Mimes: Music: Records

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 105, 30 October 1925, Page 15

Mimes: Music: Records

THE SHOWS. Opera House—Sisfcine Choir Soloists, sth and 7th November. His Majesty's—Vaudeville. T>c Luxe Theatre—Pictures. King's Theatre—Pictures. The Tivoli—Pictures. Artcraft—Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures. Princess Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre—Pictures.

Mr. Leo Whittaker, the weß-known Auckland pianist, will return to New Zealand by the Niagara in November after having spent a considerable time in London and on the Continent. Somerset Maughan's novel, "The Moon and Sixpence,'' Iras been dramatised and produced in London. Henry Ainley and Viola Tree played the leading roles. Australian producers are already preparing for tlie Christmas pantomimes. The first principal boy has been chosen. She is Elsie Princo, who I will be the death of the wicked giant in "Jack and the Beanstalk" in Melbourne. There is to be a general changeround of the musical revue companies under the Puller management. Jim Gerald's company goes to Dunedin, and, most likely, will remain there dirrittg the period of the Exhibition. Hermie Ward's company opens in Christchureh on 23rd November; Moon and Morris (with a reconstructed company) open in Wellington on the 23rd, and Phil Smith and his company will be at Auckland on the 16th. Another attraction to be here shortly is Charlston's Jazz Band, which is said to eclipse all predecessors. T. E. Foster, the stage manager of "A. Eoyal Divorce," 1 at the Theatre Koyal, Melbourne, recalls the production with which he was associated as stage

I manager to Julius Knight, when it was produced 28 years ago in Melbourne. ' "Recently," said Mr. Foster, "I. met v a man in the street who, as a child, played the little King of Rome. He is now married, with five children, and is a policeman !" ' Associated with Dame Clara Butt and I Mr. Kennerley Runrford, who are now in 1 Melbourne, . is.- a noted pianist, Mile. Antoinette Aussenac, who was born in Portugal. Prior to leaving for Australia, she gave a special recital before tho King and Queen o£ England at Buckingham Palace. She is a pianist of good talent and unusual personality. Chati ting regarding the Australian tour, Mr. ! Kennerley Eumford said that this was j the fourth visit to Australia of Dame ! Clara Butt and himself. "I am afraid I this will be tho last," said Mr. Ruinford. "This trip we anticipated will take about niuo .. months altogether. After touring the Commonwealth and New Zealand we shall probably visit Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and India." A notable musical attraction to be presented early next year by J. and N. Xait i will be a concert season by the celebrated young Australian pianistcomposer, Percy Grainger. For the last five years Grainger has given over 150 ■ piano recitals in Europe annually, playing before widely-enthusiastic and crowdi ed audiences in the artistic centres of Great Britain, Germany, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Bohemia, and Switzerland. "Percy Grainger stands alone; he is the one cheerful, sunny composer living," wrote the eminent London critic, John F. Bunciman, in the "Saturday Beview,"'referring to the joyous and ecstatic personality that permeates all the works of Percy Grainger. An Auckland girl, Cissio Staunton, thirty years ago had made something of a reputation as a singer in the Queen Gity, when a German organist named Goldenstedt 'married her and they crossed to Australia, where she became contralto soloist in the Montague-Turner Opera Co. After Goldenstedt's death she went to England, and her second husband was a Dutchman, one Gaetjens. They took up their residence in Hoilaud. Now news comes, says a "Sydney Bulletin" correspondent, that Cecilia Elizabeth Gaetjens has died at Hampstead, London.

Several unrehearsed turns took place at Victoria Park, Grey mouth, where a circus tent had been, erected for the opening performance (states a local paper). While the lion-tamer was putting the ' lion and lioness through their paces prior to the show a sudden gust of wind caused the rain-sodden canvas to flog against tho steel cage, which capsized and collapsed on top of the trainer and liona. Fortunately, the animals were pinned against the steel gratings, making escape impossible. The trainer scrambled out of the mix-up, and with the aid of helpers succeeded in returning the beasts to their travelling cage. Shortly afterwards one of the circus horses caught his hoof in the tackle of the main pole of the large tout, and in its efforts to liberate itself kicked out several pegs, and for a few minutes the circus hands were in imminent peril of the canvas top collapsing on them before the frightened animal was released. Meanwhile the gale raged more fiercely, the rain came down in torrents, and the management decided to cancel the performance.

The Veterans of Variety—Messrs. Jake Friedman, Lily Burnand, George Campbell, Arthur Slater, and Florence Hinton—are to succeed the Jim Gerald Bevne Company at His Majesty's Theatre. Reports from the South state that the qintct win the hearts of patrons by their clear-cut, spontaneous efforts to entertain and iimuse. They enter whole-heartedly into their respective turns, and, as the master of ceremonies, Mr. Campbell, explains in introducing the act, "let us all enjoy singing the old-time and popular songs of 30 years ago." And tho performers give a fine lead. There is no striving after effect by the veterans —they just present their wares, so to speak, and they present them so effectively, so unostentatiously, so apparently ■vrith the desire to please, that they win a success from the very start, and continue winning them right through thoir performance. In effect, the artists are there for tho entertainment of tho audience. They rely in no way on the reputation gained by former triumphs on the stage*

A writer in the "Bulletin" rcf.alJa a New Zealand show that, started ;i(; 2 a.m. About. 25 years ago .l'viUgcraids' ("Jircus finished a season ;il, Auckland on » Saturday evening. Brothers Dan and Tom luid arranged t,o appear at Wbangarei. on Ihe Monday and Tuesday nights; but a heavy nor'-east gale kept the little paddlestsamcr they had chartered for tlirj trij) — the Terraaora—^wcathcr-.bouiul

till Monday morning; so the show did not arrive at Whangarci till close on midnight. But the pretty little town was alive with timber-getters, gunidiggers, and outside Maoris, all gathered to see the circus. The Fitzgeralds were not the men to disappoint them. Up went the tent. The show started at 2 a.m. and finished at 4.30. Two other performances were given, one beginning at 2 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m., and the circus was afloat on the return journey by a little after midnight.

Pictures. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion pictures, the coming of which to New Zealand has been looked forward to by picture-lovers for some time, will begin operations in Christchurch on 6th November, when "The White Sister," which was seen here a while back at a trade showing and which won the admiration of all who were privileged to view it, will have its premiere at the Liberty Theatre. Tho season at that house will be for one week, after which it will transfer to the Grand Theatre, Christchurch, for an unlimited run. "The Whit© Sister" will bo seen in Wellington at the De Luxe Theatre, beginning on New Year's night. Tho first Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production to be screened in this city will be "The Silent Accuser." This picture will begin at the King's Theatre on Christmas night. Lon Chaney's next starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will be "The Mocking Bird," an original story by Tod Browning, who will direct the film. "The Mocking Bird" has for its locale the Limehouse district of London, and has an underworld plot with a strong love theme. It offers Chancy immense op- . portunities for character acting of the most difficult and impi-essive sort, and : will enlist the services of a large cast. Chaney's recent work upon the screen . has elevated him to the undisputed "position of the screen's greatest. character actor.

Rudolph Valentino is hard- at work [ on "The Lone Eagle," which is adapted by Hans Kraly from a Pushkin novelette A brilliant cast supports the star. Vilma Banky, a popular European actress, is playing opposite Valentino. She is a striking blonde,') and is said to have exceptional acting ability. Louise Dresser, a stage star for many years, has tho role of the Czarina. Others in tho cast are James Marcus, Gustav yon Seyffertitz, Eric Mayye, , Clark Ward. "The Lone Eagle". | will differ from any previous Valon- ; tino product in two important respects. It will abound in comedy. I The star impersonates a dashing | young Cossack officer in tlie beginning, and later becomes a daring and ■ mysterious bandit, whose exploits , thrill all. i A picturisation of "Gulliver's I Travels," which is being planned, is I to be given production on a scale comparable to that of "Tho Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Phantom of the Opera." Jack Daugherty, following his work in "The Scarlet Streak," will j star iv "The Eadio Detective.". This adventure picture is from the pen of Arthur B. Reeve. B. M. Bowers Js gripping" story, "The Eange Dwellers," has been adapted for the screen under the title, "Taming the West." The story is admirably suited for Hoot Gibson, who has the starring role.' Laura la Plante is the star of '' The Teaser." The supporting cast includes: Hedda Hopper, Walter M'Grail, Byron Munson, .Vivian OakJand, Wyndham Standing, Margaret Quimby, and Eranck Pinch Smiles. Dolores Cassinelli, the noted Italian stage and screen beauty, is one of the featured players who will be seen in support of Lila Lee in "The Midnight Girl." Miss Cassinelli plays the role of an opera satr, and it is interesting to note in this connection that she is returning to the stage as a star in musical comedy. "Seven Keys to Baldpate," tho most successful of the stage hits in Australia, | by Fred. Niblo and Enid Bennett, sev- ; eral years ago, will mark the return of

Douglas M'Leau to the screen. This mystery comedy was selected from among hundreds of possible stories as offering the star the best possibilities to display his comedy ability. The John Barrymore'. unit is to be sent to Java for exteriors, Barrymoro -will star in the picture "Tho Sea Beast." . "On Thin Ice" deals with the efforts of an innocent girl, sent to the penitentiary on false oviden.ee, to recover, her footing and respectability. The cast is composed of Tom. Moore, Edith Roberts, William Russell, Theodore yon Eltz, Wilfred North, Gertrude Robinson, and "The Texas KM." •'•,■.

Gramophona. "L'Enfant Prodigue," in tborea paxis, with the "Meditation," from "Thais," is the latest recording made by the New Queen's Hall Light Orchestra, for Columbia. The performance was conducted by Eugene Goossens, seniiiy and advance reports of the record are distinctly favourable.

Sir Hamilton Harty conducted the Halle Orchestra of Manchester for its record for Columbia, of Berlioz, "Carnival Roimio'n" overture. This work will be received with particular interest by musicians and students of music. It is in three movements—allegro, assai con Fuoco, andante sostenuto, and allegro vivace. The origin of the work was the opera "Benvenuto Cellini," which, as a, complete work, was not accepted, but Berlioz was determined that some of the melodies should survive in tho form of an overture.

Amongst the new records for the November market is a remarkable bracket from Signor Apollo Granforte, who created a furore when he visited NewZealand with the Melba Grand Opera Singers some time ago. His first records for H.M.V. demonstrate that he is a recording artist of undoubted success. His numbers are the sombre "Credo in un Dio Crudel," from Verdi's "Otello," and the dramatic "0 Monumenlo ! Regia o "Bolgia. Dogate !" from Ponchielli's "La Giocondi."

There are very few recording tenors of the hii,'h quality of Beniumiim Gigli, lung n. favourite with grinnonlioiiis'tß. This month lie presents a very linn hniokot—(lie oelobriilc'rl "0 TViriiciiso," from Meyerbeer's "l;'Afric:uiii," y.-id (ho popular "M'Appai'i lull. 'Auinr," from Kinlow's "Miirlhii." This also h » vow fine disc.

As an i!.\pouciil, uf Srliuberl licflrr, l.lii'i-i; nro few In pquril Klcir.i. C.r.rhnrdi, uhosi' finp iiicy.Z"-voico is H.rlmirably arln-pUvI fur Ilip svmijihl lictic. intorpi-olsr-lion of tlio hoiis« of l.ci- ronnlrymnn. l.4rrlvn\ll -ivnr. !\> v u npiv i-liororLpi-isHr Schubert numbers on H.M.Vi records—

"Wohin" (Op. 25 No. 2), and "Das Lied im Grunen" (Op. 115, No. 1). Both are sung in German.

The records of the Lener String quartet are steadily growing in numbers as well as favour. Every player in this accomplished quartet is an artist, as is evident on hearing their records. The latest is Bethoven's quartet in E Flat. Visits of grand opera companies to New Zealand are few and far between, but, fortunately, the gramophone has supplied the lack of grand opera performed in its entirety, for the records of "stars" that shine at Covent Garden, Sc&la in Milan, and Metropolitan in New York, are available. Among the number in Columbia catalogue that will give intense pleasure is Hipolite Lazaro's singing of "M'Appari," from "Martha" —one of the greatest of favourite tenor arias.' With it is'the popular "Vesti la Giubba," from "I Pagliacci." La,zaro is a tenor of fine quality, and this is a splendid tenor record which one has no hesitation in recommending.

Whatever may have .been the attitude of the Methodist Church towards the stage/ it must bo admitted that the Church has given some fine singers to opera. This applies to America with rather more appropriateness than to Britain and the Dominions. Norman Allin, the great basso, known to all who possess gramophones, graduated in a Yorkshire church choir. He began at the age of nine, and ultimately reached the pinnacle of his hopes, singing in a grand opera, under Sir Thomas Beecham. His great forte is any role that gives scope for intense dramatic expression. He has all he can ask for in tho ballad "Edward." It is a hair-raising, flesh-creep-ing song, and was written by Loewe in 1818. No one hearing it for tho first time- as Norman Allin sings it, will forget the air of tragedy with which he invests ,it. So great has been the demand for this song, that it has been re-issued again and again by Columbia, and uutil recently records were unobtainable in Now Zealand. They are here now, and confirm Norman Allin's reputation as a thrilling singer of works of this eerie character. ,

One of tho most delightful orchestral studies ever written is the celebrated "Dance of the Hours," from Ponchielli's "La Gioconda." Quite the best recording so far is that by the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, which has arrived with tho November budget.

Lovers of 'cello music of not too highbrow quality will be sure to like CedrkSharpe's own arrangements of the old Irish air, "Believe me if all those endearing young charms," and Elgar's beautiful "Rosemary."

There has not been such a delightful recording of strings for some time as in the Eustic Wedding Symphony (gold mark). As a strong contrast there is Moskowski's Spanish dance "Malaguena," with its strong rhythmic charm. It is recorded by H.M.V.