MUSICAL AMERICA

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 61, 14 March 1927, Page 11

MUSICAL AMERICA

MECQA» OF BIG ARTISTS AUSTRAIiIAN'S IMPRESSIONS "Thq^present extent" of' musical activity in America is truly staggering. This season more than six hundred concerts and two hundred operas were heard in New York City alone, and 90 per.cent."of..the world's greatest artists participated;?' said Mr. Hugo Larsen, the Australian impresario, who returned :to-day from a business trip to New York. "To call America the mecca of musicians would give 1' the impression that the musical invasion of that country took the form of a pilgrimage, a temporary;.. visit, to a shrine and a quick return home- But this is not the case.' TKey remain. 'Among the musical notables- who -have adopted America for better, or ;worse are. Alma Gluck, Zimbalist, Frances Alda, John M'Gormack, Mischa iElmsn, Kreisler, Margarete Matzenaur, J'Bachmaninoff, Heifetz, Percy' (Srainger, and a host of others too numerous to mention. It is significant that this great influx of musical genius, and talent find both appreciation and-prpfit. . , "It was once"'said pf Germanythat every locality larger than a village boasted its symphony orchestra," Mr. Larsen continued. While this is aa yet far from the truth in America, it is true -that almost every community down 1 to.the merest village, has its music club. These have become so numerous ' that they .have combined into■■ a national federation. This association convenes every year-to formulate plans and- policies/ and their proceed-.| sings are carefully watched by managers of musical artists. , Music has attained soeh monetary proportions that it has attracted the inartistic eye of business organisations,: and even chambers of commerces It 'appears that-it is really 1 an industry like 'selling-motor-cars, . phonographs'; or vacuum cleaners. As a career;.it has acquired a new dignity —the-respectability, of cash value. ":

"The Philadelphia; Orchestra jourf neys to New York ten times during the season,- ; and isi ; enthusiastically ■ received. Seats -are at a premium just as they- are at baseball, games and prize fights; .Mr.. StQkpwski, the conductor, receives 70,000 dollars a" year from the Philadelphia Orchestra directors, arid in addition is voted/10,000,by the chambers of cdmmeree/as a token of appreciation. Toscanini, the master of master conductors, receives for the few weeks of his guest appearances as leader ofthe .New York Philharmonic something Hke.4o,ooo.dollars, I heard all the famous. American orchestras,- the New York-Philharmonic, Now York Symphony, .the Chicago, 1 Boston, Philadelphia, •• \St. Louis,, arid Cincinatti, conducted Joy Toscanini, Walter DamrosclV Mengelberg, Stokowski; Klemperer, Georgeseo, Koussevitzki, Furtwaengler, andyerbrugheri, and also 90 per cent., of: the world's greatest artists in'concert and. opera. v; >-■ ■ f/I had the great pleasure of meeting Cardinal Hayes recently when he gave an; audition to the Australian pianist, Miss Merle Robertson, who was* acclaimed by the New York Press as one ■of' the, musical sensations of. the seasoiji; >"'Th'e-Bev. Dr.iHeriry'Howard, formerly of Adelaidej welcomed many Australians and New Zealaridws to his de-, slightfurhome on Park avenue during Christmas; The home" of, the famous physician, Dr. Frederick Bierhoff, *is a rendezvous for many of the famous artists. There I met such musical luminaires as Leopols Aver, Heif etz, Carl Flesch, Mischa Elman, the London String IQuartettc, ' Kreisler, Godowaky Pablo Casals, the New York String Quartette, Joßef Hpfmann, Cortot, Werreiirath, Florence Easton) Ernest Hutchison,: ;Lari^ Melehior, Spaldine FliSreSe^' Ansmt, ■"• '-Futwae'ngler,'' '■ and Walter *D»mrb"sch." J "?■■■' S ; Mr.;Larsen Btated that the National Mnaical Bureau, a British organisation which has conducted the tours of some of the "finest ■ artists and opera companies of the day in Ehrbpe, America, and* Canada,' would in the future be represented by him in Australia. Mme. Margarete Matzeriauer, "not alone the world's greatest contralto, but one of the greatest recital singers arid Operatic pruna donnas;of all time," in the opinion of that able crtfic^H. H. Krehbiel °? "eW Y6rk *rjbun c,", would bo the-fir^t star to appear under the direction -of Mr.,Larsen... V „...,