NEW YORK CONCERT SEASON.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 8 March 1924, Page 10

NEW YORK CONCERT SEASON.

Mr. J. P. Nolan, a y Sydney journalist who has been on the staff of "Musical America" in Fifth Avenue during the past three or four years, sends to Mr. Roland Foster an interesting account of artists he has lately met in New York and of the season at its height in Decenber. Incidentally, he heard some of he six concerts given? by the Verbruggen String Quartet at the Aeolian Hall. These at first were not up to Sydney form, doubtless owing to the interruptions in rehearsals arising; from separation before reassembling in America, and some adverse Press criticism Avas the result. "However, there was a remarkable improvement before the end, so that the final concerts were particularly good. The quartet will not now disband, but has established itself in Minneapolis. The other night .1 heard Bronislaw Huberman in the Tschaikowsky Violin Concerto, with the New York Philharmonic, when he revealed any amount of virility and sterling tone,while the conductor Van Hoogstrateri was especially alert and resourceful. I have also recently heard Galli Curci in a recital programme. Her voice is as effortless and free as ever, and of lovely quality. I went around to have a chat afterwards for the first time, and was surprised to find bow: well she spoke English. Sir Martin Harvey is over here, artd I thought the English actor decidedly poor in "Oedipus Rex," but the handling of the crowd was superb. Especially effective was the crescendo of murmurous eiaculative until the people burst through the doors, and the King advanced into the appealing throng. Then you heard Harvey pronounce T as if it were 'oi,' and the illusion was knocked sky-high. Miriam Lewes as Jocasta was much more intense. I also saw the celebrated Mrs. Fiske in 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary,' which she played with admirable polish and grace. Another notable performance was that of George Arliss, in William Archer's "The Green Goddess." Arlis is a capital actor, and tlie play is a first-rate melodrama."