THE MUSICAL WORLD

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 252, 21 July 1934, Page 19

THE MUSICAL WORLD

Notes from Here and there

(By

C.J.M.)

Stray Notes. Mr. F. G. Gibbs has completed forty years as honorary secretary to the Nelson Harmonic Society.

Mr. Len' Barnes (Auckland) has been appointed adjudicator for the vocal section at the next Napier competitions. The Gisborne Choral Society has commenced rehearsing “The Bohemian Girl” for its next concert. Miss Christina Young has been engaged by the Royal Wellington Choral Union to sing the contralto solos in Edward German’s “Merrie England.” “Cavalleria Rusticana” will be performed next month by the Christchurch Musical Society, under Mr. W. H. Dixon. This will be Mr. Dixon’s final appearance in the Dominion prior to his return to the Old Country.

Next Thursday the Auckland Choral Society will present the concert version of Coleridge Taylor’s “Hiawatha.” The New Plymouth Choral Society has decided on “Hiawatha” for its third concert of the present season. On Thursday next Mr. Horace Stevens will appear in “Judas Maccabaeus” with the Dunedin Choral Society.

Life’s “Greatest Refreshment.” The Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking at a luncheon of the Royal Colleger of Organists recently, said: “Music is the greatest refreshment in my overburdened life. Indeed, I do not think I feel such an excitement, such a stirring of the inward depths, as when I listen to a great orchestra. Few things are nearer to my heart than the cause of the music of the Church. No one knows better than I do how much it can do to raise, and how much, alas, it can do to lower, the whole standard of our spirit of worship. “In these days of haste and rush and ugliness there are few things of greater moment to the whole wellbeing of our people than that they should be helped iff every possible way to that greatest and deepest change of scene and air which is given them by worship. I can only wish that our comradeship in this great matter should be more easy, natural, and con-f stant than it sometimes is. I never go abroad and listen to the boasted music of the church of France and Italy without thinking that there is hardly one where the singing reaches the level of some of the great parish churches of England.”

Beethoven’s • “Ninth.” The Mareo Symphony Orchestra in Auckland is about to proceed immed-

iately with preparations for what will be undoubtedly the most important musical work to have been given in Auckland for very many years, Beethoven’s immense and inspiring Ninth Symphony. This composition, which represents the climax of Beethoven's great powers, calls not only for a full symphony orchestra, but for a chorus of up to* 200 voices. Based on Schiller’s “Ode to Joy,” it is among the most noble and inspiring works ever to have been written. As far as is known it has never been fully performed in New Zealand, and. indeed, it is a composition which audiences even in the great centres of musical life seldom have an opportunity of hearing. The members of the Mareo Operatie Society will be taking part in it. and a further 100 voices are being called for. The presentation has been set down for September 0 in the Town Hall.

The “Sea Symphony.” < In the course of a conversation on the subject of Vaughijn Williams’s “Sea Symphony,” Mr. Stanley Oliver, conductor of the Royal Wellington Choral Union, which is rehearsing the work for presentation to the public shortly, said that he had rarely conducted a choir which mastered the difficulties of Vaughan Williams’s “Sea Symphony” more quickly than the Choral Union. "Of course,” he said, “we are only doing the first, movement of the work, which will take about twenty minutes' to perform. It is a complete entity without the other three movements. The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir under Dr. Fricker never does the last movement, which is considered by some to be on a lower plane In musical quality than the first three movements.” “Are yoUjStill accepting new singing members?” • “Yes, the singing membership is still open, although applicants for the soprano and alto sections will be put on a reserve list for inclusion after the next concert. The immediate need is for male singers. Tenors or basses who are musical and keen about the work are what we nbed now. The actual quality of voice is of secondary importance. A keen ear and some reading ability are far more essential. The rehearsals are at St. John’s Church Hall on Tuesday evenings, and I shall be there at 7.30 to meet any who may be interested in joining ns.’,’ “And the orchestra?” i

“No, the orchestra has not started to rehearse yet. . The orchestration of Vaughan Williams’s early works is very ‘thick,’ and calls for a very complete and efficient orchestra. His later works, like those-of Holst, are scored for smaller resources and the texture is pruned to the point of being at times almost bare and stark. lam sure the orchestra herd will do the work well. Their keenness and hard work for the last concert would be an object lesson to any organisation.” Florence Austral. •

New Zealand music-lovers will be interested to learn that Madame Flor-,, ence Austral,'the great dramatic soprano, who is acknowledged to-day as, the finest Wagnerian soprano of the present generation, will probably visit the Dominion this year, at the conclusion of her present tour of the Commonwealth. An Australian by birth, Madame Florence Austral has achieved practically all luff great triumphs abroad, for since she left Melbourne 15 years ago in search of fame she has only once returned to the Commonwealth for a hurried tour, when only four, of the State capitals could be visited owing to the limited time at her disposal. ’ In England, Scotland, Holland, Germany, Canada and the United States, Florence % Austral’s name is better known than it is in even her own homeland. Many critics abroad -regard Florence Austr" 1 ! one of the greatest Wagnerian singers.,The London “Daily Mail” critic recently said, “Austral did not sing one note that was not beautiful. If there is another Wagnerian soprano as good in the world to-day, has not heard her.” John Amadio. Should Mr. A. D. M. Longden (the director of the Florence Austral tour) find it possible to include a visit .to New Zealand at the conclusion of the great singer’s stay in the Commonwealth, the Dominion will, have the pleasure of renewing acquaintance with a great New Zealand musician— John Amadio. As a child. John Amadio displayed such tolent as a flautist in Ills native city, Wellington, ■ that at the early age of 13 years he was sent to Australia for further study. When he was fifteen he tourfid as prln-' cipal flautist with an Italian Grand Opera Company that visited Australia, and some years later his great opportunitv came when he was appointed principal flautist of the ■ first Melba Opera Company. Then followed a series of engagements as soloist to practically all the big vocal stars who visited Australia. Such celebrities as Melba. d’Alvarez and Calve eventually persuaded Amadio to go abroad in search of wider fields to conquer, and the flautist has never regretted following their advice, for luck was with him from the very outset. His first appearance in England* was as solo flautist with Madame Tetrazinni. and among other stars with whom’’be subsequently appeared in Great Britain were Melba, Frieda Hempel. Calve. d’Alvarez and, of course, Madame Florence Austral, with whom he now appears almost exclusively. _________