MUSICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11899, 24 May 1899, Page 6

MUSICAL NOTES.

[“ Cantbbbuet Times.”] Miss Elsie Hall, the pianist, is now in Dunedin. An attempt is being made to form an orchestral Society in Napier. A new scena, “ The Dream of Endymion ” (by Cowen), specially written for Mr Ben Davies, the Welsh tenor, is winning great kudos for both composer and singer. The Queen Las appointed Mr. William Vincent Wallace to one of the vacancies now in her gift to the Charterhouse Poor Brotherhood.. Mr Wallace is the son of the composer of “Marite.ua,” “Lurline,” etc. The rush of young singers to London is being seriously considered by an English entrepreneur, who thinks of forming a travelling choir.or gl'Ca party of Australian voices during part of the year, leaving the remaining months free. to the singers for study. Mr Sims Reeves has given another farewell concert, when he was assisted by almost every singer of note. He sang himself, of course, and, despite his eighty years, showed something of the charm which always .distinguished his work. And he also told his audience, in a brief lecturette, “ How to Sing.” At one of the English musicall festivals a farmer, who supplied the leading soprano, Madame Albani, with one of the necessities of life, made out his little bill thus: Madame L. Bamy, To Mr Cross, Esq. 21 pints of milk at IJd per pint . 2s &Jd In making out his littfe bill “Mr Cross, Esq.,” not only misspelled his customer’s name, but charged her a penny too much. The veteran, singer Manuel Garcia, who has entered his ninety-fifth year, is still active, and-continues to give lessons in singing. His memory is prodigious, and only the other day he described to some visitors his performance of Figaro on the occasion of the production of Rossini’s “ Barbiere di Siviglia” in London, when his father sang the music of Ahnaviva to the Rosina of his famous daughter, Mdme. Malibran. Signor Garcia’s other sister, Mdme. Viadot Garcia, is still living in retirement, at the advanced age of eighty-three. The eminent Hungarian violinist, Dr Joachim, who celebrated his “Diamond jubilee ” recently, is playing with unabated charm and vigour at the St James’ Hall Popular Concerts, London. Supported by Messrs Haydn Inwards (second violin), Gibson (viola) and Paul Ludwig (’cello), he is leading a series of classical quartettes besides reviving solos by old masters, such as Tartini, whose melodious sonata in G minor, with Mr Borthwick (piano) and Paul) Ludwig (’cello) created a furore. Critics say that nothing more uniformly good has been presented this season. Madame Melba’s name stands first in the list of prime donne who have been engaged by Mr Maurice Grau in America and Earl de Grey in London, as representing the Grand Opera Syndicate, for the season which commenced at Covent Garden Theatre on Monday, with Wagners “Lohengrin.” The other sopranos include Mesdames Calve, Nordica, Suzanne Adams, Sfcrakosch, Wittich. (from the Dresden Opera House), Seiffert, Gadsby (who has been singing with Melba in America), and Bauermeister. M. Jean de Reszke leads the way among the tenors, and M. Edouard de Reszke among the basses. )