MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 12

MUSIC.

[By Treble Clot.]

"The Bello of Mayfalr." Tho first idea we get of tho music of Mayfair,; says tho " Australasian," is that it cannot easily bo torn from its context for use as ;a drawing-room song; which may bo a serious injustice .to the music warehouses, but an. appreciable gain to those who dwell antangst tho pianofortes of Suburbia. Not quite as' catchy as the themes of "Miss Hook," it is none , the leas pleasant music, some of tho effect of which is lost by the trouble which so many of tho singers take-to not lot you understand tho meaning of the highly-refined words. In tho dialogue' you get a glimpse occasionally. of your mother tongue, but in most of the songs thero is barely, ono word which reoalls any sense of familiarity. To most of us it might just as .well be a French chansonetto, a German lieber, or a love song of tlio Solomon Islands. You must bo content with tho sound, and graciously tako for granted tho sense or satire or whatevor it ! may be. Tho Royal Wolsh Male Choir. , The Royal Welsh Male Choir, who are com:ing out here shortly under the direction of Messrs. J. and H. Tait, have certainly no reason to complain of any lack of appreciation of their efforts for that seems to bo moat emphatic, and comprehensive. From half a hundred expressions of opinion from eminent musicians and distinguished critics may be culled tho following enthusiastic comments from judges in tno various; coinpetitins in which tho ■ choir sprung into fame. " The attack and release and. light and shade were excellent, and tho enunciation most artistic." (J. T. Roes, Mus. Bach). " The finest specimon of singing I evor heard in my lifo " (Sir Joseph Barnby). "We could not find one single fault from beginning to end of the performance" (Dr. Rogers). "1 have, never heard hotter singing in England or tho Continent, tho tenors especially wero magnificent" (Signor Randegger). What Caruso Earns. . ' ■ ■ ' Signor Caruso, says the Vienna correspondent of tho Now York "Timos," is quoted as saying that while ho does not' consider himtsolf tho greatest tenor in the world, ho belioves himself paid. During his recent visit to this city ho told somothing about his earnings. "I havo signed , a four years' contract," said Caruso, "and tho conditions are not bad. For eighty performances annually I got £20,000. To this is added tho £8000 I got from tho gramophono people, not to mention tho evenings wlien I sing for the Goulds, tho Vanderbilts, and others, which brings in an additional £8000. That makes £36,000 a year. Then all my expenses, of course, aro paid by the Metropolitan. "At presont I'm studying 'II Trovatoro,' as I am singing that this soason in New York. I am also studying Ofcello, a rolo which I dearly love. I'm an actor boforo overything else. I study. I note my impressions in tho street. Often I watch for several minutes somo poor beggar or a cripple.

' "I also take tho best possiblo caro of mysolf. Heavy suppers and banquets ard strictly forbidden. I Bmoko bnt little, and then only on days when I am not singing, or at night after the. porformanco itfc tha opora. I drink a littlo cliampagno and very much minoral wator.

"A day when I am going to sing is a day of torturo. lam capricious and out of sortß, and I can't sco anyono. ■ After breakfast I lock mysolf in my room and writo lottors or answer requests for my autograph; Oncd •in the thoatro lam calm. But as soon as I havo sung the first net, I wish that it had been tho second. I lcavo tho theatro tlioroughly broken down, and tired out. In fact) I havo only ono fixed idea—it is to defend my name, to.remain Caruso!"