Mimes: Music: Records

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1925, Page 21

Mimes: Music: Records

by: "orpheus."

THE SHOWS.

Grand Opera House—"Wildflowcr," in season Long Tack Sara and -Vaudeville Company 27th June. Town Hall—Kreisler, OMi and 11th Juuc. Gulli Curci. 2nd and Ith July. His Majesty's—Vaudeville. fe Luxe Theatre—Pictures. King's Theatre—Pictures. The Tivoii-Pictures. Artcraft Theatre—Pictures. Our Theatre-Pictures. Empress Theatre-Pictures. bhorlfs Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures. Princess Theatre—Pictures. tiueen's Theatre—Picturei.

Mr. Leo Dv Chateau, business manager in New Zealand for E. J. Carroll, has opened permanent offices at Wellington. A London " Graphic " critic recently referred to W. S. Percy as " one of the greatest laugh producers on the comic opera stage." The Hey. Frank Gorman has a revue company in Australia at present. The Dunedin Choral Society's first concert of the 1925 season will take the form of a performance of the concert version of Gounod's "Faust." Amongst the engagements made for Australia and New Zealand by Mr. E. J. Gravestock while he was in England are Madame Frieda, Hempel, the famous operatic soprano; Bachhans, the pianist; and Ignaz Friedman, a Polish pianist. They are booked for a year or two ahead. The sixth company of vaudeville, to be seen here shortly and presented to Dominion theatre-goers by the New Zealand Entertainers, Ltd., by arrangement with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., is headed by the Chinese, marvel, Long Tack Sam, who is supported in his act by an entirely new company of twelve Oriental stars. Besides Long Tack Sam's performance there are in tho company the Novell© Bros., a pair of French musical acrobatic clowns. Arthur Mayes (basso cantante), Chris. Charlton (the royal illusionist), Errol Addison. and Gertrude Mitrenga (specialty and classical dancers), and Moran and Wiser (billed as l.ilarious hat spinners in a skit " All-in-Fun "). Fritz Kreisler, the famous violinist, who is to give two concerts in Wellington on 9th and 11th June, plays upon one of the most valuable Cremona violins' in existence—a Josef Guarnerius of 1737, which he bought from Mr. George Hart, the London dealer. He says: " One day as I entered the rooms of Mr. Hart I heard a voice, liquid, pure, penetrating, which filled my soul with longing and made me determined to possess such a treasure at any cost. There were difficulties in the way, -as Mr. Hart had already parted with it to a. collector, and it was only after long and earnest persuasion, in which Mr. Hart joined^ that I was enabled to buy it for £2000.'" The case alone of this super instrument is said to be worth £200. Some years before Kreisler had bought a " Strad " for £800. More lately he' [ has acquired another beautiful "Strad," | but he still prefers the Guarnerius. Judging from the enthusiasm displayed by tho members of the Wellington Professional Orchestra at the initial rehearsals, ■ the 1925 season should be a very successful one. The programmo for the first concert to be held on 31st May includes two numbers which have not yet been performed by the orchestra, i.e., the overture, "Men of Prometheus," by Beethoven, and the ballet music from "Henry VIII.," by SaintSaens. The .giving of these concerts, which are enjoyed by the music-lovers of the city, entails considerable expense and the orchestra is badly in need of funds. It is hardly fair to ask the playing members to give their servicea and also to finance tho orchestra in order that very many may enjoy the concerts at-no cost to themselves, and the hope is expressed that the collection at the doors this season will be more satisfactory than it has been for some time past. 1 Those I wishing to become honorary members of the orchestra will find the secretary, Mr John Dingle, at 182, Willis street. "If you wish to be a popular artist, if you hope to sing for the masses, you must reach thoir hearts," declares GalliPu Ur°t "Only the sin Ser who can touch the heart, who can move to .tears or in-

spire one with the mood of the song can attain a real hold upon the public. There are many excellent singers, but their vogue is limited, because their appeal is primarily to the intellect." It has always been Galli-Curci's greatest ambition to sing "for the people." This is probably due to her deep love of humanity, to the sympathetic note that she strikes in the hearts of those whom she meets. To be loved by all, to make them happy through her gift of song that is Galli-Curci s supreme desire. It is her ability to touch the hearts of men and women in every walk of life that h«s made her the idol of millions in all parts of the musical world. In opera she wins her audiences through her amazing vocal powers and by reason of her sincere, compelling impersonations but it is saia that in concert that her appeal is directly and intimately made.

Another New Zealander is likely to make a name for herself in the concert world. This is a Christchurch-born lady, who is singing in the Homeland under her maiden name, Miss Laurie Hammond, who is the wife of Dr. J A M'Kinnon, who is in practice near London. Miss Hammond, who has been studying under Sir Henry Wood, made her first professional appearance at Ipswich and was highly praised by critics for her performance of the recitative and air from Tschaikowsy's "Jeanne d'Arc "I opera. , Thi Pictures. Mario Prevost has acquired another httlo trick in the art of make-up that adds considerably to her allure in "Kiss i Me Again." She rouges her mouth evenly with brilliant lipstick, and then I places two tiny stars of black court-plas-ter below and above the mouth, one ' just a bit below the right corner of the netherlip, forming a dimple, and the other perhaps an eighth of an inch above the left-hand corner of the upper lip. The result is said to be decidedly fascinating.

.Considerable lustre and sparkle can bo added to the eyes, according to Irene Rich, by the very simple process of bathing them three or four times during the day with a solution of boric acid. Mis 3 Rich during her work in "My Wife and I," a domestic drama of belated romance, found that by bathing her eyes regularly she not only made them look more brilliant, but rested them, and thus gained decided freshness for the entire face.

"Syd" Chaplin has signed a new. contract for a term of years. Ho will appear in a series of special productions along the line that have made him famous. Books and plays will bo obtained for him if possible. If not, authors who write stories that will fit his personality will be obtained. Clive Brook, the young English actor, who has been making quite a hit since he went to America, has been assigned to a long term contract. After playing in a number of American stage successes in London, Mr. Brook went to America, and played in several big pictures with Famous, Ince, and Corinne Griffith. Then I came, his role in "The Woman .Hater," opposite Hclene phadwick. It is a long time since the big boots, kaggv pants, and concertina trousers of Charles Chaplin were conspicuous on the screen; but we are shortly to renew the acquaintance, with these familiar garments, for United Artists (Aust.), Ltd., have just received cabled advice to the | eff&ct that the Now York presentation of. "The Gold liush" will bo given almost ] immediately, aftor -which cijpie3 will be ready for Australian distribution. "The Gold Rush" is said to bo Chaplin's most convincing comedy to date, and one upon which he spent considerable time in order to mako it a most thorough presentation. It deals with Klondyke in the. boom days, and many of the characters of those times will mako acquaintance with a new generation. Throughout the picture,. Chaplin adheres to his original comedy'make up. Marie Prervqst has already been cast for another picture, although she isn't finished with her current one, "Kiss Me Again." The second one is "Why Girls Go Back Home." C. Gardner Sullivan,

one of the best known writers in the business, has been entrusted with the preparing of the script. Sullivan has been engaged in writing originals and adapting stories for the screen since it was truly in its infancy, and knows its every angle and detail, so that in preparing "Why Girls Go Back Home," much can bo expected.

Gramophone Notes. ; "Onaway, Awake, Beloved," from Coleridge Taylor's beautiful work, '.'Hiawatha's Wedding Feast," has just been artistically interpreted by Hubert Eisdell. Its companion on the disc is the classic song for tenors, "Where e'er You Walk." The latter is incidental to Handel's "Semele," recently revived at Oxford. Myths die hard. There is that one of Handel, that he serenaded George I. and won himself back into Royal favour with the famous "Water Music." This Btory has recently been proved erroneous by Mr. Newman Flower in his book "George Frederick Handel : His Personality and His Times.'-' "The Water Music" was expressly composed by Handel, not as a peace offering, but as a commission from Baron Kielmansegge, husband.of the King's mistress, and it was composed for a great concert, giveu on the Thames for the- King. A particularly fine rendering of this tuneful suite has been made by tho Halle Orchestra for the gramophone, and conducted and directed for that purpose by Mr. Hamilton Harty. It is a, quarter of a century or rather more since tho music of Delius first attracted serious public attention in London, and then it aroused a perfect tornado of musical discussion when first performed at the old St. James's Hall but Dehus has lived to see his musical ideas accepted and understood, and there have been several programmes, given entirely of his works. Interest of discriminating owaers of gramophones will bo stimulated by the fact that the eminent violinist, Albert Sammons, and Mr. E. Howard Jones (at the pianoforte) liavo recorded their performance of Delius's distinctive Sonata No. 2 for violin and pianoforte. It has just arrived in New Zealand. Appropriate to his coming visit to New Zealand is tho welcome news that Kreisler has jusi recorded Mozart's 'Concerto in D, No. 4," with Sir Landon Ronald* srctiestra. This record is amongst a number just published in London, and due bere about the beginning of August. The list includes:— Fritz Kreisler (vioiin) and orchestra, conducted by Sir Landon Ronald: "Concerto in D, No. 4" (Mozart). Benno Moislivitclv (piano) and the R.A.H. Orchestra, conducted by Sir Landon Ronald: "Concerto No 1 in G Minor, Op. 25" (Mendelssohn). Frieda Hompel (soprano): "Alleiuia" (arr. G. O'Connor Morris) and "Oh. had I Jubal's Lyre," from "Joshua" (Handel), ailic'.iele Fleta (tenor): "Mi Tierra" (Muzas—MedisTalta) and "Adios Triquena" (Robles). ' Chaliapinc (bass): "The Moon is High in tho Sky" (Rach-, maninoff) and "Crazy-headed John" (Russian folk song). Dinh Gilly (baritone): "Fleurissait XJne Rose" ("Legende de la Suage") from "Le Jongleur. de Notre Dame" (Massenet). Tudor Davies (tenor): "Lord Vouchsafe Thy Loving Kindness" ("Cujus Animain, Stabat Mater") (Rossino), and "Sound an Alarm" ("Judas Maccabeus" (Handel). "Leila Megane" (contralto): (a) "Invocation to the Nile, No. 1" (b) "Lament of Isis, No. 5" ("Songs of Egypt") (G. Baritock), and' ™'Amour Viens Aider" ("Samson et Dalila" (Saint-Saens). De Reske Singers (male quartet): "The Winter is Gone" and "Bushes and Briers" (arr. R. Vaughan Williams). !

The two outstanding items are Mozart's "Violin Concerto in D." recorded (complete) by Kreisler, and Mendelssohn's "Piano Concerto in G Minor" (also complete) by Moiseivitch.' The Kr.eisler records are a great acquisition. There are few who will dispute the powers of this great violinist, who is also a great thinker, and our only regret has beon that hitherto he has given us on the gramophone nothing but "snippets." Now, however, we have bomething by which we can to som e extent measure his greatness. There can be no two opinions about the excellence of the music, the playing, and the recording of the concerto.