MUSIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4824, 29 November 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

MUSIC.

(By *G” STRING.) “Hero and Leander,” C. H. Lloyds dramatic cantata, ana Stanford** ’Tt©\engo" were penurmed by me Auckland unorai society at uio society's, concert a xew mguts ago. Alisa Marictmuo Taylor and Mr Hamilton nudges were tnc somists ju *Tiero amt Beamier." Dr Thomas was the conductor, and M, Wiiimion loader of tuo orchestra. Miss Alice Hollander appears as one of tho “Gallery of Ueiobnlies" in a recent issue ot uvo London “Geiulemuu's Jour* u ai." Titer© is a portrait ot Miss Hollander, ami tho uccoiitpanyiug sketch. t,uys:— “Thoro can bo no uoubt that tins charming young .singer will cause a sensation hero equal u> that she produced by her wondenul contralto voice in Australia and New Zealand. Her recent concerts m tit. James's Hall must have justified to the full her expectations- as well ns those of her friends, lor it is httlo to say that she was rapturously received. Miss Hollander is a bountiful young lady of tho true Australian type, and w© are heartily glad to *hmk that she made up her mind to come to England.' Tho article states that Miss Hollander, who was born in New South 'Wales, developed ut the ago of nine years tho exceptional voice which has since made her famous. “Alter three years' study sho was sufficiently advanced to undertake, a tour through New Zealand, where she was enthusiastically received. Upon her return, to Sydney she resumed her studies, and subsequently again went on tour, commencing at the Town'Hall at Melbourne, and visiting most of the principal towns. Proceeding to Sydney, she sang beforo 3000 people, and started upon her second Now Zealand tour, which, lasted two months." Then gho went to England. Miss Hollander's friends hero will receive with interest the news of her success in tho metropolis.” In tho same “Gallery of Celebrities," by tho way, appears a sketch of Air Ben Davies, tho celebrated singer, with.a fine portrait. The. principal conductor of the MoodyManners Opera Company is Herr Richard Eckhold. who was conductor of tho Carl Rosa Opera Company for many years. Herr Eckhold was born at Schaudau, in Germany, in 1855, and received his musical education at the Dresden Conservatoire. entering that institution when, only twelve years of ago. He joined tho Royal Opera at Dresden when he was 17, and three years later became first violin. He was afterwards solo violinist and second conductor of the orchestra of the Grand Duke of Oldenburg. He went to England in *895 as conductor of tho Carl Rosa Company. Though the cable message on. the subject has given no particulars concerning Madame Melba's appearance in grand opera in Melbourne on Saturday night, it is likely that the other leading parts were taken-by M. Louis Arens, tenor; Signor Bensuade, baritone; and Mr Lempricre Pringle, bass. The occasion was a memorable one,- and the audience was crowded and enthusiastic. Aliss Constance Usher, tho young Svdney pianist, has .returned to that, city after four years' study at . the Leipsio Conservatorium. The season of the ’ Aloody-Alannera Opera Company, at Covent Garden, has been a remarkable success, judging from the comments of the English papers. The observations of the_ ‘Musical News" may bo taken aa typical: “Tho singing and acting 'of Madame Fanny Moody, Aliss Anna Hickisch, Miss Marie Alexander, -Messrs John Coates, Philip Brozel, and Charles Alaimers—to mention only a few of many pood performers—have been nuile up to 'the Grand Opera standard. There has been room for improvement in # the orchestra, but the skill and enthusiasm of their conductor, Herr Richard Eckhold, have led to some very fair tviformances. It is a long time tince such, an excellent chorus has been seen and - beard on the boards of Covent Garden. Op-eras which so often lose much- of their picturesqueness and movement as well as their musical effect, owing,to tuneless, listless, and unlovely sneers, have pained enormously by the tunefulness, intelligence, and spirit which have marked the performances of the- Aloody-Alanners chorus." Ono of the operas produced during tho season of the Moody-Manners Company wag “The Lily of KilJarnoy," Sir Julius Benedict's charming work. AlucK of the picturesqueness and dramatic effect of Boucicault's play is preserved in the opera, and the music is delightful. Air. Joseph O’Mara, who took tho part of Myles, brought down*the house by his delivery cf the capital song, “It is a charming girl I love." and the beautiful number, assigned to tho “Colleen Bawn/' “I'm alone," sang to perfection by Ala-dome Fanny Moody, also received ah enthusiastic encore. Air FrancisAlaclennan began the famous air,' “Eileen Afavourneen, I see thee before me," in so modest a manter that ho was scarcely heard. But he afterwards improved in his task, and in tho second verse did justice to the melody which was such a favourite with Sims. Reeves/ Air Dover invested the part of. Danny. Man. with considerable pathos, and earned an encore for his singing of "The Colleen Bawn." * Tho news that Mr Alfred Hill is not to remain in Wellington after all, is unexpected; and ono can only expressthe hope that even at late nour it is not too late to urge him to reconsider his decision to getti© in Palmerston North. Mr Hill's attainments are worthy of a udder field than h© will find anywhere in this coiony; and if h© is to stay in New Zealand, he ought to bo in tho capital city. At latest English advices, Madame. Patti was to commence a concert touh through the United Kingdom. Mr Mark Hambourg, the piaanist, hoc started for America, and after giving a series of concerts there, will com© direct to Australia, and perhaps thence to New Zealand. Madame Suzanne Adams, the well known opera singer, and her husband, Mr Leo Stern, will make a six month*' concert tour through the" United States, and will return to London in Alay, for the season. Air Leo Stern takes with him the celebrated Baudiot Stradivarius, valued at £2OOO, whch ho has just acquired. President Roosevelt has a predilection for tho popular air “Garryowen," and on a recent visit to Detroit/ho asked that it should be played during the meeting in the Cincinnati Alusic Hall. Through some misunderstanding the leader of the orchestra - replied that his musicians could not comuty with tho request; whereupon Mr Roosevelt advanced to the footlights and said, “I was trying to get the orchestra to play ‘Garryowen/ That was Custer's favourite. Custer always said if he could get his band to piny ‘Garryowen'■ ■ with ; ouick time, his soldiers would charge the Evil One with all his hosts. It seems ! that the orchestra does not know ‘Garry- ! owen/ They must practise up a bit, arid ' nlav it next time X am in Cincinnati." Shouts of laughter responded through the •hall, and the loader of the orchestra collapsed. The President had, however, barely concluded when the wild, weird strains of “Garryowen" burst from the orchestra. The president's hand went up into J.e oir with a gesture of delight, and when the tune was ended the crowd applauded the orchestra, - • * -