MUSIC

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1636, 8 July 1903, Page 30

MUSIC

NOTES BY G STRING

The visit of Mr Mark Hambourg, who gave his first concert in Wellington on Saturday night, has afforded the Wei. lington public an opportunity of hearing a great pianist- The enthusiasm displayed by the crowded audiences from the outset was very marked, the people loudly cheering the player at the end of the demonstrative "Midsummer Night’s Dream’’ music, which is full of astounding difficulties, in which Air Hambourg seemed to revel. The company is fortunate also in having as one of its members Mr John Lemmone, the director of the concerts. His reputation as. a flauL. ist extends beyond the colonies, an d New Zealanders welcomed the chance of hearing again his excellent flute-playing. An interesting communication has reached me from Mr John N. Tart, who. writing on May 23rd, states that Mdlle. Dolores gave five concerts m ban trancisco to excellent audiences. Concerts are to be given in Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago and then in New York. Grand opera appears to pay well in America. According to the balance sheet, the Grau Company, which recently finished it s season in New York, has made a profit of 100 per cent, on a capital of <£25,000 in 20 weeks. Mr Henry J. Wood lias engaged, for his orchestral concerts in the Queen s Hall, London, Miss Violet Ludlow, a soprano singer, of Newcastle, New South Wales. Miss Ada C’rossley’s recent tour m A_merica was a great success, and prol>ably she will return there after her visit to Australia* She is to leave Loudon for this quarter of the world in Aiigust. The most renowned of American ban joists, Mr Alfred A. Farland, ha, been playing in London. A feature of his performance is that he avoids commonplace "breakdowns" and similar pieces, and plays the works of the great composers in a manner which is regarded as unique in the United States. Years ago the banjo was looked upon as a toy; Air Farland lias made it a concert instrument.

A most interesting announcement is made by the "Menestrel," which states that a young musician of Gratz, in Styria, has found in a parcel of music otherwise without value, the full score of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony. The parcel wa. s in the possession of on old domestic, and the score is inscribed with the words "Franz a son Anselmo." The Symphony, it is further announced, will be played at Gratz during the approachingl reason. As the "Menestrel points out, there seems to be an air of probability about this rumour, for Schubert had a friend, the poet Huettenbrenner who was a Styrian, and ended his life at Gratz, after having obtained an important post under the Austrian Government. Schubert set a number of his poems to Sir Conan Doyle, who is President of the Boys’ Empire League, some months since offered a prize for the best song calculated to promote and a worthy Imperial spirit in British boys all over lie world. He has now awarded it to the Bev. Joseph McKim, of Swmliope ■Rectory, Lincolnshire. . . It is stated that during the visit of President Loubet to England, a gala performance will be given in his honour at the Covent Garden Opera.

Madame Augusta Holmes, the late distinguished composer of Paris, has bequeathed to the library at Versailles, all her OAvn collection of published Avorks, Avith the exception of books and scores inscribed Avith authors* dedications. Her musical manuscripts are left to the National Conservatoire of Music. A good many musical memories are attached to the Avails of the Lyceum Theatre, London, recently offered for sale. The house has been associated of recent years Avith the long series of great dramatic ventures made upon its stage in spoken drama, by Sir Henry living. It Avas, however, for English opera that the theatre Avas first opened on July 14th, 1834,, having been built at a cost of <£35,000, from the design of one Samuel Beazley. Avho was also, the architect of the former theatre, built in 1816, and burned doA\ r n in 1830. There was also a still earlier house Avhich Avas closely connected Avith music. . This, says “The Builder,” stood in the Strand near the existing south-east corner of Wellington street. It was opened as an academy by the Incorporated Society of British Artists. It Avas bought in 1790, by one Lingham, of the Strand, “a breeches-maker,” for musical performances, and rebuilt on an extended site in 1795-6 for Dr Arnold, tlie composer, Avhose son enlarged the premises in 1809 for his English Opera and Ballet House.