MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1067, 4 March 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Treble Clef.)

Miss Amy Castles. Tho first'musical event of any importance in Wellington this year happens this evening, •when Australia's sweet singer, 'Miss Amy Castles, is to sing at tho Town Hall. The interest in tho appearance of Miss Castles on the concert platform has, if anything, been accentuated, by the very creditable showing which this artist, made last year in tho realm of grand opera. Grand opera must.be considered.the final test of a vocal artist's capabilities, for not only does tho work demand a high degree of vocal finish, but it affords, indeed demands, a moro general breadth iii interpretation-, colouring, and dramatic insight than the usual run of concert numbers. Miss Castle's "Madame Butterfly" was quito a good performance— a a excellent one. indeed, . when allowance is made for natural temperamental capacity, and in one performance of tho roie at least- in Wellington (not the first) the singer rose to dramatic height that surprised her colleagues and. warmest admirers, in front, It is, therefore, with pleasure that one notes that Miss Castles is to sing the Butterfly's beautiful opening number, "Olio Fino Day," this evening, although deprived of its Japanese setting and the. chorus of fiuo voices which supported he* with the grand opera company, tho number will necessarily be deprived of much of its charm. Slio is also to sing the- popular "All Fors e Luo" aria from "La'Tra-viata,"-a number which wo heard both Mclba and Calvo sing last year, the "Saper Vorreste" of Verdi, and other ballads of lesser musical note. Miss Castles is supported by a lino 'cellist in JliQiiis Hattenbach, Alexander Campha.iisen (baritone}, and William Conway (pianist). The second concert will he given oil Monday evening.

A New Zealand Singor. . An item of interest to the peoplo of New Zealand is tho news that; the daughter of tho Collector of Customs at Dunediu (Mr. Sibbald), who now calls herself professionally Madame Zela, has entered upon a professional career under the auspices of Madame Shcnvin. A littlo over a year ago her father consulted Mr. Hugo Gorlitz as to what to do with his daughter in tlio Old Country. Ho said that she liad studied at Vienna, Italy, and Paris, and did not seem to make any progress professionally. Mr. Gorlitz naturally recommended her to go to Madamo Sherwiiv'his wife, and the consequenco is that, in less than a year's time, New Zealand's .finest soprano has had some of the best engageriiMits in England, and is now specially engaged for 'the...opening.,;C9Un cert of tho great Festival of Empire at tho Crystal Palace, London, in June, when tho King and Queen will be present. Oilier successful artists who have studied under Madame Slierwin are Mr. John Harrison, Miss Muriel Gotigli, Miss Dorothy Webster, and Mr. Frascr Gange (of Dundee). A Musical Knight. Few of tho new knights will be moro heartily congratulated than Mr. H. J. Wood, the famous conductor, who henceforward.will figure 011 airprogfanimes as Sir Henry, says the "Westminster." No man certainly has done more for the popularisation of good music in England, and if ho is 110 longer our only conductor, Mr. Wood was at all events the first native-born musician to achieve real distinction in this capacity. ,lt may be less generally known that in earlier days he also composed largely, though the general public has had tew opportunities of becoming acquainted with any of his works. M l '- Wood is a native of London, and ho'comes of musical stock. Indeed, his first musical instruction was received frois his father, and as early as six his piano playing excited astonishment. At the age of ten ho was acting as deputy-organist at St. Mary's, Aldermanbury, and ho has been hard at work in one'way or another almost ever since—it is, indeed, one'of the difficulties of his friends to prevent him. from over-working himself—for in addition to his public labours as conductor Mr. Wood has a large connection as a teacher of singing. Double-voiced Singer. In one of tho beer gardens of Berlin Dorothy Toye, an American girl, is giving imitations of Adelina Patti, Signor Caruso, and other famous singers; A critic who "heard tho girl wluie on a visit to Germany writes:—"Two voices that dwell in but a single, throat is indeed an embarrassment of riches, and this little woman lias them, i listened enthralled and enchanted as Caruso's mellow tenor seemed to float to my ears, and as quickly again the organ tones of Schumami-Hoink or the silvery, birdrlike flute of Nellie Melba. Miss Toye has defied tradition, and lias practically upset every artistic and musical centre of Europe. Sho seems beyond tho laws of voeal gravity." •

After the show tho wonderful singer was' interviewed. Tho writer says that he, found a diminutive bit of femininity with a mop of red hair, serious eyes, and a humorous mouth. "How do Ido it?", repeated Miss. Toye,- reflectively, after my breathless, interrogation. "It's strange so many, people ask me that. I really don't know myself. I just go out in front of - tho curtain every night and think a tone, and itcomes—that's all."

"But the mail's voico," I insisted; "tho perfect imitation of C'ariiso. How is that done?" ''It's not an imitation," corrected Jliss Toye, gently; "it's a real .voico, quite distinct and apart froni my own. It is only that I havo copied my phrasing from Caruso. I liavc made a study of his methods, - and consequently my voice has become imbued with a quality closely 'resembling his. You see, I ting all his arias, and I must have studied to master them." "But your own voice—your soprano?" I asked. "Does it ' not injure your natural tone?" "I have been singing this way for ten years, ever sinco 'I was a little, girl, and only yesterday I received ail offer to sing in grand opera, Joan 'do Heszke heard mo in l'aris. and told mo lie had never hoard anything so wondorful. Of course, I consider that the greatest compliment of my life." Madame Antonia, Dolores, one of (he best ballad singers known to this part of the world, has been attraction large audiences and inducing ' much "honest enthusiasm in the south. Madame is at present, charming the music-loving people of tho West Coast, and will arrive iu-AVelliustou on March 18,