MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Treble ClseJ

Big Profits. access of the Jileiua Opera Cot, pauy 1,, 1s (say S ll: ,, ,te "«alO sent a-thrill miiuUj, wmen Js dchghte-d tiiat Svauov, Uuhnnisons Italian tontines in 1001 snoiilu have ajain. rallied strongly in the cause, of musical art. jlr. ifugh Ward's assurance that his iirni will direct moio grand opera has also proved that his wellKnown love of music, shown so early in His career as a director by the most amyous and generous attention to detail in the staging of every work, v'U provo a beneficial i:i:!ue;:co in wars to a-u o I ho put season of 55 p"ei-iorr.-,aiices creates no new record here, and, inciosd with the repertoire unexhausted, our audiences would nave willingly enjoyed a further ;hreo weeks. In this respect, Sydney can boast some rather marvellous records The. Italian company conducted by Si-ior hazon in 1!W1, with ilmo. Clementine Da Ycro Sapio (who apscareil as "Yida" at Co-cnt Garden in IBOiij, Signorina Bassicli, Carlo Dani, Comiuemlnlore, I,aii-;-a and ot.icr line artists, gave S3 consecutive performances to great audiences (including 11 matinees). uluch moro remarkablo was the fact that George Mtisgrovo's "opera in Eur-lis-h company, under Kerr Slapoiisk'i, which had opened in Sydney in Decern be" IBM, had continued into 15in with G2 consecutive performances, and then, returning in .Tune of the same vc-ir with Eila Kussell an star, and one of two other faii'.oiis artists, actually gave 2-i morn representations. Tn this way, within the space ci ten months, Sydney audiences heartily supported IG9 stand opera performances. It is very doubtful whether even London had often exceeded such a record within a single .year. Moreover, though J. C. Williamson ultimately lost money on his venture, he publicly stated tfiat the Italian season in Sydney was "financially very successful." Grand opera is a terribly costly and hazardous form of enterprise. Jfr.'Hii"h Ward names ,i'i:),C(K) as the outlay this year before the curtain rose. This is authoritative; as a matter merely of unofficial expert opinion, we venture to name that sura at hazard as verv closely representing the profits, rather' a iilt'o moro than a little less, on the Sydney season alone. Merer was money "more bravely, more worthily, won.

Madame Clara Bu!t. A few months back it was reported that .Madame Clara Butt and Sir. Kcnccrlcv Kunnord would revisit Australia next year. It is now announced that the great contralto and her husband -cannot start on their .second Australian tour until the latter part of 1013. On .September 23 the two singers commenced a South African tour at Cape Town. Jjloemicnteiu, Kimberioy, Pretoria, Polcheistroom, Johannesburg, Boksburg, Xrugersdorp, Kronsi-aUt, I'ivtonnuritzburg, Port Blizabcth, East London, Uictenliage, Grahamslown, and Durban are to be visited. Some thirty concerts will be given, the last taking" place at Cape.Town on December 2. .Madame Butt and Mr. Kmmord will be back in England for Christinas. Afterwards thoy will be heard in the principal musical centres in the United Kingdom, and during the spring season of nest year they propose to give, concerts in Berlin and several other of the largest cities in Gcrmanv Jn October, 1912, '.Madame JJutt and Mr. Uumforcl will commence a tour of America, where about 100 conceits will be given.

Meno'elssohn's Piaying, Clara Schumann once gave tiie following views upon the pianoforte playing of .Mendelssohn, who was equally an artist en that instrument as he was gnat as an organist: "My recollections of his playing aro among the most delightful things of my artistic life. It was to mo a shining ideal, full of genius and life, united with technical perfection. Ho would sometimes take the tempo very quick, but never to tho prejudice of the music. It never occurred to mc to campare him to virtuosi. Of mora effects of performance he knew nothing—ho was always the great musician—and in hearing him ono forgot the player, and only revelled in tho full enjoyment of the music. He could carry ono with him in the most incredible manner, and his playing was always stamped with beauty and nobility. In his early days he had acquired perfection of technique; but latterly, as he often told me. ho hardly ever practised, and yet he surpassed everyone. I havo heard him in Bach aiid Beethoven, and in his own compositions, and shall never forget the impression he made upon me."

Notes. Signer Rossi, the now Italian baritone who arrived in Sydney for the Moiba Grand Opera Company" last week, must have felt that he hail got into a grand opera atmosphere immediately when walking along the corridors of the Hotel Australia to his room. No sooner had he got out of tho lift when ho heard John M'Cormark practising "Tenori?" he remarked. Then he heard a mezzo-contralto (Countess Cisneros), a baritone i.Siguor ScaudianO, and .a soprano iMme. Korole-wicz-AVayda). All the operatic artists stay at this hotel, ami each has had a piano installed for practice. Jn Ihe corridors, people linger to listen to the singing.

A unique position whs created in connection with the booking for the opening night of the .M"l!;n' Grand Onera Company's season at Melbourne Her "Majesty's, on Saturday last. I'.very seat in the dress-circle am! sia'.l-s was bucked, and there was no box plan in open. Hundreds of loiters were received by the management asking (hat seals be reserved in the gallery. This it was decided to do, the booked seals being sold at half a guinea. As soon as the announcement was made, tho management was inundated with applications.