MUSICAL JOTTINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11226, 3 June 1922, Page 4

MUSICAL JOTTINGS

PERSONAL AND OTHER PARS. Miss Rosina Buckman and Mr Maurice D’Oisly, with their splendid supporting company, scored a great success on Thursday night. There is sure to be another crowded house to-night. The famous New Zealand singer was the guest of the Pioneer Club yesterday, and met with an enthusiastic reception. Details will be found on the “Women’s Page” of to-day's “Times.” Dame Clara Butt and Mr Kennerley Rumford, who returned in the Mauretania, after their success overseas, received an enthusiastic welcome. Both artists expressed themselves as being delighted with their trip. Amongst the musical treats promised by the Williamson-Tart combination is the appearance of Guy Maier and Lee Pattison in concerts for two pianos.

Each artist is said to be temperamentally the counterpart of the other, Maier all fire, Pattison a conservative classicist. It is stated that they play together as one in a most astonishing way, merging their individualities into an artistic ensemble. Mr Maier was born - at Buffalo, New York, and studied at the New England Conservatory at Boston before completing his musical education under Arthur Schnabel in Germany. He returned from that country with his Boston friend, Mr Pattison, in 1916. Their first public association in duo-piano concerts was interrupted in 1917, when America entered the war. Mr Maier served overseas as a Y.M.C.A. secretary and supervised various army entertainment parties. Mr Pattison is a native of Wisconsin, and during the war enlisted with the American army in France, and was appointed bandmaster of the Regimental Band of Paris. Miss Adelina Leon, the distinguished English 'cellist, who is appearing with .Miss Rosina Buckman and. Mr Maurice D’Oisly, is a pupil of Pablo Casalo, who has taken America and the Gontinent by storm, and is considered the. greatest living ’cellist. Miss Leon comes of a highly musipal family. Both her parents are well known .in musical circles, and .her grandmother was Ignace Mosoheles, who taught Beethoven. In England -She is regarded pa the- leading English lady ’cellist of the day. In London she is well known in society circles, and a fine portrait of her, painted by the well-known artist, T. C. Dugdale, Was hung a souplo of years ago at the Royal Academy. Miss Leon’s instru ment was presented to her by Fredciiek Verney, M.P., of Bucks, England, nephew of Sir Harry Verney, the King’s equerry. Those who have heard her playing will agree that sho has a very fine-toned ’cello. A novel attraction At the Auckland Winter Show will he a series of wireless telephone concerts. By arrangements with the management of Fullers’ Opera House, transmitting apparatus will be installed at the theatre, and on each evening of the show and two afternoons, the musical portions of the vaudeville programme will bo reproduced at the show. The many musioal enthusiasts who had been 'recently looking forward to the appearance of the Sistine Choir ia New Zealand will regret to learn that there is now no probability of the visit eventuating. Some weeks ago the conductor, Monsignor Rella, was instructed to return to Italy, and the tour had thus to be severely curtailed. The choral combination consists of two complete chamber music choirs, and it was hoped that only a portion of this worldrenowned musical force would be required to return to Rome. It now seems, however, that the full choir is to leave for Italy at the conclusion of the present Australasian tour. During one of the rehearsals by tho Verbruggheji Orchestra, the conductor (Mr Skalski) and a player exchanged angry words. 'Considering that ho had been grossly insulted, Mr Skalski declared that the player would not bo allowed to continue his duties in his present temper. The unfortunate incident eventually terminated amicably, and the Melbourne manager (Mr G. D. Portus, who is well-known in Wellington) was evidently relieved when he reported “All’s well.” But it was a narrow escape from a serious deadlock.

In Sydney the last four nights of the Sistine Choir, “before they sail for Europe,” were recently announced. It is generally regretted that this talent, ed combination ("the glory of Italy and the envy of the world,” as tho late King Edward said) could not visit New Zealand.

Referring recently to the visit to Australasia of Mischa Levitzki, Mr Daniel Mayer, the well-known concert director and music connoisseur, stated that it was originally intended that the distinguished pianist should giro only 25 concerts on his Australasian tour, but the public was so clamorous for more that the number became eventually increased to 44. Levitzki played in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, and Mr Mayer accompanied him to all those cities, with the exception of Adelaide, as he had to hurry hack to New York for business reasons. Although this was Mr Mayer’s first trip to this part of the world, Tie sent artists out here as long ago as 1894, when Madame Belle Cole, Mr Philip Newbury, and Madame Emily Spada had such an excellent reception that the two last-named stayed in Australia. Mr Mayer was hopeful that he would be able to again visit Australia and New Zealand with Madame D’Alvarez, the famous contralto, who is now commencing her tour, but his business arrangements have not permitted him to do so, and the tour is being conducted under 'the supervision of his assistant, Mr Edward W. Lowrey.