MUSIC.

New Zealand Mail, 17 September 1902, Page 32

MUSIC.

NOTES BY G STRING

"When it was suggested to Madame Melba that she should sing in Melbourne during the racing season, she replied with an emphatic "Mo." “Oh, no,” she said when Mr Musgrove proposed it, "no singing during Cup week for me. 1 will pay my company; but I'm going to the races with the boys and girls, and I mean to tfioVO uglily myself." “That's just like Maaame Melba," said Mr Musgrove, talking to an interviewer regarding tlje coming tour. “She is the greatest artiste in the world, but you will perhaps be surprised to find that she is not only a great ringer, but a real good sort, too, with no arace of affectation and no ‘suspicion of 'side.' As an instance of that, I may say that when in London I received a number of cables and letters from Australia and elsewhere from persons who were desirous of arranging receptions in honour of Madame Melba; but the instructions I received from her were that she wished to land in Australia as a strictly private individual. She will first visit her relatives, whom she is very anxious to see, and after she has made her first public appearance will have no objection to such receptions as may be arranged.” Replying to a question as to whether he was present at Madame Melba's farewell appearance at Covent Garden, Mr Musgrove said:—“lndeed I was, and it was a revelation in enthusiasm. Madame Melba selected for her final appearance her favourite character, 'Gilda,' in Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto,’ and sang divinely. The audience simply went mad, and never in my life have I witnessed such a scene. The cheering and applause were deafening, and at the conclusion of the performance it seemed as if the people would never allow her to go. It was wonderful. This was supposed to be her last appearance in London, but the next night she went to a party given by the Rothschilds, who are great friends of hers, and sang two songs. This she did in a friendly way, and not for her usual fee, but the Rothschilds would net allow her to go without accepting a cheque for 1000 guineas. You see, in the London season Madame Melba earns X'2ooo a week, but she has many calls upon her purse, and is generous to a degree. What with charities and the ready assistance she gives to every Australian who appeals to her, much of her money goes.” A concert company organised by Mr John Lemmone, the jwell-known flautist, has . started upon a tour of the southern districts of Mew "South Wales. The personnel of the company includes: Miss Mabel Batchelor—the young soprano who made a favourable impression at recent concerts in Sydney, Miss Isabel Lindsay, Miss Appleby (maniste), Messrs Rodda Perry, Robert Watson and John Lemmcne.

At the Dunedin Orchestral Society’s recent concert, the Mendelssohn Concerto in G minor was played, with Mr A. J. Barth as the soloist. Auber’s “Fra Diavolo” overture and a selection from “Don Giovanni,” also appeared on the orchestral programme. The singers were Miss E. Leonard and Mr W. Musker. Miss Leonard, who recently arrived from Adelaide, is said to have a light soprano voice of pleasing quality and good range, and hc-r enunciation is described as decidedly good. Herr Reinecke, who recently retired from the position of Principal of Leip-ic Conservatoire, has been succeeded by Herr Arthur Nikisch, the well-known conductor.

Madame Adelina Patti’- popularity remains vndiminislied. . Her Albert Hall concer’ yven in July, is described as being beyond question, the best” of the vocal concerts given during that month, the singer being "in capital voice and the audience as enthusiastic and rapacious as ever m the matter of encores.” After singing twe extra pieces, the prima donna responded to a recall by appearing on the platform with her hat and cloak as a signal that she was "reallv off this time.”

One of the most notable members of Sousa’s band—which is shortly to visit the colonies—is .Australian-born, Arthur Pryor, who is a native of Goulburn, New South Wales. Pryor, who is said to be the greatest trombone soloist in America, is able, it appears, to claim the additional distinction of being the best-paid bandsman in the world. He is an accomplished performer, and his execution is said to be marvellous.

Mr Walter Kilby, who visited New Zealand about three years ago, is making an effort to get to Europe to study, and a concert to enable him to do so" was recently given in the Melbourne Town Hall. Municipal music in London, as supplied by the London County Council, has been so successful that the scheme is to be materially extended during the coming winter. The Parks Committee of the Council recently suggested to the various borough councils that they should give the use of their halls gratuitously for this purpose Ten of these councils readily agreed to the proposal, four would not lend their halls, four had no halls to lend, and two others definitely opposed the idea. It has been recommended that a municipal orchestra of at least 53 members should be formed at a cost of .£2500 for twelve weeks; and it is probable that this will be decided upon by the Council. This will represent a distinct step in advance in the encouragement of municipal music.