SINGERS AND PLAYERS

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 14

SINGERS AND PLAYERS

Madame Clara Butt and Mr Kennerley Rumford, according to Press reports, had a remarkable season in Melbourne. Nine concerts were given in Messrs J. and X. Tait's new concert hall, the Auditorium, and over 20,000 people attended. Both artists were in superb form, according to the critics, and the enthusiasm was something to be remembered. An organist in Edinburgh was conducting hi-, choir practice, aud the anthem under rehearsal was "Ab the Har. I Pants." The tenors and the basses seemed to be rather short of breath, and consequently did not sustain the notes long enough. At last, when tha conductor could stand it no longer, he cried out: "Stop, gentlemen; your pants are far too short!" The Dunedin Amateur Operatic Society has in contemplation the t-taging of another opera in September, and fancy turns to "Mies Hook of Holland,'* which opera has been revived by the Royal Comics in Sydney. Madame Nordica thoroughly charmed the Sydney interviewers by lier brilliancy as a talker. She is one of the most gracious and interesting of the great stars. The famous soprano traces her ancestry back to Great Britain. Her great-great-grandfather Major Norton, was an English officer, who threw up his commK-sion in the army and settled in America, where he owned the Martha's Vineyard Isle, one of the Elizabethan Islesj near Cape Cod. Enlisting as a private in the American army, he fought in the War of Independence, and for hit? bravery was promoted to his old rank of major. After the war he was appointed High Sheriff of the district of Massachusetts. His son, Madame Xordica's great-grandfather, another very brave man, once quelled an Indian revolt single-handed by facing the hostile tribes, and demanding, "Who is master here— you or I?" So commanding was his attitude of fearless defiance that file Indians were completely baffled. Three of the great singers ancestors went over on the Mayflower. The commission in the British Army, which her great-great-grandfather received from King George, is still in her possession. Indeed, she has a collection of historical documents more complete than that of any other American —some dating back to 1632. The Boston authorities have asked that these should be given to the State, and this will probably be done.

Amongst other recent musical events in London was the singing of Miss Maggie Teyte, who has just returned from her American tour. Miss Teyte's career reads like a romance. Her voice attracted the attention of a member of the audience who heard her at a small concert in London eight yeais ago, and upon his advice she was sent to Paris to study as a pupil of Jean de Reszke. Her first appearance in public in Paris was at Reynaldo Hahn's Mozart Festival, in May, 1906, when she sang with Madame Lilli Lehmann, M. Ancena, and; M. Edouard de Reszke. On this occasion the seventeen-year-old English girl made a great hit. Then, through the indisposition of a- principal she secured a debut in a leading role at the Opera Comique in "Circe," in April, 1907, and in the following year made her real conquest of Paris by her performance as Melisande in DeJbussy's opera,," 1 -?-'P_ileas and Melisande." Her London debut tool: place in October, 1909. Miss Teyte is now one of the leading English operatic and concert sopranos. Interviewed recently regarding her approaching visit to Australia with the Quinlau Opera Company, Felice Lyne, the young prima donna, said: "I shall make my frrst appearance in Melbourne as Gilda in 'Rigoletto,' and folio-wing this my roles will be Marguerite in 'Faust,' Mimi in 'La Boheme,' Rosina in 'Barber of Seville,', the heroine in 'Manon' and 'Madame Butterfly,' Suzanne in 'The Marriage of Figaro,' and Nedda in 'Pagliacci.' I am looking forward to my first visit to Australia, and most of my time on shipboard -will be devoted to learning my parts in English, for I have not previously sung them in that language." - Mr Edward Arraes Beaumont (more popularly known as simply Armes Beaumont), who died at North Melbourne on July 18, at the age of 72 years, was the most celebrated tenor Australia has yet produced. Born near Norwich, England, in 1840, he came to Melbourne when he was but eight years old. Thirteen years later he made his first big appearance there in "The Messiah," taking the place of Mr Henry Squires, the world-famous tenor of the time who, just prior to the performance, became suddenly ill. Armes Beaumont made his first acquaintance with Sydney with the Lyster Opera Co. in 1865 in "The Bohemian Girl," and for many years continued to achieve notable successes at Melbourne and Sydney in "L'Africaine," "Faust," "William fell," and "Maritana," etc., etc. A shooting accident, in 1867, deprived him of the sight of one eye, but lie still continued his artistic career. After leaving the operatic stage the tenor did a great deal of concert singjpg, and when he practically retired from public appearances in 1894, he used his marked talents for teaching to much advantage. The plans for music at the PanamaPacific International Exposition in San Francisco are certainly very comprehensive. One of the gorgeous courts that connect the exhibit buildings in the main section of the exposition will be devoted to musical productions. It will be known as the Court of Festival, and will be especially equipped with a view to choral singing and dramatic productions on an elaborate scale. In the hu<*-e tower of the court there will be a <-*reat organ with echo organs in the smaller towers. Not far from the inner Festival Court will be Festival Hall, with a seating capacity of three thousand. One of the principal features of the musical department of the exposition will be international singing contests, in which choirs from all countries will compete for valuable prizes. It is proposed to have a massed chorus of 20,000 voices, selected from the world's best singers. Conventions, congresses relating to music teaching, exhibitions of musical art treasure—in fact, everything musical will be found in this wonderful exposition. The musical director will be M. George W. Stewart.

Verdi's "11 Trovatore" was last pprformed some 12 years ago by Musgrove's Grand Opera Company. On August 30 and September 2 Auckland audiences will have an opportunity to renew their acquaintance with the beautiful melodies with whic-h this opera abounds. Madame Wielaert, who has made an enviable reputation in opera, will interpret the role of Leonora, and Mr Frank Graham, the well-known operatic tenor, will sing the part of Maurice. With Miss Edna Sutherland and Mr Fred Bourko in the parts of Azueena and Count dc Luna respectively, v praiseworthy interpretation may be -depended upon. Other soloists are being arranged for. There will be a large chorus, and Mr Dutton will preside at the gTand organ. Herr Wielaert is responsible for the entire production.