Music and Musicians

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 11

Music and Musicians

Oramophones and Records

BIG ARTISTS SOME PERSONAL DETAILS. CORTOT, ALFRED, PIANIST {Pronounced Kor-toh). Alfred Cortot was born at Nyon. He went to Paris in ISS4> and entered the Conservatoire Jater. where he won the following prises:—First "Medaille do J.pliege, 1391 • first pianoforte medal, 1892; and highest prize and the only one awarded in 1896. From 1897 to 1901 he devoted himself chiofly to. conducting, and was choral conductor s,t Bayreuth. He produced and conducted "Wagner’s "Ring' r in 1802, this being the first performance in Faria of Wagner's tetralogy. He also- conducted some Colonne concerts. His career as solo pianist, in which vocation he is now chiefly known, began in 1897 at a Colonne concert. Since then he has played continually in all the leading Continental countries, and also, in England r*nd the United States of America where he has been acclaimed as the greatest pianist who has ever visited the ‘States. Cortot's distinguishing characteristics as a pianist are difficult to describe, since he combines the best qualities of many different schools. A superb technique, extraordinary brilliancy, great power of tone, and Temarkable delicacy of touch, strike the listener in turn, whilst his sense, of rhythm and the beauty of his phrasing are alike conspicuous ; but above all is to be placed the rare quality which enables him to pass from one composition to another, investing each with a separate character in complete harmony with the composer's individuality, at the same time preserving his . own strong personality and holding the audience spellbound bv the farce of His genius. His records include the Chopin "Berceuse," Saint-Saen's "Etude en frome d« valse," Ravel's "The Fountain," Chopin's Polonaise Op. 74, No. 5, and the "Rigoletto'* Paraphrase (Liszt). CULP, JULIA, CONTRALTO (Pronounced Koolp).

Madame Culp was born in Holland and received her first musical training in the Amsterdam Conservatoire» afterwards she studied with Madame Gerster. To-day she has only to announce a concert and the house is sold out weeks ahead, while England, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy and Scandinavia have all acclaimed her as a peerless artist. At her first appearance in England, in 1900, the leading critics hailed her as one of the greatest diving lieder eingets, and she has always enjoyed wide popularity in London.

Every summer Madame Culp spends ten days as a special guest of .the Queen at Het Loo. The Queen Mother of Hoi-

lend has been a patroness and admirer of Mme. Culp's art for many years. Her records include: "Mon ooeur e* oeuvre a ta voix" {Saint Saens), "Oh, Rest in the Lord" ("Elijah"), "Wiegenlied" (Brahms), and "Pintemps qui Commence' (Saint Saens). ‘ - \c;