MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 609, 11 September 1909, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Est Teebi.e Clef.) Novel Opera Proposal. ' Mr. Charles Manners, the manager of the Moody-Manners Opera Company, states that on several occasions within tho last fow years he has been asked to make a tour through the oversea Dominions, but ho has -always beon left in doubt whether such an undertaking would' bo financially .successful, in view of tho heavy expenses which would havo to be incurred in order to produce grand opera in first-class style. . Ho,has made ono professional visit to South Africa, and though ho does not say so, it may bo inferred that tho results of that venture were not particularly encouraging. Ho recently took advantage of tho presence of tho Imperial Press Conference delegates in London to bring before them tljc following rather novel proposal: "A committco to bo formed in each 'town of , any dominion or colotiy tb invito subscriptions. On my learning the sum of tickets promised by a State, I shall then place beforo them what can be dono at the price lists of artists, number of chorus, orchestra, scenery, costumes, operas, salaries, travelling, etc. Sly wife' (Madamo Moody) and I' to givo our services as managers and singers, unless any committco dictates otherwise. Wo to. forfeit a bank guarantee of £10,000 should we not fulfil our promise. A\ oto bo wholly and solely responsible for everything, 'and the- difforcnt committees to havo 'no liability whatever.' .The committee to examine anything and at any time they liko to their entire satisfaction. It is difficult to imagine anything coming of- such a proposal—unlikely to tho last dogree. It might bo managed if a 1 woman of Mclba's standing took up, a liko project, but Sydney and Melbourno at least 'have . wit>> nessed tho performances of several opera companies above the standing (operatically) of tile Moody-Manners Company, and would hardly, bo willing to back such an under-'! taking, unless, it were engineered after the manner of the German Opera Company winch, after all said and done, was a very , ■second-rato company, ' I believe that thero would be any amount of money for a really good opera company—a double quartetof printipais of good standing—if a reliable management oould mako its arrangements well ahead, so that a-proper interest could bo developed in tho-visit. But it is not a project that need bo discussed at any length hero. It? could only be brought to fruition by.action in Sydney, and Melbourne, where ;ttio majority of the performances would necessarily ho given. Any honest attempt to givo us good opera' 111 New Zealand would, and should ho,' 'warmly welcomed, it'being ono of tho forms -of musical art for tlio lack of which wo starve. But good opera,'adequately sung and pro-, duced, means big money, and oven Melbaonly contemplates playing in tlio big Australian centres in tho case of tho opera company of her dreams. ' •• v.-:.

Slozali—fl Now Tenor. This coming winter, thero will he heard at tho Metropolitan ■ Opera Houso • (New. York) a now tenor, Leo Slezak.. whoso famo rivals .that of Caruso and all the other great majo singers of the world. Slezak . lias never visited America, hut ho has appeared' in ovcry European capital, and been hailed every where as an operatic star of exceptional brillianco. His vocal • powers- aro nothing short of astounding. He comes from that famous operatic centre, Vienna, an engagement at whoso Opera Houso, is probably more covctcd than at'any other theatre on tho. Continent. Not only is its artistic standard vory high, but the salaries paid are very large. After long being ono of tho pillars of tho Hoyal Opera Houso of Vienna, where ho has ranked among the groat singers of our timo, ho has been heard again this spring at Covcnt Garden, London, where ho has repeated his triumphs. His debut in New York will tako placo in November.

Slezak was born in Augustj 1874, in Sclionberg, and such musical ability' did ho early sliow that_ at' twenty-two ho was well-known as'an opera singer m botli Austria and Germany. His first greijt success was in "Lohengrin," which ho sang as "guest" at Borlin, the result being a contract for several years at the Royal Opera there. From Berlin ho went to Breslau,' and later ■ mado an oxtonsivo tour throughout' Gerriiany, everywhere meeting with extraordinary, success. In 1900 ho appeared at Covont Garden, Loudon,, singing German roles, and tlio following year'lie went to Vienna. This spring- season brought him' once, more to London.

A year ago Slezak suddenly left Vienna, refused all engagements and betook himself to Paris, where he remained—save for a few: concerts in Vienna and elsewhere—until he came to Coyent Garden. During this stay in tho French capital he worked hard under Jean do Iteszke, and changed almost entirely_ his method, of voice production. Critics in London have. been unanimous in the verdict that tlio improvement lias bison remarkable. His . rentreo was mado .as Otello in Verdi's opera, and many reviewen pronourico his the greatest impersonation since Tamagno, who was tho most famous of modern Otellos.^

_ Slezak's .voice is very pontrful,'of beautiful quality and capable of expressing tho most varied emotions, wliilo the singer is also an oxcellent actor and adept in the art of costuming and make-up. Ho. mado an unusually ' handsome Moor. The, writer's first improssion, as lie came forward to greet his visitor in tlio 'drawingroom of the quietly located apartment which he occupies in London for tho season, was of his great height. Ho ii ; six feet three broad-shouldered, and well developed in proportion—a veritable blonde giant. Affable and courteous; ho has won the admiration and good will of all the other artists' of Covont Garden. Ho speaks a variety of languages, including French, German, Polish, Italian, and some iEnglish, and said laughingly tbat his lessons with M. d e Keszke were carried oil in any of tho four former, and even others, for "tho do Eeszko house is a polyglot one," ho smiled. Hj is an enthusiastic admirer of do KeSzke. —E.L., in. tho "Theatre" (New York),

A Vocal Foast. Caruso's voice is said to ,bo so muoli improved that Director Gatti-Cdsazza, of the Metropolitan Opera Houso (Now York) has engaged tho tenor for three years more, tho contract, to follow the present ono, which expires in two years. In addition to Caruso and Slezak, the tenors at the Metropolitan Opera Houso' this coming season will include. Bonci, Clement, Join, Jadowkir, and Bnrrian. besides several tenors of tho second rank. The sopranos include limes. Geraldino Farrar, Emmy Dostinn, Lillian Nordica, Johanna Gadski,. Jane Noria nnrl Lydia Lipowska. '

Notes. Mr. 'Walter ICirby saug boforo Prince ami Princess Christian at Mary, Lady Gerard's "At Homo," in Charles Street, Berkeley, in July. Tli.o Princo and Princess congratulated Mr. Kirby and requosted a repetition of (ho solo from "llanon Leseant." Hiss Natalie Dawson was at that town ail artistic accoui* pailist. Jlr. Arthur Ballr.nec, the Wellington baritone, is said to bo getting somo remunerative drawing-room engagements in London. '