DEGENERATE TASTE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1879, 13 October 1913, Page 8

DEGENERATE TASTE.

Sydney's laste in matters theatrical is not very good. One resident of tho queer city of tho parent State, unable to contain himself, recently put his indignation into words—burning words— which show tho degenerate trend.. "Degeneracy is here, there is 110 mistake about that. 1 would call it by a stronger word—madness. Why, they arc all mad —mad as hatters. Here is Genee with ail incomparably beautiful showperhaps the most gorgeously artistia show ever seen in Sydney, playing to practically empty houses, whilst a couple of hundred yards away is a singer of rag-time—just an orclmnry singer of ordinary rag-timo songs, with velvet cuffs and collar on his evening dre-js and a handkerchief up each sleevo and another in his breast pocket, attracting crowded audiences. Nordica and Dufault failed to attract the public, and the artistic David Bispham season was a frost. What can you say of a public that is attracted by that which is least refined and artistic, least clover, least entertaining? I regret to say this degenerate trend is not confined to Sydney. 1 Look at London— the revues have captured tho crowd therer—vaudeville-cum-burlesquo of the liveliest and ipost vulgar order, whilst good shows are starving. It is tho up-to-date that all the people appear to care about. It is wretchedly old-fash-ioned to be artistic and refined, and it is behind the times to show' appreciation for the brilliant works of Shaw and Wilde. I learn that the Shaw play is a success in New Zealand—that is only because Now Zealand is behind the times. The outlook for those who love artistry on the stage for art's sake is terribly depressing 1 If any endorsement of the truth of tho above summing-up of the position was needed it came in a cablo message published on Wednesday last chronicling tlio stranding at Manchester (England) of tho Denliof Grand Opera Company. Herr Denhof attributed his failure to tho taste of the public, which preferred the cheap music-hall to grand opera.

Writing of Herr Denhof, whose company is cabled as having been stranded; at Manchester, an English paper says: —Herr Ernst Denhof, who has done such admirable work in presenting to English provincial audiences operas that could, otherwise only be heard in London, has begun his autumn, tour at Birmingham. In addition to the "Ring," "Tho Flying Dutchman," "Der Meistorsinger," "Tristan und Isolde," "Orpheus," and "Elektra," tho first productions in the provinces of Strauss's "Dor Rosenkavalier" .and Debussy's "Pelleas ct Melisande," aro announced by Herr Denhof. Miss Mario Brema will bo the leading prima donna, and among tho other artists engaged appear such well-known names as Mmes. Agnes Nicholls, GleesonWliite, Carolino Hatchard, Maud Santley, Gertrude Blomfield, and Edith Evans, and Messrs. Walter Hyde, Frank Mullins, Hans Bechstein, Robert Radford, Frederick Austin, Frederick Ranalow, and Lewys James. Herr Dcnhoff has secured Mr. Thomas Bcecliam to conduct the Wagnor operas, while Herr Schilling-Ziomssen will direct "Der Rosenkavalior" 'and "Elektra." Tho company will "travel" a chorus and orchestra consisting of IGO performers.