MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 805, 30 April 1910, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Treble Clef.)

Calve in Melbourne. Calve's voice may be described (says the "Age" of April 18)'' as of beautiful mezzo-soprano quality, peculiarly rich in overtones —another way of saying it is highly resonant—and 'finely produced. But this only represents a tithe of what she puts intd it, notably in the songs of mood. Tho tones are, more often than not, dark, sometimes sinister, with an occasional quick change to a lighter tint. Frequently a whole passage •is kept in one long streak of inky blackness, with the end flashed, out in a dazzling point of irridescenco. And now and again the tones become. kaleidescopic, by a clever use of the nissa di voce, melting like colours on a screen. If one may borrow a term of the painter's, it is. distinctly a voice of the "impressionist"' order. Heard close at' hand it gives an effect almost of cmdeness and. indistinctness; at a littlo distance it stands out like Pessaro's Rue Montemarte, a mass of highly suggestive colour. Such might have been the voice of a Cleopatra.' Menacingly luscious and thrillingly, almost viciously, intense are its two extremes. HowCalve uses her voice is her- great claim as one of tho foremost singers of the day. Anyone may sing a melody, but not many may make .that self same melody a piece .of .living expression.. Calve does it, because her .voice-is-so responsive to technical and emotional demands'that all it-does has the stamp of spontaneity—a- good example of tho old saw ars est'celare artem. Without a doubt she is a great artiste

i ■ She showed her "dark" tones to superb effect, in two lovely Sappho stam zas set by Gounod. Mingled with these were some moving passages' of a pas-sionate-cast, done with rare power and intensity. By way "of contrast the same'composer's rathor sugary Serenade followed, Mr. J.;'. Amadio playing, as is his, wont, in. artistic obbligato. All was fine, but the unforgettable point was the penultimate, note in' each verse—as delicious a piece" of mezza voce as has surely been heard anywhere.- The- Old Provencal,' Song Appel des Berger is said to have'been written by one;Gaston Phebus : ; Prince de Beam, and remembering JBrahm's. remark that it is risky to criticise'the music of princes, for you' never-know who may have composed it,- wo content ourselves with saying that it sounds genuine onough. Calve - mado it declamatory and impressive, and after several recalls favoured her hearers with a-bolero song La RosiHa,-. by Yradin. Whilo Mr. Harold"Whittle rattled off tho opening, "symphony" the singer, to .heighten the ■■ atmosphere; indulged herself in some calls, and then plunged into .the brilliantly, rhythmic movement, doing many enjoyable things in the process.' Prom a purely vocal point-of view,, nothing equalled the rendition of David's' air Mysoli from his unsuccessful opera, "The Pearl of Brazil." Tho coloratura passages, in which as a rule Calvo does not show any special skill, were in this case-exquisite, the echo effect with-'Mr: Amadio again piping-beautifully'on .his flute being done in'fact with,-.a, purity:.' and finish even .Melba might,' have been proud to own, as were likewise some well produced head' tones. The audience marred tho result to some extent by applauding before the close, but the artist, notliing daunted, kept on singing, and finished -with a cadenza of quite elaborate proportions. The second number of the bracket, a sort of slow waltz, by Gounod, Au Printemps, was too poor an item for such a voice, albeit. Calve made it dainty, and.with the aid of clever changes of mood and time; gave it a certain ephemeral distinction...

Richard Strauss in London. . Dr. Richard Strauss, who. went to Loudon last month, * conducted. \ a performance of "Elektra" before one.-of the biggest and most brilliant audiences ever seen in'Covent Garden, and at the close of the performance was .summoned to the Royal, box by Queen Alexandra and congratulated by Her Majesty.. The performance' of ."Elektra" under Strauss .(who occupied the conductor's seat at Covent Garden for the first time in his lifo) was an extremely interesting one. TJie "Daily Chronicle" thinks, before discussing it further, one can say- it proved that Mr: Bcechain's reading of.the score has been a-very faithful reproduction of tho composer's intentions. Of course, Strauss conducted it very differently; that was to be expected.. His was a more intensified performance of the opera; all the strenuous passages and big climaxes, were mado by him, still, more strenuous,.',aud : apparently the orchestra at times could . scarcely ; play loud enough; for him. However, the nervous energy, that Strauss almost seems to radiate from himself when, he conducts stimulated the players to their utmost, and at times the volume of sound was terrific; and the playing was splendid throughout. The composer received a. great ovation at the close. Ho was cheered repeatedly, but, with characteristic modesty, refused to appear on the stage alone. He brought .on the chief artists—Mme. Walker, ; Miss Rose; Herr Bender (a newcomer), Mme. Mildenburg, and Mr. D'Oisly— who hac!_ all given fine performances, and insisted on their sharing in the ovation. Then, when the calls for himself grew more insistent, he reappeared with Mr. Beecham, and the two conductors complimented tho orchestra.

Notes. There is. a beautiful thing loose in Melbourne (says the "Bulletin"). It is Calve's voice; all glowing and warm like a ruby, ,yot round and whole as a pearl. . Australians are naturally looking for comparisons''of this organ with thy Melba voice. Tint they-'are two things that cannot be compared. Calve's voice is not the only one of its kind. Moloa's is unique. It is the one voice of ice—-ice that burns. Icily perfect, with the colour coming from no one knows where, like the flames in a white diamond. Calve's voice, on the other hand, glows. And she has the foreigner's ease of movement and gesture —the passionate movements in opera that make scenic haekcloths almost a redundance. Madame Teresa Cafreno, the celebrated pianist, left A T ancoiivor on Friday last by the -.Maraina for Sydney, according to a.cable; message received by VHerr Bennc-Schefek, the .director* of hor Australasian tour. :•-■'