MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9034, 21 April 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

Miss Amy Shkrwdj's operatic season began on Friday. Her repertoire includes "Faoet," "Martha," "Maritnna," " The Bohemian Girl," " Lucia di Lamniermoor," "La Sonnambula," " Mignon," "The Huguenots," "The Flying Dutchman," "The Magic Flute." The performances will be in English. Mr. J. T> Foley, whose "Festivities" will be remembered here, is at present touring in the South, where, I am glad to learn, his abilities as a clover and versatile sntertainer are being recognised. The Mohawk Minstrels are at present on the West Coast, as are also the Greenwood Family. Miss Ada Ward, the popular actress, is a passenger by the R. M.s. Orient. She come* to the colonies on the advice of fcn - Arthur Clark, who recommended her a years sojourn in a warmer climate. Tho next platform sensation will be the lectures of Miss Lydia Von Finkelstein, who left London for Melbourne by tho Orizoba on 30th March, with the intention of making an Australian tour. For the last three years the lady, who is a native of Jerusalem! has been rilling the largest halls imd churches in England and Scotland ; and she is endowed with great gifts for bringing before her audience vivid reproductions of Eastern life and manners. She lectures in Oriental costume, and in Biblical •scenes where more than one character is represented she is assisted by ladies and gentlemen similarly attired. She is said to be admirably qualified for her work, having a tine presence, a splendid voice, ana remarkable dramatic talent. " The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," which was produced at the Princess' Theatre, London, just after the departure of the last mail, is not proving very successful. Mr. Charles Arnold, a very clever actor of the Jefferson-Emmet school, is going out to Australia in the Orient, in order to produce under the management of Messrs. Brough and Boucicault, a sketch which has found great favour in England, entitled, "Hans the Boatman." He will be kccompanied by a wonderful juvenile and a highly educated member of the canine race. Mr. Haddon Chambers, formerly a wellknown Sydney journalist, is writing a drama called " The Adventurer," %vhich has been accepted by Mr. Breshom Tree for the Haymarket

Mr. Chirgwin, a well-known eccentric comedian who has been playing at the Britannia Theatre, London, is about to visit Australia, where he will appear in the pantomime of " Kin? Tricky." Henry E. Abbey, of New York, says that he accepted the play, " In the Fashion," because the newspapers spoke so well of it when it was produced at the Madison Square Theatre : and now he wishes he hadn't touched it, for it turned out a com-plet-e failure with him. A great deal has been said and written of lute about Madame Etelka Gerster having lost her voice. She is at present living with her brother in New York, but see* no one. Dr. Gerster gays, however, that his sister has not lost her voice, and that she will sing in the United States before going to her estates in Italy. The lady is a large landed proprietress, and would have been a very wealthy woman but for the careless manner in which her husband (Dr. Gardini) had managed her affairs. It is stated that Adelina Patti has signed a contract for concerts in London next winter. Kyrle Bellew, who has been leading man at Miner's, New York, has retired, and returns to Wallack's. Almost all the London theatres and concerts now begin at half-past eight. "Cushla Machree," Dion Boucieault's new play, i 3 to have its first production in Boston at the Hollis-street Theatre.. Htr Majesty's Theatre, London, is to be transformed into an immense concert-room, capable of holding 4000 persons, and is to be called Her Majesty's Concert Hall.

Sir Arthur Sullivan is writing a new opera for Geraldine Ulmar. This fact has triven rise once more to the old story that the two are engaged to be married, but there is nothing in it but rumour. The Czar of Russia has just pensioned Tchaikowski, the composer of fiery Russian music. He has 3000 roubles a year. Masini, the celebrated tenor, is singing with great success in St. Petersburg. Thi-i is what an American, wno was present at a theatrical performance at Yeddo, Japan, reports to having seen there :—The audience, to show their appreciation of the actors, threw pieces of their clothing, hats, coats, sashes, etc., on the stage. At the close of the play, the audience redeem these articles from the manager, giving in return a fixed price for each article, which amount goes to the fortunate actor. After Halvey's "La Juive," Wagner's "Lohengrin" will be the attraction at La Scala. Young J. K. Emmett, is making rapid strides in his profession. He now signs his name J. Kline Emmett. His father is to begin an engagement in London next rpring under his son's management. A new opera, founded on Shakspere'e "Tempest,"' is in preparation by Ambroise Thomas, and is to be ready for the Paris Opera during the exhibition time next year. A niece of Ralph Waldo Emerson is in Paris studying for the operatic stage. Old Stere Massett is still to the fore. He is in New York, and is arranging for a tour of the States. Camilla Urso, the violinist, recently played with great success at the Union Orchestral Concert in Dublin,

Strauss' operetta, " Simplicus," has been given at Vienna. The libretto is to be reformed by an expert writer. Joachim, played, at a concert recently oiven at the Gwendhaus, Leipsig, a duetto For violin and ' cello, with orchestral accompaniment, which was given for the first time under the direction of its composer, Brahms.

Mrs. Shaw, a lady whistler of some reputation, recently appeared at Bridgeport, in a chamber music concert, and whistled Arditi's Bacio waltz to a large and admiring audience. Miss Moore, the American diva, made her ddlnU in the role of Ophelia in "Hamlet" at the Paris Opera House recently The London Lyceum wa3 crowded to the doors to see Mary Anderson in " The Winter's Tale," on its one hundred and fiftieth night. Mary was greeted with tumultuous applause, and was presented with a magnificent wreath, with many coloured silken ribbons, on which were the names of the donors, to the number of 4000, who were all in some way connected with the Lyceum company. Piatti, the famous violoncello player, is also a great collector of rare music and works on musical art. He had a piece of rare good luck the other day, when he found, by chance, in an old bookstall, a set of lesso is for the "Viol d'Amore," written by Aricsti, a composer and performer well known in England a hundred years ago. The pieces were published by subscription at the t me for the purpose of raising funds to take the company back to Italy. The presence of Handel put the emaller fry in the shade in London, and the fine musician was soon forgotten there. Piatti haa arranged the lessons for the 'cello and pianoforte, a:ad will produce them at St. James' Hall soon. Stephen Heller, one of the foremost composers, as well as a piano virtuoso of considerable merit, recently died at Paris. Marie Roze's birthday was on March 2 She was then in Liverpool and the Lord Chamberlain went specially from London to present the lady with a magnificent diamond tiara, subscribed for by all classes of people in Liverpool. The Lord Chamberain had to ask permission of Her Majesty o go, and, on explaining the reason for his. rip, Her Majesty sent her good wishes to he singer. At the Strand Theatre, London, which has just been leased to John A. Stevens, a new comedy, " A Narrow Escape," has been produced St. Martin's burial-ground, in Pratt-street, Camden Town, London, has been fixed up, and will be opened for a recreation-ground. It may not be generally known that Charles Dibdin, the English sea-song writer, is buried here. Some investigating antiquary recently saw his tomb, or what remained of it, smothered in bricks and refuse ; still he managed to decipher the name, "Charles Dibdin, died 1814," and the lines from Tom Bowling:— * His form was of the manliest beauty, His heart was kind and soft; Faithful below, he did hie duty, And now he's gone aloft. Efforts are being made to get Dibdin's ashes a restiug-place in Westminster Abbey.

A new opera, " Katherine," by Ben Tayoux, has been bought by John Cobbe for England, America, and Australia. It. is to be produced at the Isew \ork Casino during the coming season. It is said to be full of wit and melody. A critic at Aix-la-Chapelle, recently obtained damages for being excluded from a theatre, the court holding that a critic cannot be excluded from a theatre because his criticisms do not please the manageEdward C. Stanton, director of the New York Metropolitan Opera House, left for London, on March 8, to secure artists for the next season of Wagnerian opera in that city. An entirely new adaptation of Lecocq's "Fleur do The," is to be produced at Now York shortly. The scene is laid in China, and all the dresses have been made there. They are said to be of extraordinary richness and beauty. The adaptation is said to be extremely bright, but the name of the author is kept concealed for the present. Musico-Dkamaticus.

V All communications Intended for tnie column should be addressed "Musico-Dratnatfcuj," Hkkald Office, Auckland, and should bo forwarded us early as possible. ___^________