NOTES BY “LORGNETTE."

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 22

NOTES BY “LORGNETTE."

Miss Nance O'Neil, who will not return to Wellington it may he stated in answer to enquiries, after a -season in Australia, terminating at Perth, will proceed to South Africa. She will then visit Europe, where she will probably make a continental tour before appearing on the London boards.

To the success of Australian singers in the Old World there is apparently no end. An exchange says: —Miss Maggie Stirling .sang with marked success ■at a Matinee Musicals given on December 1-5 at Madame March esi’s Ecole (Paris) in honour of Mr Massenet, who was present, an air from that composer's “I<e Cid.” M. Massenet was so pleased with the .singing that die subsequently presented to the Australian vocalist his photograph, with his signature attached and the word “admiration” inscribed on it.

When Mrs Ma.esm.ore Morris appeared in. Wellington with the first “'Sign of the Crops’ Company, she was playing a very minor part. She is a beautiful and intelligent woman, and her recent successes in England are scarcely a matter of surprise to competent judges. Speaking of this clever actress an Australian exchange says: —After a most successful provincial tour Mrs Maesmore Morris is back at St. James’s Theatre, London, where she has taken up the leading part- in the curtain raiser, “The Plot of His Story.” Three of the actors in “The Wisdom of the Wise,” which it precedes, Mr H. IT. Vincent, Mr A. Elwood, and Mr A. E. Matthews, are old Australian favourites.

It is curious how many great singers and speakers are hampered in. their early years with impediments of speech due mainly to some oh scare nervous complaint. Demosthenes is an oft-quoted example. The latest case that has come under my notice is that of Miss Alice Hollande, whose extraordinary voice we had the pleasure of hearing in Wellington last week. Mr Bethune tells me that when that gifted young singer went to him as a pupil a couple of years ago, she could not pronounce words of three syllables distinctly. By careful training and persevering study she has almost completely overcome this tendency to indistinct articulation. Miss Hollander’s father was a Hungarian. Musicians, wherever she lias sung, are unanimous in pronouncing that a distinguished future is in store for her. A great contralto is always sure of a welcome in England, and constant erative employment in musical festival work in one or other of the great cathedral or manufacturing towns and cities.

Mrs Howie, the well-known New Zealand contralto, will leave for England on the 4th pros.

Mdlle. Do ■lores (Trebelli) will open a tour in New Zealand, in June, at Dunedin.

Billy Williams, the Victorian cycling trainer, is the father of the Williams’ quartette of clever girls who made su«h a hit in the recent Wellington pantomime, “Babes in the Wood.”

Miss Watts-Phillips, at present playing at the Opera House, is the authoress of a series of stories of notable ncople entitled, “Reminiscences of a Celebrated Actress,” which lately appeared in the “Town and Country Journal.” Miss Phillips also wrote “Personal Recollections of the Royal Family,” which appeared in “Christchurch Truth” recently-

According to a letter received by a southern pressman, the Pollard people engaged in a Sydney pantomime are disappointed with their reception by the press, “but that is due not so much to the people engaged” (the two Beatties, Percy and Stevens)" as to the parts they have to play. Gertie Campion, Fitts, Carter, and Connor are walking about. Percy is not allowed to at all, by the way. **■**«•

A great sensation was caused in the Old Country some years ago by an en-

tertainment known. as “Fenp-er’s Ghost, 5 ’ in which effects were represented that aroused the wonder of all who beheld them:, and it was -frequently asserted that the aid of the supernatural had been invoked to> enable the performance to be carried! out. Mr Northcote, the wellknown entertainer, during a visit Horae in search of something good, properly considered that this entertainment would suit New Zealand audiences. He has brought a large and talented company of actors and actresses, vocalists and comedians, with him, and by the aid of “Pepper’s Ghost/’ they produce a series of entertainments as enjoyable as they are novel, and as amusing they are entertaining. On the

inst. tlie ‘'Spectral Opera Company opened with a dramatisation of Charles Dickens’s celebrated “Christmas Carol at Palmerston North. The entertainment is described by the “Manawatu Standard” a,s being at once unique, amusing and free from vulgarity.

The late Sir Arthur Sullivan is said to have received in royalties for “The Dost Chord” over £IO,OOO. Songs are not always so profitable to. the men who give them to the woi'ld. “Kathleen Mavoumeea” was sold for £5. But it must not be imagined that the popml'r saying “Sold for a song” has any real meaning. As a rule, an article sold for a song would fetch a. very good, price. The pity is that the profits of popular songs go into the wrong channel. “Some Day” brought its author ten guineas, and made 10,001) guineas for its publishers! “In, Old Madrid” has made ££5,000, and “My Pretty Jane” has paid the publishers at the rate of £2OOO a line. “Tommy Atkins,” which we have been singing so lustily of late, made £6OOO in its first year. “Per All Eternity,’” which somebody once had a chance of buying for a £lO note, is a little fortune in itself, and its copyright was reccntlv sold for £2240.

Pointers say that Geo. Mu.sgrove longs to put up “The Belle of New York” in Australia, being ’convinced that Australia never got & glimpse of the true inwardness of his theatrical mascot!e. The music in “The Belle” is the finest •heard for many years in comic opera, but it requires vast resources in the way of soloists, chorus and orchestra to present it adequately. Its production by the Pollard Company here left much to be desired- —especially in the chorus. * m * * *

“S.” : Never saw Nellie Stewart to less advantage than pantomime-boy in “Cinderella.” At the same time it must be admitted that Nellie was never seen in .so ignoble a part. After singing a couple of songs she has naught to do but move round, spout rubbish, and wear one amazing costume after another. The actress is a. slave to her clothes, and, after about a quarter-century of stage •experience, stands about in the fierce white .fooflight, looking like an embarrassed and diffident amateur, exhibiting gaudy isoftgoods. It takes about nine tailors to unmake an actress.—“ Bulletin.”

Edwin Gench’s profit on Donald Macdonald’s lecturing tour, says the “Bulletin,” must have put him into a position to buy some landed property when he returns to Melbourne, and, all things considered, that spry young man deserves his luck. A triumphal march like Mac.’s is not possible without a lot of assistance from the advance agent.

Miss Maggie Moore has returned from America to Sydney in the best of health and spirits. It is just about two years ago since the popular lady left here, and during that time she has travelled very extensively, and met many old friends. But she is glad to get back. It is her intention to go back to America. Miss. Moore states that Mr Harry Roberts is at present starring in America, where he has made, a tremendous hit. Miss Moore can depend upon a royal reception when she makes her re-appearance.

That Wagner is an immense- draw has been very evident during the opera season in Sydney for “Tannhauser” has attracted th© largest audiences of the season, while “Lohengrin” also did well. It is so all over the world, and opera and concert managers now give the master a very prominent place in the repertoires. _ For the Bayreuth, Festival (Europe) in July, when the “Ring des Nibelungen” will be given, not a seat (they -cost £s' for the- four days of the cycle) could be obtained in December, being already all sold out. The allotment of places will not take place till March, and the cast of the “Ring” has not yet been decided on. A second performance of the cycle will be given in August. The audiences nowadays at the Bavarian Theatre are mainly British and Arneri. -fan. Recently at Weimar a commemorative performance of “Lohengrin” was given, 50 years having elapsed since the initial production there, under Liszt’s baton. Siegfried Wagner and Frau Rose do Milde, the original Elsa, now very aged, were present. As no cuts were made, the music drama lasted five hours. A few years ago a, French audience would not listen to Wagner, nowadays his works- frequently appear in the programme at their high-class concerts. The Wagner fever has evidently reached the colonies.

Fitzgerald Brothers have purchased: a farm near Belinore, not far from Sydney, where they have built a- permanent training circus in the charge- of Mr

Montgomery, the well-known circus rider and ring master. Here the diving horses are being trained for the spectacle of “Siberia,” which, is now the most popular London hipp.ro drome sensation, and which, is to be the leading attraction- of the next Sydney season.

Messrs Fitzgerald, our youngsters will he sorry to hear, have lost the popular trick pony, Tommy. The stud groom found him lying one morning lately with his hind leg broken in three places. A couple of “vets” were- called; in, but advised that nothing could be done: for the suffering beast and that it should be destroyed. Accordingly Tommy was shot by a constable.

A brother of Harry Plimmer s is appearing in good parts with the Nance O’Neil company in New Zealand. He is being schooled by Harry, and promises to become an imperfect replica of that talented technician.—“ Adelaide Critic.”

Captain Jack Sutton, well known in Wellington, leaves the Fitzgeralds, after seven years’ service, to take out a variety show with Contortionist Rosie Aquina-ldo and Trap exist Adelaide Sarina as stars.

Over 100 people turned up at Sydney Majesty’s in answer to manager Williamson’s recent advt. for singers. What a deceptive thing is the human voice—to its owner!—“Bulletin.”

The liero in Bland Holt’s new melodrama at Melbourne Royal is an Indian Prince called Prince KLassim Wadia, who is a, tremendous don as a cricketer, and, a great favourite with the ladies. The idea of Ranjitsinghi sticks out a foot, and yet the Banji of the drama, steals a ruby worth £5U,000, and murders one of the original thieves. What was Prince Itanji thinking about that lie did not go for fat damages from th© Drury Lan© management when “The Great Ruby''’ was first, put up in London P By the way, th© fact that an Indian Prince was on the job drew all the Indian officers of the Imperial soldiery into the Royal on Saturday night, and the house was gav with gorgeous turbans and gaudilydecorated uniforms, bub the most lovely coffee-coloured hero of them all was draped entirely in white, silk. The ladies craned their necks from all parts of the house to gloat upon these picturesque niggers.

“The. Great Ruby,” Bland Holt’s new play at the Melbourne Royal, by Messrs Raleigh and Hamilton, whose “White Heather,’’ by the way, Wellington playgoers will not have forgotten, hints at an effort to lift British melodrama, out of the literary slough of despond, into which it has fallen. The authors have some respect for the. King’s English and decent literary aspirations. The most thrilling item in this drama is the escape of the villains in an army balloon. Closely pressed by the police, they jump into the balloon, and are presently “sailing round the moon.” Then one is murdered, and the scene, at this point, and the fall of the victim, represent one. of the. finest bits of sensational stage effect I have ever beheld. Earlier a. little bit of a test match at Lord’s is’ artfully worked in, and the curtain falls on a military tournament at the Agricultural Halil, where the Indian Prince, victim of the adventurer who plots «.ne ruby robbery, riding for a, fall, opportunely breaks his back and provides a good climax. * e s» ■« »

At the conclusion of their Tasmanian, tour Fitzgerald Bros, will bring their circus and menagerie over here. A special steamer will convey there- to New Zealand. They will then tour the country and finish at Auckland. The public have but. a faint idea of the cost of shifting -this enormous concern from place to place. An army of men have to be carried ; _ and the work must go on like a machine, every man to his place. The amount spent annually for railway and- sea travelling may fairly be styledenormous. This tour of New Zealand will serve to introduce to- their patrons •the- latest engagement® by Mr Tom Fitzgerald during his recent tour of the ■Continent andi England, and another new company will join them- while over there, so that- the. New Zealand public will be first in the field to witness the new turns. The- circus is now looked upon as a- public institution in Australasia and the brothers are- thorough-go-ing men. When they say they will do a thing; you can generally wager it will be done. They have earned the respect of all classes of the- community for their straightforward, upright, ana manly dealings, and the friendship of many from- the first Premier of Australia downwards.

Some people have said that the- duel by divers in “White Heather” was too far fetched. The thing actually occurred down at the wreck of the Royal George. Two divers, named Girvan and Jones, fought over the prior claim- to- seizing a board. Girvan smashed one of Jones’s eye-glasses. Jones would have been drowned but for pulling the rope and getting hauled up more dead than alive.

In Maoriland,- says th© “Bulletin,” the hotels are rather shy of taking in r certain actress —they say she is so upsetting. She travels with a menagerie of screeching parrots, and recraires her dinner every night after the performance (at midnight), when she insists on going through the full course. There is toe

much wear and tear for placid Maorilanders in entertaining the lauy.

No fewer than five pantomimes were produced in Glasgow Defijsssfcer last. This is claimed as a. fit least this year, for any town outside London. ’ -X- * * *

The Music Hall Artists’ Railway Association (England), is making good headway, and it now numbers 5.300 members. *

The Mat burins Theatre in Paris has bad to suspend l its performance of “Une Femme Qua Fait Maigre' 5 for » few days by order of the Censor. As this little theatre is extremely popular in fashionable circles, the management will, no doubt, get the matter sarisiaehorily arranged! as quickly as possible, and then the theatre, will, of course, draw larger crowds than ever, for the public invariably rushes to see plays that have been condemned as immoral or in any way improper * *

j* ■» Miss Katie Connell, pupil of Sister Mary A.gness (formerly Miss McKean), perhaps the sweetest singer ever turned, cut from that nursery of sweet singers, the Wellington Convent school, prior to her departure for Jdlurope, where she fi it ends to complete her musical education, will tour the colony with a concert- party.

Wc* have had numerous erehextras of ladies, but we are now to have an orchestra. of children, the eldest of whom is not fifteen. The troupe, forty strong, is being formed' in Hungary, and will visit England and America. •* ■» * ■» •* -

A correspondent writeVi:—‘‘The gradual disappearance or. vocal organisations from «Wellington must be a matter of great regret to all true levers of music. It is not that there is a dearth cf voices or of musical talent, but r a their that the management of dead' and dying societies in the city has failed to maintain the interest necessary to keep members together. No one will -contend that there are not sufficient voices in 'Wellington, to run with every success such organisations' as .the Festival Choral Society, or the Wellington Liedertai’el, yet one is gone and the other is going. New voices come in; but they cannot foe kept. What is the cause? There is not enough esprit de corps, * there is too much class feeling, too much cliquism. On the cue hand the social spirit necessary to hold a certain class of member is wanting; on the other the quality of the music given, and the sta-ndlard 1 of merit of the performances are not high enough to content those members who would attend in despite of the former failingWhat is necessary is new blood in the management, an executive that will make members feel at home and attract them to a regular attendance, that will accept members from any religious denomination, of any social grade (provided always that the quality of their music is of a sufficiently high standard), that will submit programmes to the public whereon the best positions are allotted to the best artists and comprising noitems of a stop-gap character/’ “Lorgnette” is convinced that an organisation, formed on such lines would be welcomed by many, and would want for neither membership nor patronage. It is said that the Orpheus Liedertafel, which was founded some time last year and gave a first concert, is to be run as indicated. If so “Lorgnette’ is glad to hear it, and prophesies a long and vigorous life. It is a pity from one point of view, however, that its operations are confined to men members only. Velry many ladies in' the city would be willing, and are competent to join such a society..

Mr A. T. Burton attended in behalf -of the London School! Board at the South-Western Count on December Ist to support the adjourned summons against Mrs Rriekham, who resided at Bevan Villas, Lower Richmond Road, Putney, for neglecting to send her child to school regularly. The child travelled with “Alone in London” company, and- earned 25s a week. Mrs Brickham. stated) that her daughter was in the habit of attending: school at each town the company visited, and it wa® in order to allow her an opportunity of proving: this statement- that the summons whs adjourned. She on this occasion, failed to put in an appearance, and in her absence the magistrate imposed a penalty of ss. # * ■» * *

One of the leading attractions at the Folies-Bergere, Paris, is provided by Seeth, the lion-tamer, who performs nightly with twenty-one lions in his cage.

Ooquelin, the leading, French actor, in addition to playing nightly in New York with Sarah Bernhardt, ha-s been giving conferences. He- appeared at the Columbia College and: lectured in the presence of 80,00 people lately, the subject chosen by the. actor having been “L’A-rt et- le Comedien. . * * » • * *

Those who love encorgs have found a 'doughty foe in th© person of a manager who controls a small operatic theatre in Milan. This gentleman has absolutely forbidden his -singers to- repeat any of their songs, but at the same time he has placed the following notice in the vestibule : —“Those persons who wish for a repetition of any numbers from the opera, or any part of the ballet-dancing,. are begged to hand in their names the box office. At the end! of the pd® form,once they will enjoy the encores d™ xnanded on paying for their seats over again.”

Curiosity is being felt in Paris to 'know the real name of an artist who is appearing nightly at the Matlurrins Theatre under the name of La Ghesfia. Humour has it that the new-comer is a iady of aristocratic birth, preferring not to reveal her identity-till the public has Sven respecting her. ability, he is said to considerable talent • as well. as. beauty of a remarkable order. * * * * » Such plays as Hermann Sudermann’s ‘"'Magda/' - in which Nance O’Neil lately appeared at cue Opera House give ns practical New Zealanders a glimpse of the sentiment which plays so important a part in the life of the true German, and which, finds an immortal illustration in Goethe’s “Sorrows of Werther.” Speaking of a recent performance of “Magda” *>y the Sydney Dramatic Society, a critic describes a notable German actress, Fraulien Irene Triesch, as having acli eved decidedly successful results in the name part. This accomplished actress, says the critic in his interesting summing up, easily won her way to the favour of her audience by means of the remarkable intelligence she brought to bear upon heir embodiment of the heroine, and where necessary by the display of strong emotional power. The swiftly changing mood's of the sensitive and highly-strung woman were, indeed, admirably indicated. Fraulien Triesch depicted in a particularly pleasing and natural manner Magda’s deep affection for her father and sister; while in the expression of defiance and contempt for her unworthy lovdr, and her forcible assertion of stubbornness of will and airsolute confidence in herself—“lch bin Ich”—she did not shirk the expenditure of physical resource. In the passionate scenes with the harrow-minded and intolerant father—a part played with unflinching grimness and notable skill byMr Ferdinand Martini—the clever German actress convincingly demonstrated her capacity for the task that she had , undertaken. Nance O’Neil’s reading of the part does hot -appear from this description to have departed so far from the traditional rendering as we were given to understand.

» * Verdi, undoubtedly the most remarkable Italian composer of the century, whose death at the age of 87 was cabled some days ago, wrote no fewer than 26 operas, there being nearly 54 intervening years between the production of the first “Oberto” (1839), and the last, “Falstafi” (1893), Later on, the great development in the three best operas of his “middle period,” “Rigoletto (1851), “II Trovatore” and “La Traviata” (both of 1853), is strikingly conspicuous. Still more was this the case with his last three operas, namely ‘“Aida” (1871), “Otello” (1887), and- “Falstaff” (1893). in which there is almost a transformation of style, the last-mentioned having been pronounced by Doctor Ebenezer Prout as ‘‘ Unquestionably the most wonderful music ever written by an octogenarian. W© are told that “in the history of music there is no parallel to be found to such an artistic growth as that to be seen in the compositions of Verdi.” During the Christmas week in 1899 Verdi completed the work of charity commenced by him a year or two previously by the erection of a “Home for Aged Musicians” in the- Piazza Michel Angelo Buonarotti, Milan.

Herr Max; Hoppe, the violinist, showed me a post-card from Hen’ Gustave Har_dke, formerly principal of the Nelson school of music, but now domiciled in Breslau. In it reference is mad© to a curious incident which occurred in Wellington some time ago. Hen' Hoppe's eye was caught one day by an unredeemed pledge in the shape of an old fiddle hanging, in a pawnbroker’s window in Cuba street. He went in and bought it for £2 ss. When re-strung, the old violin, proved to bo the possessor of a tone. Herr Ilaudke, who is a bit or a virtuoso, and was visiting Wellington at the time, heard and took a great fancy to the instrument. Eventually he became its possessor, paying thirty guineas for his treasure. Nor were hj.3 instincts tit fciiilbj for it now ctpposrs tnat the neglected violin is a o'enuine Bergonzi, not the least famous “of the Cremona school of violin makers. Herr Handke promises to send Herr Hoppe further particulars. At present he contents himself with the bare outline of the discovery, which concludes with the siginn cant statement that the instrument has been valued by competent authorities in Germany at four hundred <niineas.