"MOMENS MUSICALS."

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6861, 3 July 1909, Page 6

"MOMENS MUSICALS."

(By "Pedal Point.")

A PROMISING PIANISTS. The "British Australasian" ol quite, a few weeks ago tells ot tne suoceto of a young Sydney pianiste, Iris ue (JairesKego, in Benin. This young lady is the dauguter of Mr George de Canos-W-ego, who is the musical cruic on the "Syuney Daily Telegraph." It doesn't seem so long ago—out the have passed quickly—since I eaw mat pretty curlyheaded "kiddie" leave her mother (who was seated near the plattorm in tho Sydney Town Hall) and walk with all the smiling innocent confidence of happy childhood to the piano. She was so little tnat sho had to stand up at the keyboard. i'robably sho was not more than four years of age. But she played, with a charming cnildish abandonment of any attempt at effect, a dainty little "musette" written for her by her father. It was, of course, not an .exacting piece; it included no heavy chords and no octave passages, for her hands could not hava "stretched" them; but it did include some runs, chromatic and diatonic, demanding of the performer a great deal of digital dexterity. Ins finished her little piece in artless baby-like way, bowed, or nodded, her acknowledgments of the applause given to her, trotted down the steps, climbed up into her mothers lap, and—fell asleep! But this is what the pap.* mentioned says of her now: — "In Berlin last week Miss Iris de CairosKego, the young Sydney pianiste, played Pubinstein's D Minor Concerto for two pianos, with Mr Soate at the second piano, at her teacher's (11. Jonas) vorspiel. Her playing created a great impression, and her audience, which included the best known critics and society people, predict a big future for v her. _ Her brother, who has been studying singing also in Berlin, has made several successful appearances at concerts." * * • A CURIOUS AMBITION. Probably the proudest boy in Berlin at the present time is Franz von Vecsey, the wonderful violinist, who, during Queen Alexandra's recent visit to the German capital, was summoned to the palace to have a talk with her Majesty. This- was not tho first occasion, however, on which tho Queen had spoken to young Vecsey. for she took a great interest in him when he first went' to England a lew years ago. Master Vecsey is now nearly "fifteen, but he was a celebrity wlien'he was eleven, and could play then with the assurance and brilliancy of a master. Nevertheless, lio has always preserved the happy nature of a boy, and seldom practises more than two hours a day. He is the possessor, by the way; of a valuable violin, a perfect Stradivarius, which was given to him by a rich Berlin banker for whom he once plaved. When Franz was a small boy, it was his great ambition to wear long hair like Kubelik and Paderewski, and ( other famous musicians'. "If my hair, may not grow," he ence said, "then I will play "no more." But his mother overcame his desire for long hair by informing him that when he grew up he could do as he liked, but if he wore long hair then he would be mistaken for a little girl. That was enough for little Franz, nor there is- nothing that boys dislike more than to be thought the least bit "girlish" in anything they j do.

A BID FOR FAME.. Moritz Lutzen, the boy. pianist and conductor, has expressed nis intention of issuing a cnaliengo tnrough nis agent to Max DarewsJu lor JiUHw. The conditions of tuis content are that each of the competitors suali conduct and play a number of compositions-to be selected by an impartial committee of well-known musicians and critics. ; a * t PEAISE THAT IS PKI2ED. "Caruso is a great artist,'' a critic has written, "of that there is no doubt—but aside from.hu i>lace in, the lyric world, he is a tunny nttie .man wuo turns a child's serious face to the big outside world." It is just because ho is a "funny little man," with the most genial of natures, that the tenor is so popular. While he was staying at Naples some time ago, ,he was almost idolised on account of his bonhomie. He would enter a little restaurant and sing in the most glorious manner, between the courses, songs for which in opera he would be paid hundreds of pounds. The cook used to come from his kitchen, the padrone from his office, and all the women-folk of the place from their various occupations, and would stand around enraptured, and sometimes with moist eyes/ listening to the wonderful .notes. After the applause one day,. Caruso' turned to a friend, oaying: "That is,the praise I prize. If I. can draw tears from the eyes of the man who cooks my macaroni, then lam s\ire lam in voice. Women ■will weep because it is Caruso who sings, but the cook will only do so if his heart is really touched." Mr Oscar Hammerstein's new Boston Opera House, it is definitely announced, will be opened, on November Bth.