MUSIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1618, 4 March 1903, Page 32

MUSIC.

MOTES BY 0 STRING Conductors in England apparently receive nearly as substantial salaries as those in New Zealand. Dr. Richter has just been offered the ccncluctorship of a new popular opera house being built at Vienna, and the salary is stated at a thousand a year with a pension. One who is in a position to know sa3'S that his British engagements at Manchester, London and elsewhere are worth treble this sum. In that case Dr. Richter will no aoubt continue his British engagements. Associations of lady quartet players aro growing in evidence in England. The once famous Shinner Quarter gave some excellent, and, indeed, notable performances 1 in London, as well as in some provincial towns. New, it is stated, another association is formed under the title, “The Nora Clench String Quartet." The members are Miss Nora Clench, Miss Lucy Stone, Miss Cecilia Gates and Miss May Mukle. These ladies are all notable players, and will no doubt soon b& beard in the concert rooms.

A singular fact is revealed in the annual statistical survey of operas performed in Germany. The most popular work in the season 1.801-2 was not one of Wagners operas, or the “Fi cl olio" of Beethoven, or something of that kind; but “Cavalleria Ru.Rican,a," which has first place with 543 performances. Italian opera is not dead, after all. M. Massenet has written! a pianoforte concerto which was to have been played for the first time at one of the Paris Conservatoire concerts in February. It is the first work in this form which he has composed. The Meiningen orchestra, which has just concluded a series of concerts in London, about which ’the city has been talking, included the symphonies of Brahms in its programmes, and i& said to have given these a new reading which revealed the romantic side of the works.

There is a popular idea that Wagner and his music are not appreciated by the people. The experience of the MoodyManners Company in Edinburgh and Glasgow hardly confirms such an impression; for the Wagner nights wore the best attended of all the performances. “The Bohemian Girl” and other wellknown operas, however, drew very large audiences, a fact mentioned by Mr Charles Manners in a speech at Edinburgh after a, performance of “The Bohemian Girl." Since the- last time the company were in that city, he said, .they had. met with great success in London; but it Avould be impossible almost for them to carry on as they did there without the support that was contributed in the provinces,— notably in Edinburgh, Glasgow', Dublin Birmingham and Liverpool. No doubt 'they brought nothing new. Lovers of opera seemed to be still content with the old favourites, such as “Tlie Bohemian Girl,” which had been so acceptably received on that occasion; therefore they had made little change in their repertoire. But as soon as the public indicated that they wanted something new, they Avon Id endeaA r our to meet the demand. The insurance of voices appears to be a comparatively new idea. It is said to haA r e been originated by Madame Patti, Avhose voice is underAvritten for <£looo a performance, or for <£Booo for total loss of voice. Only tAvice has she draAA'n the insurance, though she is nearly 60 years old. Mr Yusliin, the Eussian .tenor, hps just insured his voice for <£soo, Avliich is not a large snni for a tenor. The right arm of Kubelik, the violinist, is said to be protected by a policy for <£lo,ooo. The only question is, Avliat about bis left arm, AA'hich is just as necessary fox- a violinist. The insurance companies aaTII have some curious problems to settle if this thing goes on.

.A neAV tenor has appeared in Naples, Signor Giorgini, avlio is said to< have gained an immediate and unparalleled source ss at the great San Carlo Theatre. He is described as the greatest tenor in Italy, yet eight months before his appearance he was a fish-liaAA'ker until some musical enthusiast heard his voice, gave- him lessons and presented him to the public. Signor Arditi has Avritten another waltz song, “Felicita,” Avhich he has dedicated to King EdAvard. In the neAV Savoy opera, “A Princess of - Kensington,'- the “book” of which is

founded on a fairy legend, Miss Agnes Fraser was chosen to enact the title role* and her brother, Mr Alec Fraser, to be the Oberon. To Mr Walter Passmore was assigned the part of “a modern Puck." Report speaks favourably of both libretto and music, written respectively by Captain Basil Hood and Mr Edward German. Herr Friedcnthal, who visited New Zealand a few years ago, lias returned to Berlin from a tour through Europe. He will probably after revisiting London, come to the colonies again for a series of recitals.

Herr Kubelik continues liis career cL success in Russia. He has given three recitals in St.. Petersburg and two in Moscow, all of which were sold out in a few hours. By command he played at tho Winter Palace*before the Czar and Czarina and the Imperial family. The Czar repeatedly shook him warmly by the hand, and congratulated him upon his universal success. Herr Kubelik also played by command before tho Dowager Empress at the Gatscliina Palace. It is said that there ha.s been no musical success in Russia approaching Kubelik’s since the most brilliant days of Rubinstein. Amongst the letters of introduction which the members of the New Zeaiand Band will take Home with them will be one to Lieutenant Geo. Miller. Mas. Bac., R.A.M., Bandmaster of the Royal Marine Light Infantry Band. Lieutenant Miller, who has been Royal Bandmaster at Osborne House for 23 years, is said to be the first bandmaster in the British Army to take a musical degree. The New Zealand Band will take letters to him from his sister, Mrs Miller, of Wellington, wife of Mr P. H. Miller, of the firm of Miller and Wilson, and liis cousin, Mr Edmund Montgomery, of Montgomery's Company. Lieutenant Miller will no doubt do a great deal to make the stay of the New land Band in England agreeable. Tho second conceit given by the Masters Trovvell at the Nelson School of Music wa.s like the first highly successful. Those who were present were delighted with the ’cello playing of Master Thomas Trowell, whose youth is forgotten as one listens to him. He played Goltermann’s “Concerto in A minor," a “Souvenir" by Servsais, and three items bracketed—“Le Cygne," by Saint-Saens, a serenade from a suite by Herbert, and the dainty “Papillon" of David Popper. His encore pieces were Schubert's “La Jeune Mere," Schumann's “Abendlied," and an Hungarian Rhapsody by Jeratt. Master Garnet Trowell played a number of vioiin solos with marked skill. These two boys deserve well of the land of their birth, for they will undoubtedly do us honour in the. future. It is understood that they will go to Europe shortly to continue their studies.