MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 122, 15 February 1908, Page 13

MUSIC.

[By Tbedi.e Clef.] , tendon's Concerts. ' > A London correspondent writes.'on January 3:—lt is interesting to note that the voar. just closed furnishes a . record in tljo number of concerts and recitals given in London. From figures to hand; it is',evident• . that' 1907 has eclipsed that of''lS)oG, which enjoyed an averago of 27 concerts a, week. ; During tho past year 59 concert's-were given at tho'Royal Albert Hall, 302 at tho. Bccli- 1 stein flail, 297 nt tho Aeolian-Hall,- and 238 at- tho. Steimvay Hall. These -figures are regardless of concerts at -tho Queen's Hall, and in smaller halls, such as the Salle 1 Erard, the-Brinsmead Rooms, the Broadwcod, arid. . tho concerts given in Central London under tho-' auspices of-?, tho National . Sunday League,"which; if 'added; up,. would constitute'' an average.' of 29 coucerfs every !-wook.' i' Madams Arral. ; ' ' , : Tho identity of Madamo Blanelie Arral has. often puzzled. Sydney concert-goers.! ; Many peoplo surmised ■ that under-' tho.'name-of Blancho Arral. was hidden the idontity-of a well-known European artist. But .Mtlio ' secret was well kept; and it was. not -until , a few weeks ago, while singing at.tho-Mel-bourne Town Hall'(says the "Sydney; Telegraph"), that tho curtain was lifted upon tho, romance": of the distinguished .. prima donna. . Present among tho audience was a. gentleman who had been attache of, tho Austrian Legation at Paris,' and' whpl had knowu Madame ;in France, ; and . was acquainted with;much of tho romantic: story or her life.; The official sought the artist after the performance, and renewed his acquaintance with .her. -Tho.-published account- is that Madaino is .a' Russian princess: . Her first: husband was Prince Sergius Peschkoff; a Russian aristocrat. She iherself conies of. an old French family, her, father having boon a Count: Madame.is-34-years.-old, for she was born-'at Brussels in: 1874, and was ; tho youngest of: , a largo family. ! From jparliost youth she displayed a 'genius' for music, and at tho ago of 10 sho won prizes for- both singing and playing tho : pianoforte at tho Conservatorium of MUsio in Brussels. By- the influciico of Princo do Chimay' (president of tho jury at the Conservatorium) tho young 'artist went- to,Paris-'to,study in' earnest; and Marchosi finished ;her : .musical education. :At tho ago of lij' sho mado her debut on--the'--operatic stagb -at tho Opera Coniiquo in the name part of Moyrion. 'She scored such a triumph that her faino us a singer -and actress was placed oii a strong foundation. Sinco ;that early appearance Madamo's career has been Ja long record of successes. .-Sho starred at tho Opera Comiquo for throo years, _ and appeared in leading parts, all tho while. ,It was not long before Clairo do Hardinois—as tho young ar.tist becamo known—became a celebrity throughout Europo. : Sho created 'tho part of Laura in Millocher's,. "Beggar Student"; and she has still in her possession a beautiful crown presented 'her by tho composer on the occasion of the hundredth performance of tho opera. After'an American tour-tho' singer returned to Paris in 1893 at tho summit of her success. : Here sho met Princo' Sergius Nicholas do: Peschkoff, with whom sho lmd becomo acquainted at St. Petersburg;-- Soon tho pair were married; For: two years tho Prince and Priucebs lived at their family'seat in St. Petersburg. Then the Princess paid'a visit to Brussels to see her family. Whilo sho was away her husband bccamo ill, but his relations-kept her ignorant' of the. fact, for they had not favoured tho marriage. Upon her' return she was distracted to find' her "husband dead. Sho then returned to tho stage under her old name. While on tour in America she met Mr. Harold Bassetti, a ''citizen of tho United States, who as captain of First Ohio Regiment of Infantry , had fought in tho Spanish-American war. . To' him sho was married, and Mr. Bassetti now accompanies her oil her tours... After leaving America slie toured Java and Tonkin, and survived somo oxciting experiences. Finally, tho 1 Princess—or Madame Claire de Hardinois— decided to visit Australia, and to conceal lier identity under the namo of Blancho Arral— tho naind by which she-'wishes .still to bo known.

A Valuablo Strati. Tho theft of tho valuablo Strndivarius violin, t-ho-property, of ,M.. Ysayo.from tho Imperial Opera at St. .Petersburg, has set all .Russia in commotion. Tho instrument, which is liU'mcd "Hercules," and'on its inner sido bears tho inscription "Anno 1732," has been .valued .by connoisseurs at about £7000, and was inscribed in a special book- containing tho list of precious musical 'instruments. It is supposed that the person who abstracted tho violin had no intention of making money, beeauso ho cannot sell it. M. .Ysayo is taking an action for damages, against tho Minister of tho Imperial Court, under whoso direction tho. theatre is run.