THE MUSICAL OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 136, 5 March 1929, Page 7

THE MUSICAL OUTLOOK

SOME FAMOUS ARTISTS IN ; view THE VITALITY OF LOCAL -ENDEAVOUR j J . (By H.P.) It Is not until the ides of March that we look forward with any intimate anticipation to the musical season of the year, which, in most other countries is in the winter time; but, before that potential date (in a Shakespearean sense) we are usually advised from afar of what we are likely to get during the approaching season. Nor will the music-loving public be disappointed this year if the advance reports speak faith- ' fully. Judging by the anticipatory propaganda to hand we are to be visited by at least one singer in the person of that very fine soprano, Miss Evelyn 1 Scotney, who, though well-known to Australian audiences, has never yet visited • New Zealand, though on more than one occasion there have been announcements of her advent, here. Miss Scotney holds a place among the foremost sopranos of 1 the Empire: she is well known to the

uie ; sue is weu Known to tne gramophone owner who favours first-class vocalist,?, and her artistic achievements are pretty well known through that popular medium. There have been • vague hints of other singers likely to tour New Zealand, but none are definite enough to build upon, with the sole exception of Dussoldini Gianinni, the young Italian prima donna, whose services Mr. E. J. I Gravestock had the good fortune to secure for an Australasian, tour when he last visited New York. This artist is still on the sunny side of her operatic career, which promises to be particularly brilliant, to judge from the reports of her appearances at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and Covent Garden, London. In the past we have had, mostly tod be contented .with singers who have long since made the world ring with their fame, butGianinni comes to us this year, in the flush of her operatic youth, and ’ should give us all sorts of thrills, for, asDr. J. Elliott, (president of the New Zealand branch of. the . British Medical Association) said in his inaugural address, the human voice is the most perfect instrument for the promotion of sound known to mankind, and this artist’s organ is

said to be of striking loveliness.. Turning to other phases of music there is to be no lack of instrumentalists. Al- ■> j ready we are advised that Brailovsky, another of the brilliant band of Russians, who have made the world acknowledge their surpassing skill as pianists, is to make his first tour of Australia and New {Zealand during the coming winter. This pianist, if I am informed aright, is not one of those stupendous players who crash their Way into favour by their dynamic powers at the keyboard, though pianists of that kind have a way of sweeping the public off'its feet by sheer temperamental force; but rather is he of the refined, and subtle type of player, who seeks and finds/ beauty/ by gentler, more persuasive, yet none the less / attractive methods for all that. One only has to recall the intrinsic charm of the late Mr. Leonard Borwick to realise what transcendent poetical treasures exist in music that is artistically coaxed' rather than forced from the pianoforte. We had a very charming exponent of the colder, untemperamental type in Miss Esther Fisher, of Wellington, whose playing gave infinite pleasiure to the discerning though

small audiences she entertained during ’ her brief stay in New Zealand last year. I am very much afraid that pianists today. in order to catch the ear of the mass of the public, must have the ele- ■ ment* of showmanship in their disposition, Chergassky was a youth that the world will hear of; simple, unpretentious, enormously skilful and brilliant, yet he played to wretched audiences throughout New Zealand. It may be news to those who neglected to hear this brilliant Russian lad that his final season in Melbourne was a triumph. Another very able pianist who promises to come this way during the coming winter is Spivakovsky. whom we know very 'well as one of the modern giants of the pianoforte—a pianist still in his thirties, who is a tour de force at the keyboard, and a fine artist withal. I am informed that one of our very own pianists in the person of Miss Imelda Fama is returning from Europe early in the winter, after studying and recital-giving in Vienna, where she has studied for three years under the ablest instructors, including the principal assistant of the late M. Theadore Leschetitzky, perhaps the most famous teacher of the pianoforte of the Victorian era. Miss Fama, who belongs to Wellington, is said to have made the most of her opportunities, and has received great praise for her recital work Jn Vienna. The only great violinist so far announced for the present year is Erica Morini, said to be the greatest woman violinist Of the era. Certainly this artist has won her way into the forefront of virtuosi during the last three years, and none gainsay her brilliancy and charm as an ex- , ponent of the magical instrument. Music locally is particularly alive at the present time. The Royal Choral Union, under the conductorship of Mr. John Bishop, is aiming at a higher standard than has existed in the past, both

as regards its choir and the orchestra. Both are integral elements in the attainment of the perfect whole, and if Mr. Bishop can attain his ideal in respect to both Wellington is going to benefit. The Wellington Musical Union, has an established place in our musical midst as exponents of, delectable part song for mixed j voices, a very beautiful order of music, and from the sincerity of its conductor (Mr. H. Temple White) and the enthusiasm of its members we can expect a continuance of these concerts that give so much pleasure to the discerning in these matters. Nor is operatic music to be neglected. The union will at least strive to give one operatic concert during the year, whilst the Wellington Operatic Society, which has just appointed Mr. J. Woodward its conductor, are to give us a taste of the lighter lyrics in “Our Miss Gibbs,’’ with Miss Joyce Woodward (daughter of Mrs. Amy Woodward, one of our best sopranos) in the leading role. The Wellington Symphony Orchestra has been formed into a corporate body, and, under the direction of Mr. Leon de Manny, we look forward with confidence to an elevation in the standard of orchestral work in Wellington. 2YA is always with us. Its music plays

to larger audiences than all the societies 5 in the city put together, and whilst the ■ class of music sent over the air necessar- > ily embraces all manner of musical sound, > there is a solid background of artistic en- • deavour in its orchestra, conducted by 1 George Ellwood, perhaps the finest ’cellist ’ j in Australasia, and Mr. Gordon Short, i the accompanist, and occasional soloist. I ■ I grieve to say the trio which gave such I pleasure to those many lovers of chamber music (Messrs. Short, Ellwood, and Miss Ava Symonds) are not, evidently, available for performance at the local station. This trio achieved a very higji standard of excellence; it was the topmost peak of the radio programmes, but for some reason or other it has been allowed to “fade out.” The pity of’ it! Taking it full and by, the approaching season promises to include many interesting features, and will, at least equal those of previous years in artistic achieve- , ment. .