MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Taratß CtirJ "Faust" on Tuesday. Lively interest is being taken in the concert performance of Gounod's "Faust" which is to be given by tiie Wellington Musical Union at the Town Hall on Tuesday next. No more popular grand opera has ever been written than this melodious tragedy of Gounod's, and, owing to the intensely human theme of Gpctho's story, the' opera makes the samo appeal to women us does "Camille" in drama.

During the recent Melba Opera Company seasons in Sydney and Melbourne, "Faust" nights were always the biggest .nights, and no opera was so thoroughly enjoyed as when Gounod's work was played with Melba, M'Gormaek, and Jionrke as the protagonists. The Musical Union have got together an interesting east. It has been fortunate enough to secure the services of Mr. Philip "Newbury, who is ideally equipped vocally for the iitlo role. Mr. Hamilton Hodges has the tomjperament for Mcphistopheles, and Miss Rita Lyons, who sang "The Jewel Song" so prettily at the recent competitions, should do well in the lighter parts of the work. "Fanst" will bo performed under the baton of Mr. Robert Parker.

Letter from Sainl-Saens. One of the successes of the grand opera season has been "Sansonc e Dalila." After tho first production in Svdnev, a cablegram was.dispatched to Sa'int-Saens acquainting him with the success of his work. Madame Melba received a replv during the.week from tho composer, ft was dated October 14, from Paris, and was as follows;—"I learn that you have given, in a splendid way, mV opera 'Samson,' and I hasten to thank vou with all my heart. Will you be kind enough to thank all tho great artists who havehe.ped to make my work a triumph. Again thanking you, believe me to bo, with great aflection, your admirer and friend.

Notes. Tho Melba Grand Opera Company is. to return to Sydney after the Melbourne season to play a return season . of eleven nights only.

Mhcu Madamo Melba playwl "Romeo et Juliette at Her Majesty's, Melbourne, she had in the role of Stefauo, a page a volunteer. Madame de Cisr.i?ros asked that she might play (his small part for sentimental reasons. Tho beautiful mezzocontralto stated that the first time she saw Gounod s opera given in New York *¥, y-' as . a . student, and had waited from Jo clock in the morning for tho evening performance. Madame Melba was Juliet. Since then," she added, "there has never been any other Juliet in my mind, and J. ioit that i should like so much to play the page. This pleasing little compliment was much appreciated by the diva