MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2474, 29 May 1915, Page 12

MUSIC.

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"Cavallerla Rustloana," At the Town Hall on Tuesday next we are to hear Mascagai's dramatic opera, "Cavalleria Rusticana," for the third time in concert form by tlio Royal Wellington Choral Society. Tins opera is the greatest work of Mascagni. He has written other operas, but nono to approach this fiery little work, which keeps tlio emotions at high tension during every moment in the acted version. It loses considerably 011 the platform owing to the absence of movement, but such is the vital character of the music that one cannot hear it without bein<* interested. The sociey have had somo difficulty in securing an adequate cast, the tenor roll in particular being a difficult one to fill. As a last resource the society is trying out an amateur in 11 r. W. E. Saunders, of the Hutt, who, so far as I know, has not sung with orchestra before and has certainly not had to undertake any big opera tic role such as Turridu. Mr. Saunders lias been brought in late, and should he sing the role even moderately well the credit will be his. 110 is a pupil of Mrs. Quoree's, and that lady has been hard at work during the past week instilling Turridu's responsibilities into the now tenor. Good luck to Jim! The rest of the cast should bo safe. Miss Elsy Troweek (Mrs. Collier) comes from Melbourne with a reputation for sound work: Mrs. Alcorn, of Christchurch, will be Lucia (Santum's mother); Mrs. Rosewnrne should bo well suited as Lola, and Mr. Frank Charlton, who is showing snch marked improvement, is looked to for a good performance in the role of Alfio. Mr. Charlton has sung the part on two previous occasions ill Christchurch. The fact that Mr. Maughan Barnott will conduct lends additional interest to Tuesday's performance. About Organ Recitals. "Tremulant" writes as follows on tho subject of local municipal organ recitals:—"l happened to be strolling down Lower Cuba Street on Saturday evening, when the fit took mo to go to Mr. Page's organ recital at the Town Hall. It was tho first time for about live weeks that I had been, and I was sorry to sea that the audience, instead of being larger, was appreciably smaller than when 1 was lasl there, and I don't judge from this that the audiences are dwindling, but they aro not increasing iu size. I don't suppose there could have been much more than £5 worth of audience present on a rough count, which, to my mind, indicates that the Saturday organ recital is not wanted by the "Wellington public—but 1 admit is appreciated by a tinv cult. Is it not time that the council attempted to experiment with the view of doing better from a box offico point of view—for, after all, the city pays. Should it pay for what it does not appreciate oi\ want? That appears to me to be tho blunt question to be answered. Then why not experiment? Try somo other night in the week. Try Silnday evening after church hours; try more popular programmes; try a vocal innovation, Mr. Pago would, I am sure, welcome any idea that would foster attendances to tho Town Hall when ho is to play, for it must be cold comfort to play to tho same 100 to 200 people every Saturday evening. Then Air. Page appears to ho fond of playing the same piece ovor and over again ad nauseam. I do not go to many recitals, but can vouch for having heard Glazounov's "Prelude" at threo or four concerts during tho past six months, and whilst wo get Cesar, Franck, and Karg-Elert over and ov?r again, Beethoven, Mozart, and Mendelssohn appear to be rather out of favour. Whilst one admires the strength of Cesar, Franck and the ingeniousness of Karg-Elert, is there one strain of melody that any of tho two hundred 'regulars' could recall? Does the car retain any thread of melody written by those writers and played by Mr. Page? Mr. Page has high ideals, but ho is given to repetition, and has prejudices in regard to composers that do not make for variety. As it is admitted that regularly-given organ recitals aro never well attended in any part of tlio world and ccrtaiidy never pay, something might bo done, in regard to tlieso 'entertainments,' to lessen the loss. What price Saturday 'pops' ? Now the universal half-holiday is coming into force there might bo a chance of at least earning the rent of the hall, which on a Saturday evening is about £18 to tho outsider." Notes. Mascagni, the composer of "Cavalleria Rusticana," has entered a new field of musical endeavour. Ho is to compose special music for moving pictures, and is said to be engaged on a scoro for a new set of films to illustrate a fresh version of Gootho's "Faust."

The Italian newspapers report tlio formation of a new opera "trust," made up of La Scala, Milan, tlio Teat.ro- Costanzi, Koine, and tlio Teatro Colon at Buenos Ayres. The directors of the Costaim are interested also in tlio management of the theatre at Buenos Ayres. The object of the combination is a reduction of expense and an increaso of effectiveness by means of interchange of artists, productions, etc. Puccini is to write an opera from a libretto based on "Ouida's ' charming ncvel, "Two Little Wooden Shoes, which is to be prepared by Giuseppe Adami. Puccini will commence to work on the new opera whilst completing the orchestration for his new comio opera, "La Rondine."

Th« several properties in the late J. D. Hegerty's estate were put up for auction at Groytown on Thursday, says our correspondent. The first lot comprised 321 acres, and a start of .£35 per acre was offered, and bids rose to .El 5 10s., but not reaching tho reserve the property was withdrawn. It is understood, however, that a syndicate will take it up. There were 16 lots put up altogether, some in Greytown, Masterton, a.nd Carterton. The garage in Masterton was offered, but like most other lots was passed in without an offer. Every oyster has a, mouth, a heart, a liver, a stomach, besides manv curiously devised little intestines, ami other organs, neoessary organs such as would be handy to a living, moving, intelligent creature.