MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13483, 6 July 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS.

HIS MAJESTY'S TREATBE.

June 24 to Julv 13— Knight Dramatic Co. (Mr. J. C. Williamson). July 15 to July 20—Jessie Maclaehlan Concert Co. July 22 to August 10—Grand Opera Co. August 12 to August 24—Mr. J. C. William-

son. September 16 to October s—Maud Hildyard Dramatic Co. (Mr. Allan Hamilton). October 7 to October MacMahon Bros.' Dramatic Co. November 4 to November 16—Mr. Edwin Geacb,.

OPERA HOUSE. N'isrhtlv—Fuller's Vaudeville Co. July 9 to July 12— Patrick's Operatic Society, " Maritana."

CHORAL HALL. July 4 to July 6—Andrew Black and Leopold Premyalav, Violinist.

ST. ANDREW'S HALL. July 17—Auckland Chamber Concert Society.

At His Majesty's the Julius Knight Company is playing to splendid houses. The opening piece, " Robin Hood,!' was received with every demonstration of public favour, and when it was replaced by "Raffles" the public again came along in large numbers to see Mr. Knight as a burglar. He plays the burglar well, too, and his Robin Hood was a very fin© performance, but he has drifted into a habit of posing for effect before the footlights that he would be a very great deal better without. His expression and pose, supposed'to represent the dawn of love in Robin Hood's heart really represented nothing of the kind, m fact, the impression conveyed was that Robin Hood was suffering from a severe attack of indigestion. Auckland audiences have accorded unreserved appreciation to Miss Elbert-Orton, Miss Marion Grey, and Miss Dora Sydney, all charming actresses. To-night "Raffles'' will give place to Brigadier Gerard."

Patrons of vaudeville continue to flock to the Opera House, where each evening Fuller's entertainers provide an excellent programme. Included in the bill at present are Professor and Miss Amy Klaer, who introduce a splendid turn with performing dogs, cats, and monkeys. Another turn that has been received during the week with more than ordinary approval is that given by Mr. Sheldon (ventriloquist). The two new juvenile serios, Keldie and Davis, also do clever acrobatic song and dance turn.

One of the most distinctive and characteristic' features in the amusement section in, the recent Christchurch Exhibition was the exemplification of horsemanship given in the large arena by the O'Neills, a family of New Zealand riders, who have become famous for their skill in breaking and riding " outlaws." Mr. Chas. MacMahon has now completed arrangements whereby they will appear in Auckland for a short season, commencing on Wednesday evening next, on the circus location in Freeman's Bay, adjoining Victoria Park.

The visit of Mr. George Musgrove's Royal Grand Opera Company to New Zealand promises to leave a memorable mark in the musical history of New Zealand. It is the first organisation of artists trained in the very centre of Wagnerian traditions and culture, to produce in this hemisphere the music-dramas of the Bayreuth master. In Mr. George Musgrove's present Grand Opera Company, the principals for the great music-dramas in the repertory are all German artists, with one exception, and have sang in Wagnerian music in some of the leading opera houses of Germany. Even the single exception, Miss Sara Anderson, although of American parentage, was trained in Germany, and, just before leaving for Australia, finished a most successful engagement as prima donna at the splendid new opera house of M'aremburg, the city of Haus Sacks and the Meistersingers. The principals were personally ■ selected by Mr. Musgrove, after seeing and hearing them in their leading parts, and he travelled throughout Europe for that purpose. i As the opera repertory, which music-lovers of Australia and New Zealand like, is not exclusively Wagnerian, but includes such popular works as "Faust," . "Carmen," " Rigoletto," and " La. Boheme," it was necessary to provide also principals accustomed to sing such works. This Mr. Musgrove has done, and he has included in his company as principal tenor for " bel canto" roles Signor M. Massimi, from Covent Garden and the Court Theatre. St. Petersburg. It is intended to bring the complete organisation, numbering considerably over 100 members,' to New Zealand. Besides Miss Sara Anderson and Signor Massimi, the list of principals includes Herr Karl Studemund, principal tenor from the Court Opera House, Berlin; Herr Richard Qeser, from the Court Opera House, Dresden ; Fraulein Johanna Heinze, from Berlin; Herr Julius Runger, principal baritone at the Opera Comique. Berlin; Herr Fritz Rupp, from Madgeburg: Frauleins Mia Barckow, Elizabeth Kuhnke, and Valerce Waller; whilst the stage director is Herr Emil Grcder, one of the leading buffo singers of Germany, who was specially engaged by Mr. Conreid to stage' the historic production of " Parsifal" at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, three years ago. The company will open in Auckland on Monday evening, 22nd inst. •

Auckland musicians will be pleased to learn that that famous young violiniste, Miss Marie Hall, will give a series of three concerts at the Choral Hall, Auckland, commencing on Thursday, July 25. Miss Hall's Company has arrived at Wellington, where she inagurated the New Zealand season at the Town Hall on Thursday evening. Messrs. J. and N. Tait report that the Melbourne and Sydney seasonshave been a phenomenal success. The triumph which Miss M'arie Hall achieved in Sydney at her opening concert, when the audience stormed the platform, leaving their seats and thronging round the brilliant young artist until she consented to play the "Traumcrei" twice, was repeated during this week, and an extra concert, as in Melbourne, had to be added to the advertised list.

On July 15 Miss Jessie Maclaehlan will make a reappearance at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, with a farewell series of concerts, extending over a week. Almost from her earlier years, surrounded as she was bv all the traditions of the Highlands, Miss Jessie Maclaehlan developed a power of expressing in song the deep pathos, the sturdy patriotism, and the intense love of "the " land of the heather and the flood" which has made her the great singer she undoubtedly is. No one has ever so thoroughly and completely understood and appreciated the true spirit of Scottish songs like Jessie Maclaehlan. and it is, therefore, hardly to be wondered at that in whatever part "of the world she has sung, she has created such a furore. All over the world, throughout Canada, the United States, and Australasia, the same result has been achieved, and her singing has been received with the utmost enthusiasm. She sings English and Irish songs with almost as .much acceptance as the best-known and world-wide appreciated Scottish melodies, and' herein lies her wide-spread popularity. Since her return to Scotland she has associated with herself, in addition to Mr. John McLinden, whose splendid 'cello playing is almost as widely appreciated as Miss Maclachlan's singing, a Scottish tenor of high repute, this is Mr. Douglas Young, of whoso fine voice golden opinions come from elsewhere.

Madame Carreno, who is to come to New Zealand shortly, has taken the Australian capitals by storm'. Mine. Carreno (says the Melbourne Age) is a supreme artist, with every technical resource at her easy command. There was no self-consciousness, no posing, no extravagance of gesture; she gave the impression of possessing an immense reserve; her interpretation was restrained in the noblest style of Greek art; there was no trace of inartistic exuberance which often mars otherwise excellent work. There was plenty of passion, but it never got out of hand. Her fine phrasing, her infinite variety of touch, her delicate nuances, the individuality of each note, even in the most rapid, runs and passages of fioritura, are things to be remembered with thankfulness, but not to be described.

Musico-Dbamajicps.