alfred Hill's Symphony in B flat is, indeed, real music, and not merely a care-fully-thought-out arrangement of notes. There is nothing in it whatever that savours of 'the lamp. It is a lament over the ages vanished, over the tombs of heroes, and over the mighty chieftains which is finely felt, and expressed with dignity and with pathos, and it stamps Mr. Hill as a composer who has not only technique, but also imagination. An opportunity of hearing the symphony in its entirety would be most welcome. Mr. Hill was. as we have said, the first New Zealand composer to be represented in a London programme by a work for orchestra, but, if we may borrow a sporting phrase, he only won by a short head, for a little later in the programme Mr. Arnold Trowell played two movements from his own Concerto in D minor for violoncello and orchestra. As a composer, Mr. Trowell has hardly Mr. Hill's originality, but his music, if rather reminiscent, is very charmingly written, and he played it beautifully. Of the other New Zealand artists who contributed to the programme, the greatest success was unquestionably won by that able young violinist* JMiss Audrey Richardson. A skilful executant and a thorough musician of an unusually sympathetic personality, she played two movements from Max Bruch's G minor Concerto delightfully, realising the tenderness o fthe Adagio and the Ere of the Finale as can only the tavoured few. Vocal numbers were contributed to the programme by Madame Zela, Miss Mabel Manson. Miss Irene Ainsley, and Rangiuia. the last a Maori singer, who, appearing in native costume, sang a number of the national songs of his race, of which the War Chant and the Lament proved especially interesting." Signor Caruso, the famous tenor, was oretened to appear besfore the Milan tribunal on July 8 to defend himself on a charge of breach of promise. The charge was brought by Mile. Elizabeth Ganelli, who claims £IO.OOO damages.

In a very spirited performance of Fuecini's "Boheme," which M. Campanini conducted in London last month Mile. Lipkovska. the Russian newcomer, took Mme. Melba's place as Minii. and, difficult though her position was in thus closely following in the steps of the darling of Covent Garden audiences, she won very considerable success (says an English critic), fc-lim, girlish, and graceful in appearance, she "looked the part" as the little Paris workgirl. equally in the earlier light-hearted love-scenes and at the very distressful close. Her pretty voice, too. told far better than on her first appearance. Speaking of new singers, Madame Melba mentioned M. Franz, a new tenor, who lias recently sung with brilliant results at Covent Garden, and but for the fact that he is under engagement for five years he would probably have comse to Australia. His engagement is one of 'the conditions under which his training was undertaken by the Paris Conservatoire authorities, as the result of his success at that institution in an important competition, from which he emerged victorious over many candidates. M. Gilly has recently been achieving distinction as Rigoletto, with Mr. John M'Cocmaek as the Duke, a part he will play in Sydney. The Berlin correspondent of the New York "Musical Courier" reports the discovery of a "miniature Ysayc." Lacika I poly is the name of this 10i year-old Hungarian boy, who is described as "without excep'tion the most extraordinary example of precocity on the violin." The correspondent writes: "When 1 heard this child play recently at the home of the Countess Malatesta, I could scarcely believe my own ears. The Paganini Concerto was hi* first number, and he played it with the breadth and authority of a master; his technique was flawless, even the famous passages in thirds and tenths being in perfect tune and clear as crystal. The force and certainty of the child's left hand are wonderful, and he manipulates the bow with the greatest freedom and elan. What is most surprising of all in this wonderful prodigy is the depth of feeling with which he plays cantabile parts; he made the themes of the Concerto sing and soar as only a heaven-born genius can. When I was told that he could play by heart all of the twenty-foux Caprices of Paganini, my credulity was put to a severe test, but, after naming caprice after caprice, and hearing bjm dash them off with that same ease and success that characterised his playim? of the Concerto, I was convinced of the truth of this astonishing assertion." It seems that this little Hungarian boy is very poor, and that for the past three years he has received (free {tuition from Arrigo S_erato —tjie Halo-Hungarian violinist.