MUSIC

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 11

MUSIC

(By "G" String.)

The No wbu ry-Sp ada Concert Company commenced its tour of Australia and New Zealand at the Town Hall, Sydney, last iSaturday evening. Amongst *r Nowbury’s contributions to the A ogrammo were "Lend Me Your Aid/' "Wherever You Walk,” and "Come into the Gordon, Maud." Madame Spada included in her selection of items for the evening "Angels Ever Bright and Fair" and "Nymphes et Sylvains.” The prices of admission were ss, 3s and 2e,

Thirty new operas by Italian composers were performed in the various Italian theatres in 1907. Those which may'obtain lasting success are "Paolo and Francesca.” by Luigi Mancinolli; ''Gloria," by Francesco (Jilea; "La Nave Rosea" (' The Red Ship"), by Seppilli; and "Marcella," by Giordano.

I have to acknowledge receipt of a parcel of music from Messrs Chappell and Co., music publishers, 11 and 12, Rialto, Collins street, Melbourne, and London and New York. "Master and Man" is a merry and catchy song by Robert Conuigsby Clarke; the words being by Fred E. Vveatherley. "Someone's Heart, words and music by Paul Rubens. This is not up to Mr Rubens’ Vest, but n song for all that. "Bright is the Ring of Woods’’ is a delightful setting by Samuel Liddell of K. L.' Stevenson a charming words. "Christmas Bells"; words of this pretty song are from a poem by Longfellow, the music being by Samuel Liddle. It is a tuneful ballad that should commend itself to contraltos/ "The Drum Major,” as its name denotes, is a martial rang, which is sure to be popular with amateurs. The mueic is by Ernest Newton, the words being by Weatherley.

In a libel aclion recently brought against Dr W. H. Cummings, principal of the Guildhall School of Music, by Mr Tforspool, a teacher of singing, ami which was eventually decided in the defendant's favour, an innncnee hodv of evidence was brought forward by Dr Cummings in support of bis accusations against the plaintiff's so-called method of teaching. One of the most interesting witnesses examined was Dr Mihom Does, the great throat specialist, who has had under b'e CTO at-- ost every famous singer of the past 30 years,’ including Data, iielm, aci-nina, a, ,u ---

zzini, Clara Butt, and many others. Hie highly technical evidence was i.ort.i a good many ordinary singing lea-ons, and incidentally, commenting on the extraordinary quality of Melba's voice, he said : —"The most clastic vocal cord of to-day is that of Madame Melba, and ther is no artist with more resonance and less nasal quality.” By an extraordinary mischance, the papers printed “Albani” for "Melba”—-but made the necessary correction next day.

"Salome,” which has just had its fiftieth performance in Berlin, is to be

sung in Warsaw in Polish and in Naple* in Italian. Th© Merry Makers (The Hollanders), who begin a tour of Australia and New Zealand under the direction of Messrs month, have been specially coached for their combination entertainment by that famous comedian, Mr G. P. Hiintly, whose knowledge of Australasian conditions and Australasian tastes should certainly bo invaluable. Before leaving Glasgow in order to act as conductor of the Sydney Philharmonic Society, Mr Joseph Bradley ( was given a farewell banquet by the Glasgow Choral Union, -over which he presided for twenty years. Mr Philip Newbury thinks Caruso tho greatest teoior of this or any. other ago. "There is /only one Caruso," he says, "and only one Clara Butt, and you should be grateful that you have heard her in ail her glory." Messrs J. and N. Tait announce the engagement of Mischa Elman, the wonderful boy prodigy, whose violin playing has electrified th© musical world. Franz Lobar, tho composer of "Tho Merry Widow/' has been compelled by his physicians to go to a hospital io recover from nervous prostration. He has abandoned his plan of travelling through Germany to give concerts of his compositions.

Kubelik, who is to appear at the Sydney Town Hall in May, in a recent interview with "Musical America,” expressed bis _ belief that the artistic tone of the United States had greatly risen since hi■; previous visit to that country five years ago. Tho violinist remarked that the idea is no ; longer prevalent in Europe that an coceutrio-lookiug person mill a wierldly spelled name and a smart press agent can arouse enthusiasm and bear av/ r ty the shekels of the alleged music-loving masses. "From all reports," he added, "the demand for music—much more music.—is not confined to the United States. Australia has also undergone musical awakening, and developed ..largo public capable of appreciating the interpreiation of tho works of tho great masters. Music is growing more and more universal, and its appeal is no longer to any particular country or nationality."

It has been said that singers die twice, the first time when they lose their voice. The eminent French baritone, M. Faure, died vocally at the Monnaie Opera in Brussels thirty years ago; yet ho was present at the recent periormanoe of "bee Troyeus," aged seventy-eight, and onjoying excellent health.