MUSIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4871, 24 January 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

MUSIC.

(From tha “New Zealand Mail.”) Miss Loniso Crouchcr, of the Nelson School of Music, who is on her way to Europe to continue her studies, is described us one of the most promising young musicians born and brought up in die Nelson district.. According to the iNelsou "Mail,” Miss Croueher took violin lessons from Miss Kidsuu mow Mrs Wilson); later on she was taught by Herr ilandke, and afterwards by Herr Beamier (the present principal of the Nelson School ol Music). Slit- has also studied the pianoforte, receiving lessons Iroar Miss Duff, and latterly from Herr Lcmiuer. Miss Croueher, before leaving Nelson, gave a farewell concert at which she played very successfully a number of excellent solos —including for the pianoforte Beethoven’s “Sonata Pathetiquo” and two Chopin pieces m polonaise aud fantaisio), aud for the violin the Spohr "Concerto in A minor,” Beethoven's “Romance.in F,” and a caprice by Viouxtomps. Slio takes with her the good wishes of scores of friends for her success in her future career in the world of music.

A pared of music has readied us from Messrs Enoch and Sous, London, which. Includes songs by Chaminado. Liza Lehmann and Charles AVilleby. It also includes a fine composition by the great Belgian violinist Eugene Ysaye. This work is entitled "Chant d’Hiver,” and. is a tone poem for solo violin, accompanied by a small orchestra.

The AA 7 agncr Festival of this year will comprise five cycles, beginning August Sth and ending September 14th, and each cycle will consist of eight performances, "Lohengrin," "Tristan," "Tnimhauscr,” "Die Meistorsingcr,” and "Her King” (four dramas). There will be but one price of admission—2o marks (111) —for each placo at each performance. Miss Hetty Holroyd,. the young Sydney soprano, continues to make satisfactory progress in Italy. Following up her recent sutcoss in oratorio, under Horn. Pcrosi at Milan, she lias appeared as Qilda in "Bigoletto,” at Turin, and, according to the cable, won the marked approval of the audience. A significant public protest has been made in Paris against the inclusion in concert programme of performances by the acrobats of the piano. The protest is all the more important., because of the occasion on which it was made. This was at one of the classical concerts of M. Chevillard. who has succeeded the Into M. Lamoureaux, and whose concerts are the greatest <events of their kind in France. From a private letter we learn that Master Victor Harris, the young violin player who has recently attracted much public attention, is about to proceed to London to prosecute his studios. Mr Armcs Beaumont, after forty years’ work on the concert platform, on the operatic stage, and in oratorio, has decided to retire finally from the public practice of his profession. On hearing of his resolve. Madame Melba, m “he most generous spirit, offered to sing for her compatriot, with whom she often appeared in former years, if he arranged to give a farewell concert. The famous primn donna has left for AVestcrn Australia, and the concert will take place on her return, before she sails for New Zealand. The Nelson Amateur Operatic Society has closed its year with a credit balance,of about ,£3B. Miss Maud McCarthy played recently with' the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and scored a success in Brahms’s violin concerto. The young violinist is said to have recently gained greater strength, of tone. Mr Philip Newbury re-appeared in London at the Brard concert in the Albert Hall in November, singing "The Message” and “Tom Bowling." At this concert also Miss Marie .Narelle, of Sydney, was one of the singers. Miss Alice Hollander is making headway in England, and has had many appearances at provincial concerts, as well as several in London itself. She sang at Mr George Grossmith’s benefit at the Queen’s Hall on November 4th. and as a result of singing to Mr Percy Harrison, the well known impresario, was to appear at Mdnie. Adelina Patti’s concert at Bradford on December 17th. Miss Hoi-' lander recently enjoyed a three mouths’ stay in Paris. Madame Melba has allowed all the artistes she brought out with her to Australia (excepting Signorina Sassoli, the clever young harpist) to depart on the recent conclusion of their engagements. She hhs now selected Miss Elvn Eogers, a new Melbourne contralto, and Mr AValter Kirby, tenor (who hails from New Zealand) as vocalists for the remaining Australian’ and Maoriland concerts. Mr H. Stoneham. who is familiar in New Zealand as a capable flautist, has been playing Madame Melba’s obbligatos at recent concerts.

The proposal of the South Australian Agent-General (Mr H. A. Grainger) to form an Australian Musical Society in London, with a view to introducing performers to the public through the medium of special concerts, has not been favourably received by some Australian writers; lout I must say that I can sea no valid objection tb the proposal. Such a scheme will materially assist the youthful musician who has. brains and talent but neither money nor influence, and if nothing else could be said" in its favour this would be quite sufficient to commend it. Of course, those who form the controlling power in these concerts .will have to exercise much tact and patience in gently staving off tho Australians who find their way Home under the belief that they can sing or play or both, when in fact they can do neither; but I should imagine that in this task the authorities will receive powerful assistance .from the audiences themselves. After all, though the public is very frequently wrong-headed, it is not mulish, and it invariably follows a good lead.

| Mdllo. Antonia Dolores will follow ! 11i c*. Me 1 hr. to Pert}) and New Zealand, giving farewell concerts. 1 If. Gustave Garcia, a member of the | great teaching family, has just provided i a plausible explanation for tbroatiness : in singers:—"A guthiral or throaty voice,” ;he says, "is the result of sound pinched and strangled, which enable* the singer to produce high notes, although not without force end violence The consequence is that after long rehearsals or performane.es the thxont can no longer hear the strain. With the proper studies 111" voice would settle down within its proper range, end probably prove to he a baritone. Tenor voices— I mean real ones —are freouentlv thrnatvj especially when the language is guttural; but with application and study this dei feet can he overcome. A fine, vigorous voice is always a rare article. Tt alwe.vs has been, nor is it likclv. that matters will improve unless young voices are treated mere judiciously.. Manuel Garcia often said that young singers ought not to study declamatory music until thev had attained the age of twenty-five.” Mr Sousa is to bring three soloists to Australia for his baud concerts. These are Miss T>telie Ueblene. a popular American soprano; Miss Grace Jenkins, ((violinist; and Mr Arthur Pryor, a solo trombone-player.