MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 306, 19 September 1908, Page 12

MUSIC.

[Br Treble Clep.] Miss Irene Aiiislcy. Provincial folk aro seriously admonished not to miss hearing Miss Irene Ainsloy sing. Sho has a full-toned contralto of great capacity, without a suspicion of break right up to upper G, which sho reaches without tho change of tone fibro so common in contraltos. Miss Ainsloy was trained for voice production for over two years by Madame Minna Fischer, and was then taken in hand by Madamo Marchesi (on the advice of Madarno Melba), who gavo her the finish that is so apparent in her vocalisation and platform manner. Miss Ainsley is to sing at tho following places during tho next few days • New Plymouth, September 22; Stratford, September 25; Hawera, September 28; Wanganui, September 30; Marton, October 2; Hastings, October 5; Dannovirko, October 6; Feilding, October 7; Palmerston North, October 9; Masterton, October 12. The news will be welcomed that _ Miss Ainsley is to sing in Wellington again on October 13 and 15. Nov; York Opera Season. It is announced that Signor Tqscanini, tho now _ conductor, and Emmy Destinn, tho Bohemian dramatic soprano, will both'make their debuts in New York on the opening night of the season, Novembor 16, when an entirely new programme of "Aida" will bo givon. This was decided upon at tho recem conference of Giulio Gatti-Casazza, Andreas Dippel, and Alfred Hertz in Vienna. Aida is one of Fraulein Destinn's best roles, so that the new soprano should bo heard to advantage in making her first New York appearance. On tho same evening Signor Amato, a new baritone from La Scala, will also mako his American debut. Enrico Caruso will sing Rliadamcs, as usual. Since leaving Vienna Mr. Gatti-Casazza has spent a week in Paris, whore ho made partial arrangements for the exclusive rights of some new French operas he hopes to produce at_ the Metropolitan. He also made negotiations for the engagement of new singers for the Fronch wing of tho company and inspected the now designs for the scenery for "Aida." At least seven novelties will bo given during tho first season of the new regime. These will include Eugen d'Albert's "Tiefland," with Alfred Hertz conducting: Puccini's early opera "Lo Villi," Catalani's "La Wally," and Raoul Laparra's" La Habanera," under Signor Toscanini's baton, and Tschaikowsky's "Pique-Dame" and Smetana's "Die vcrkaufte Braut," under Gustav Mahler's direction. The seventh novelty will bo produced in English. It is not yet definitely decided upon, but it is expected that Goldmark's "Cricket on tho Hearth" will be chosen. Besides "Aida," soveral other reportoire operas will bo provided with new scenery, among thorn "Tristan und Isoldo" and "The Marriage of Figaro," which will be revived under the direction of Gustav Mahler, who will resume his duties in December. In "Tho Marriaco of Figaro" the principal femalo roles will bo sung by Marcella Sembrich, Emma Enmes, and Goraldino Farrar. Special productions will likewise bo made of "Cavalloria Itusticana," Massenet's "Manon." and Verdi's "FalstafF." In addition to tho new, singers already announced the following artists havo signed contracts German baritones, Fritz Feinlials, of tho Munich Court Theatre, and Walter Soomcr, of tho Leipsic Municipal Theatre; tenor, Signor Bada; sopranos, Frau Kasjhowska, of the Darmstadt Court Theatre, Frauloin Iteizenberg, and Leonora Sparkes,of London; French contralto, Marianna Flahaut; bassos, MM. Bueros, Patorna, Ananian, and Bozzano. The engagement of Matja von Nicssen-Stone has already been noted. According to Mr. Dippel, the weekly salary list will reach £16,000. The chorus for the coming season will consist of 210 singers, while tho orchestra will havo 130 members in all. A second new Italian conductor will bo Francesco Spetrino, who will leave tho Vienna Court Opera at tho end of the present season. M. Speck, of the Paris Opera, has_ been engaged as stago manager for Italian and French operas,' whilo for tho corps de ballet, which is. being reorganised, .Lodovico Sarocco of the Teatro &au Carlos, Naples, has been engaged.—■ "Musical America."