MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Treble Clef.) Praise for Miss Amy Castles. "Naturo has endowed Miss Castles with an exceptionally beautiful voice, strong and pure in quality. Gifted as she is, there is no doubt that this young siuger ought to attain a high position on the operatic stage, for •which she appears pre-eminontly fitted. The Mad Scene from Ambroisc Thomas's 'Hamlet,' associated as it is with singers of such world-wide renown as Mme. Christine Nilsson (the original' Ophelia), Mme. Melba, and Mme. Calve, afford a severe test of a soprano's capabilities. That Miss Castles should have gone through so trying an ordeal with so great a measure of success augurs most favourably for her future career."— "Morning Post." "Sweet Kitty Bellairs." Like the other Bclasco piece—"Tho Girl of the Golden West"—now being played at Her Majesty's Theatre, Mcloourno, "Sweet Kitty Bellairs," in which Nellie Stewart is to make her eagerly looked-for reappearance on the Australian stago, has a very long cast, thero being no fewer than 33 speaking parts in tho comedy drama. For their interpretation a company has been selected that looks exceptionally even and well-balanced. Tho English contingent in' it _ includes:—Mr. Claudo King, who has done important work not only in England but also in. India and South Africa, whero his naruo is associated with all tho latest dramatic successes of iho century; Mr. Langhorno Burton, a young English actor of great promise as Well as performance-; Mr, U'red. Moyesj a "character

and heavy," who has impersonated Napoleon in the-"Royal Divorce" for' four years on end; Miss Rosslyno Vayne, an Austrian actress of wide experience; and Miss Mnrjoric Chard, who brings to her work not only a charming style but also a beautiful presence; Misses Mad'elino Meredith, Nclla Campbell, Harriet Trench, Messrs. Templer Powell, Harry Ashford, Conway Wingfiold, and a dozen others, equally well-known on the Australian stage, arc included in the company, Caruso's New Rival. A now Caruso has been found, says the Paris correspondent of tho New York "World." Ho is only twenty-ono years old, but gives promiso of rivaling the great Italian tenor in vocal achievement. The young tenor looks like Caruso, and, still moro strangely, thero is a resemblanco in name, for the boy's namo is Carasa—Fedcrico Carasa. But ho is a Spaniard, hailing from San Sebastian, whero from the time ho was seventeen ho sang in tho Orpheon, a noted choral society. Thero ho attracted tho attention of the Marquis do Rocaverde, Mayor of San Sebastian, who sent tho young singer to Professor Trabadelo, tho noted teacher in Paris who trained tho voices of Emma Fames, Geraldino Farrar, Sybil Sanderson, and other famous singern. Fc-derico Carasa has been studying under Trabadelo for a little moro than a year, justifying all his patron's hopes, and has just been accepted by the Paris Opera—a remarkablo distinction for a singer so young. In Italian young Carasa sings all tho'repertoire- of Tamagno and Caruso. Ho has a powerful voico, melodious and reaching up to high D. Ho has made no public appearance in Paris, but has sung at the chateaux of some of the most influential members of Paris sociotv. Recently ho was a guest at tho chateau of Baronne Alphonso do Rothschild, whero he sang for a distinguished company. Melba In Melbourne. Melba gavo. her farewell concert in Melbourne on Saturday, March 27, the last of four, each of which drew capacity houses, l'he diva's first number was a new song cycle by Landon Ronald (son of the lato Henry Russell), and one of tho foremost of tho younger English composers. Tho cycle (says tne "Argus"), which was accompanied by tho full orchestra, Mr. Whittle taking the harp part on tho pianoforte, includes four songs, " Daybreak," "Morning," "Evening," and Night." The orchestration, is fresh and interesting, suggests that tho composer has not visited Bayreuth in vain; and the voice part is melodious and graceful. It had tho immense advantago of being rendered by a singer who could make "Twinkle, twinkle, little star," effective by the sheer beauty of her voico and the perfection of her method. But, apart from that, it appeared rather graceful than great; moro fanciful than imaginative; the sort of thing that a musician could write to order without having to wait for any special divine afflatus. It 'is decidedly not bad, but of the second, not tho first, grade of excellence. It was not received with any great enthusiasm, though there was quite enough to' warrant the encore, which really roused the audience. It was tho gay waltz song, "So saran rose," which Melba sings probably better than anyono in tho world. Its fascinating rhythm and jewel-like brilliancy evoked a very spontaneous outburst of applause The "Otollo" scena was repeated once more, arid onco moro Madamo Melba surpassed herself in her rendering of it. Tho band was at its best, and the whole effect was enthralling. .Amidst tho applause which followed, a floral model of a warship, a Dreadnought, handed- to the singer, and was the'occasion of a fresh demonstration, which. showed how much tho heart of tho people is with tho recent patriotic proposals. After many recalls, Madamo Melba crossed over to the pianoforte, and, taking off her gloves, accompanied herself in an unaffected and charming rendering of an old favourite of hers, Tosti's "Matinnta." Her last number- was Sir Henry Bishop's "Lol here tho gentle lark," in which Mr. John Lemmono played tho important flute obbligato with his usual skill and sympathy. Tho song was accompanied by tho full orchestra, and tho magical flexibility and exquisite quality of both voice,and instrument nrado a combination that astonished as much as it delighted the audience. Tlie' : great crowd rose to its feet, " aud shouted and stamped, and clapped, and entirely refused to hudge, until, after returning time after time, onco with Mr, Lemniono, and onco with Mr. Marshall-Hall, and 'several times by herself, Madame Melba added Tosti's "Good-bye," which was the signal for another great salvo of cheers. Melba was assisted by Mr. Frederick Ranalow, and Mr. Harold Whittle, accompanist (sou of Mr. Whittle, of the Bank ot Now Zealand staff, Wellington), who the "Argus" described as playing "with unerring mastery." The orchestra played the overture to Tucker's "Der Freischutz," the andante, of Tscharikowsky's E minor symphony, Hamish M'Cunn's "Ship :bf 'the l''iend," and tho accompaniments to several of Melba's songs, including the' "Otello" number. On Wednesday of last week (March 31) Melba and her party left Melbourne for Tasmania, en route for New Zealand. Tho first concert in New Zealand is to bo given at Dunodin on Thursday nest. Melba's Earnings. Writing recently to tho Melbourne "Argus," Mr. John Lemmone, Madame Melba's manager, said: "Sir,—ln a recent article in ■ 'The Argus,' taken from tho 'Strand Magazine,' a serious misstatement is inado with regard to Madamo Melba's fees—an error which, however trifling in one light, is, in another sense, a grave misrepresentation of facts. "The official statement as to operatic artists' remuneration, published by the Covent Garden Syndicate in tho London press a few months ago, showed that during the' last twenty years only two artists havo received £250 a night and upwards at that house, these two singers being Madame Patti and Madame Melba. "A recent statement published by the two cpora-houses in New York, in their endeavour to check the growing cxpenso of operatic productions in tho United States, proved that in New York Madame Melba receives 3000 dollars, i.e., 600 guineas a night, which is 1000 dollars per night in excess of that given to the next highestpaid singer on the combined lists of the two houses. Tho average remuneration of great operatic stars has enormously increased since Madame Patti's retirement from the stago 13 years ago, and throughout that period Madame Melba, as her compatriots should be proud to know, has been the highest-paid singer in the world, "Sho can draw moro money in any city than any living singer, and the extraordinary fact of the Royal Albert Hall, with its seating accommodation of 10,000, sold out a week in advance of her November concert, was a record never approached even by Patti, and should be still fresh in the memory of 'The Argus' readers. Tho 'Strand Magazine" is also being communicated with. In Sydney Madame Melba established tho world's record during her season 1002-3, when her net share of a.singlo concert came to £2360. —I am, etc., "JOHN LEMMQNE." Notes. Mr. W. W. Boyes is tho author and Mr. Frank Wolfgang is the composer of a song entitled "The Sea," and theydesiro that it should be known. Tho lyrics are crude, and without poetical point. Of tho' sea, tho author states: — "Doubt of thy whims depends upon tho wind That sometimes makes thee seem unkind; But I lore thee still in tho mood That is most mildly understood." This is incomprehensible as tho mood referred to is not particularised, but ono concludes from tho previous lines that it is that mood when the sea is:— "Greedy . . . in tho wail of a wreck While souls aro clinging to tho slipp'ry deck." Such lines could hardly inspiro any to' tho higher musical flights, but there aro evidences that Mr. Wolfgang (who 'has composed creditably) has struggled on conventional lines to givo tho song a salt-sea flavour, but tho outcomo of his effort is not as effective as one would wish. "The Sea'.' is written for the middle register in F sharp. Incidentally the cover mentions that the song had been snug with great success by Mr. Ernest Parlces. It max ha. «v oi course.