MUSIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1676, 13 April 1904, Page 29

MUSIC.

NOTES BY S STRING

Herr Friedentbal 1 . who is revisiting New Zealand after a tour in Europe, played with, artistic judgment the J'Ap-passiona-ta Sonata” of Beethoven and the Chopin Sonata in B flat minor at his Wellington concerts last week. He is heard at his best in the light delicate music of the Chopin nocturne or study, but at the same time be displays a much stronger technique than when he was previously in the colony, and his execution in the “Tannhauser” 'overture and the “Storm Scene” from “The Flying Dutchman” was generally very effective. The visit of an artist like Herr Friedentiial is of great educational value to pianoforte students, and one could have wished for fuller houses at his recitals. Mr Eugene D’Albert again appeared in London at a recent Symphony Concert at Queen’s Hall. Mr D’Albert is ’an Englishman, who was not honoured in Ins own country until long after lie' had made a reputation abroad. There is naturally a desire now to make up for this neglect, and the audience at the Symphony Concert was as enthusiastic as any virtuoso could desire after Mr D'Albert’s very powerful performance of Liszt’s Concerto in E flat;. The “Australasian” speaks in outspoken terms about, the work of the Royal Metropolitan Liedertafel, of Melbourne, at a recent concert: —-“The distinction of this society lies in its adherence to the true “liedertafel” idea —choral singing, by male voices alone, and the members appear to have arrived at a. standard at which they seem content to stop. Certainly their work does not improve; and the listener is more often impressed by the marvellous endurance of the vocal chorus than by the finish ax the technique, the quality of the tone, or balance in the ensemble-. In any piece that makes exacting demands upon the tenor voices the gentlemen in that section simply tear their voices to shreds apparently in the vain endeavour to drown the bass' choir. The result is a. cruel laceration to all cultured ears.” Miss Elyda Bussell, a voting Sydney soprano-, has attracted some notice in Paris, where, at Pleyel’s rooms, she gave a song recital. In selections from Grieg, Faure, and Brahms, says “La Figaro,’ the young singer from the Anlinodes was warmly applauded. Signor Bandeigger, the famous London, singing master, who has had .an .exceptionally wide experience, warmly combats the oft-repeated assertion that “English is not a good language to sing in.” In a recent interview lie said: —■ “English, is a good language to sing, no matter what is asserted to the contrary. Personally I class English next to Italian as the best language for singing. But the worst o-f the matter is that so few speak it properly. Quite unfortunately the English do not study English diction, yet, they should study it as they study spelling and grammar. It was my fortune onoe to listen to a series of 1 ectuves bv a distinguished 1 English clergyman. When he was thro-ue’h T congratulated him. ... on the diction of their delivery. It was the mirity of that diction, absolutely musical, that h|ad charmed me. Avoid conversational English in singing, for that is English in its worst form. Keep your ears open, hear the beginning and end of every syllable. . . . . English is music if you only know h-ow to speak it. The Italian, as a singing language. I place of course, first; frlio English next: French, pretty for small songs, and distinsair'shed by elegance and refinement of diction. I place third; and German,, a great language and forcible, I place fourth. But a tender song is not good sung-in GKrman; for songs of that typo the English language is far more beautiful, if proi> a r |7 y' spoken.” A violinist, Fran, 7 ein Elvira Schmucklen. made her London debut at a recent B-ichter concert. She is a native of Dusseldorf and only just eighteen years of age. She has alread- achieved success in Berlin and other German towns. A festival organised by Mr Johann Kruse, was to have begun at-thie Queen’s Hall, London, on Anvil 9th, under the direction of Herr Weingartne/r. The famous Sheffield chorus has been engaged fox' Beethoven’s Choral Symphony and other choral works. Mr Mark Hambourg was to be the pianist and among tihe names of the vocalists announced was that of Therose Maften, of Dresden and Bayreuth, who has been heard but little in England. The programmes, except for one Wagner concert,, were not to be confined to any one composer.