MUSIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1628, 13 May 1903, Page 30

MUSIC.

NOTES BY G STRING The Musical Festival is already sure of success, if determination and' enthusiasm can achieve that quality. A strong committee was elected the other day, and no doubt work will begin at once. There is not the slightest reason why tfie coming Festival should not be as great a success as the one last held in this town. Five months remain in which to prepare for it, and in that time a great deal may be done. Enthusiasm and public spirit are the factors which ought to be relied upon. Miss Bush, of Christchurch, who, on the advice of Madame Belle Cole, isi going to the Old Country to continue her studies, was given a farewell concert last! week |n Christchurch. Her voice is described jl'9 one of promise, and no doubt Miss Bush has good advice to support her in her* resolve to go Home. "Handel’s music uninteresting!” is the verdict of a correspondent of the Christchurch "Press,” who stays he is a subscriber to the Musical TJnion in that, city, end would like to see greater variety in Hie programmes in place of such works as ''Judas Maccabeus.” "The Runaway JJirl” or "The Belle of New York.” as another writer suggests, would probably suit his educatedi tastes. The friends of the society, instead of recognising the justice of his claim, threaten to fire off a -Beethoven.- symphony at his head at the next concert. A deputation of musicians and 1 others kfttqjviewed the Lord Mayor of Sydney, tend asked' him to accord a public reception to Mark Hambourg. the pianist ; but Mr Hughes refused to accede to the request. He said he had found that a> reception by the Lord Mayor was by many people regarded as nothing more than an advertisement, and ha could not devote the amount of time to the reception of professional gentlemen. however distinguished they may be.

Miss Marie Narelle, the Sydney singer who has bnt lately appeared in, London, received quite an ovation at the St. James’s Hall Irish' ballad concert on March 17th. She wag • recalled) no less than ten times after singing ‘‘Barney O’Hea,” and was forced to give a double encore. The names of such favourites as Mr Santley, Ben Davies. Plunkett Greene and Madame Kirk by Luna were on the programme.

Herr Gottfried Galston, ‘who visited New Zealand with M. Gerardy played at a recent concert given by Miss Marie Hall in London, but suffers some adverse criticism in the columns of “Musical News,'” which states that he seemed insufficiently prepared, and was “altogether too* loud and coarse."

A useful hint to conduc-.;rs is conveyed in a story which the lai:e Herr Meyer Lutz frequently told. He used to relate that on one occasion, whim he was conducting a performance of “Maritana.’’ the leader of the orchestra was particularly bad, so when it cwme to his violin solo Lutz accidentally J'or the purpose !) knocked over the poor man’s desk. Then while the unfortunate fiddler was groping on the ground for hi 9 music JL-utz started the solo on the harmonium.

A room has been set apart in a Vienna

museum for relics of Schubert. It is said that one of the rnsst ' interesting things in the collection is the composer's piano, small, insignificant and only five and a half octaves in compass.

A [Qondon critic institutes; a comparison between the playing of Miss Marie Hall and that of Kubelik:—"ln astonishing technique there is little to choose tween. her and [Kubelik. The latter is, perhaps, just a trifle more sure and easy in the accompliment of wonderful technical feats. On the other hand Miss Hall has a more beautiful tone, and she has greater . nervous and emotional power.” The critic adds the following amusing comment:—"Were she a foreign young gentleman with long hair and inscrutable eyes she would soon be the darling of duchesses who. it is well known, are such connoisseurs of violin playing! If she were a man Miss Hall would. be the lion, of the season; being only a girl she will not be made so much fuss* of. If ladies may run after young male violinists, why should not men take up female artists with the same enthusiasm ?” It is an •astonishing fact that Miss Hall is now only eighteen years of age, and that until some two months ago her nam e Avas practically unknown. "Jean Michel.” a new opera, composed by M. Albert Dupuis, has been, successfully produced at La Monnaie, Brussels’. The composer had already won. name and fame, although he still only 26 years of age. The poem of "Jean Michel,” written by the collaborateurs,, MM. George Gamier and Henry Charlesi Vallier. deals with psychological problems, and is not unlike that of "La Boheme” in general character. Dr. SainUSaens has written a new violoncello concerto, which he has. dedicated to M. Joseph Hollman, who- recently played it with great success in. Berlin. •The late Dr. Joseph Parry died a poor man, and a memorial fund to provide means of support for the widow has been started in Wales. Mr Charles Manners has promised to- perform the composer’s last opera, '‘The Maid of Cfen-Ydfa,” in aid of the fund.

A London correspondent of the "Australasian” observes-that if all Australian vocal debutantes came before the London public as well equipped as Miss Elyda Russell, of Sydney, there would be more satisfaction among critics: and managers, and less heart-burning among the singers themselves. Miss’ Russell has studied closely for several years, and when she made her bow she; had already gained considerable knowledge in several foreign, languages, besides her accomplishments in music. The generous approval of the London critics, and aw assured chance in thei future, are her reward. Miss Russell is a niece of Mr P. N. Russell, who endowed the School of Engineering at the Sydney University to the extent of <£so.000.

An evening concert, in celebration of Mr Santley’s jubilee, was given by Miss Adelina Feria, at the Queen’s Rooms, Glasgow, recently. Mr Santley sang all old favourites, such as Gounod’s ‘'Maid of Athens,” "To Anthea,” "Ruddier than the Cherry,” '‘Non piu andrai,” "Simon the Cellarer,” and! as an encore "Here’s a Health iinto His Majesty,” all as he alone can sing them. Miss Adelina Feria.. who gave some songs, Las a- powerful mez-zo-soprano voice, which she uses with some skill. An interviewer of the "Irish Times” gives some impressions; of Mr John Sousa, the "Band King,” seen through Hibernian eyes:—"His face is musical. The keen, dark eye. the lofty brow, framed in with hair close-cut, and the black, striking features, instinct with, expression, give the notion of an active mind, a, nervous temperament, a nature -ini which sensitiveness and artistic feeling blend.” Amongst other things, he told! the interviewer that he had found in his world-wide experience all jpeople liked and appreciated, "good and clever” music —"clever marches, coon songs, cake-walks and all kinds of popular selections.”