MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2588, 9 October 1915, Page 9

MUSIC.

fßz Tbebli CLBT.I

Mr. Herbert Bloy Leaving,

It is understood that Mr. Herbert Blov, tho lato conductor of tho Royal Wellington Choral . Society and tho Wellington Professional Orchestra, is ti leave Wellington, shortly to take up his residence in Napier. In losing Mr. Bloy Wellington loses its best all-round conductor, and ifcs~ best violinist, which is from a musical standpoint rather a calamitous blow, as the City is not by' any means rich in solo violinists or good strong leaders. His work with the Professional Orchestra speaks for itself. One and all regret tho loss of so capable a musician, and condole .with Mr. Bloy on the reasons which have influenced his departure from the City. It would be a fitting farewell if the Professional Orchestra could find it convenient to tender Mr. and Mrs. Bloy a farewell concert, and would respectfully suggest that tho' .Tschaikowsky "Concerto" (for piano) and the "Meistersingers" overture be included in the programme. ■ y The Unmusical English. - Tho Germans are strangely anxious to prove-that the English people know nothing about music. The "Vossische Zeitung ' cites Chopin's opinion of tho English. The Berlin journal opens its article by stating that Sir Edward Elgar has composed a Polish, Symphony in which he has. elaborated themes by Chopin, and it expresses the opinion that, if he were stil alive ; Chopin would still presumably have declined the honour done 'him by Sir Edward. The "Vossische Zeitung" then cites remarks made by Chopin, about the English in his letters. Ohopiii informed- Count Grzymala in the year 1848 that, the upper classes in England -wore proud, but -well educated and just, their attention -was diverted by so many interests, however, he added, that it was absolutely immaterial to. them if the music were good or bad.. In the . same year he wrote to a relative in Warsaw saying: "These, English want everything by the pound, and like music only because it is a luxury. If I were younger I would give concerts up and down the country, and would play pieces in the worst possible taste." In another letter Chopin describes the Philharmonic Orchestra in London as follows: "It is like roast beef or turtle soup; strong, sound, but that is all." The "Kolnische Zeitung" unearths letters liy R-ichardWagner in support of the contention that the English are unmusical. In a letter - to Otto Wesendonck, written'while he was in London in the year 1855, Wagner said that real art was something quite unknown to the English, and the only way to impress' the latter was to interfere with their income. He added : "My music pleases, the people here, but the most ■wearisome music : pleases them just as "well; ' they applaud' my productions, but on the next evening they, applaud , productions, which a'ro vile in the extreme.

. ... . The English are enraptured only by the oratorio. They sit for four .hours, iu Exeter Hall, and listen'to one fugjue after; another in-the. firm conviction that they are doing a good work for which they will, one day'be rewarded by hearing: iii heaven nothing but the most beautiful-airs from Italian operas. Mendelssohn thoroughly understood this characteristic of the English , public, and he oomposed oratorios to 6uit it, which made him the saviour of tno English musical world." :

The German newspapers,--have been compelled to deny their own statement that before leaving that part of Poland the Russians demolished the house in at Zelagova, near Sachatohef. -They also learn from the front that tho.monument raised to the composer/has.not been destroyed. The Late Mr. Edwardes. . The late Mr. George Edwarffljs was probably the ' best-known , .theatrical manager in the British:Empire,,chieflythrough his loug directorship of the London Gaiety Company, which for thirty years' past has been the original procuring company of pretty . well all the most successful English' musical comedies and burlesques. Originally intended for the Army, he was persuaded whilst cramming for an examination to take the management of a touring company, his cousin, the late Mr. Michael Gunn .(father of Mr! John Gunn, formerly of, the Australian firm of Meynell and'Gunn). : ,That' changed the course of his. life.- Ho went, to London; and became' manager for Mr. D'Oylcy Carte at'the.Savoy in 1875,' and ten years later, purchased a -half-inter-est-in'.'the Gaiety Theatre. , There he; made'' brilliant "successes of' a series- of burlesques entitled "Monte-' Cliristo," "Miss ■ Esmcraldo," --"Buy Bias," with Nellie Farren and Fred Leslie as the bright particular stars, and by arrangement with Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove, that company was imported complete to Australia. 1 He .missed fire with "Dorothy," selling it to H.' J. Leslie, who made a'profit of £60,000 out of tho opera. But "Carmen Up-to-Date," "The Shop Girl," "A Gaiety Girl," "The Runaway Girl," "The Messenger Boy," . "The : Toreador," "Havana," 'The , Orchid,"; and other "girl" comedies made ample compensation. In 1895 Mr. Edwardes .took a lease of Daly's Theatre, and- there produced such successes as "An Artist's Model," "The Geisha," "San Toy,"' "The Country Girl," "The Little Michus," ■ "The Cingalese," and "The Merry Widow." He was also associated -with Frank Curson and the late Charles Frohman in other successful productions in London. 'He was very fond of horse racing, and at one time ran an extensive'stable. He married Julia Gwynne. an actress, whose sister, Miss, Emma Gwynne (Mrs.; Edward Sass), toured New Zealand with the late Miss Myra Kemble. ! ' Notes. ' This month Wellington will have the opportunity of showing its characteristic devotion to choral, singing in the performances to be given by the Wellington Musical Union and the Royal Wellington Choral Society. The former is to be heard in "Joan of Arc" and Stanford's setting-of Tennyson's "Revenge." The soloists will'be Madame Wielaert, Messrs. W. Clarkson, : Frank Charlton, and W. H. Green. The Royal Choral Society on October 26 will revive Mendelssohn's . "Elijah," with Mrs. GowerBurns, Miss Caldow, Messrs. John ■Prouse, and Martin- Duff as soloists.: Next week the bill at His Majesty's Theatre will include a high-class vocal turn of an operatic flavour by Fred. Jackson and Maisie Pollard. Mr. Jackson will be remembered in Wellington as Mr. Walter Whyte, who came to New Zealand some years ago as leading tenor with the Gilbert-Sullivin Opera Company. Subsequently he fulfilled'; an engagement here with the Royal' Choral Society.. . . .. ;

Mr. Henry Bracey, remembered for his long association with comic opera under the J. C. Williamson • management, and who has been in indifferent health, is gradually .mending. He was well enough • to undertake the journey botween Sydney and Melbourne at the latter end of last week.

Josef Lhevinne has abandoned all hope of visiting America this coming season. Until tho close of tho war tlio Russian pianist must sta-y in. Berlin, not.a hard fato, as he is permitted. extraordinary privileges for an alien resident of a. warring country. He continues with his work of teaching, and does not a little concert playing. ' A series of concerts which Lhevinne arranged in his homo at Wannsee, near Berlin, was for tho benolit of the Red Cross.