MUSIC EVENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12116, 18 April 1925, Page 10

MUSIC EVENTS

MISS THOMAS BIDS FAREWELL. Miss Edna Thomas, the famous singer, will give her third recital in the Concert Chamber this evening, selecting her programme from a representative choice of her best numbers. Miss Thomas, quaint and effectively gowned, has provided quite a feature in her songs of the American negroes. The revivalist numbers and "spirituals” of such variety and tenderness contrast abruptly, and show to perfection two sides of a primitive people. The negroes are a curious people, and their songs sometimes are full of moving beauty, at other times aro as elementary, in rhythm as the beat oi the tom-tom, which they dimly conjure up. Their humour is odd, and their faith and the seriousness of their faith shot with that humour. Miss Thomas reveals the depths of the negro mine of music, and her concerts are illuminating. Miss Lucile, an attractive-harp-ist. and Miss Constance Piper, pianiste, are supporting artists. Elsa Stralia, who is to tour the Dominion this year under the direction of Messrs Ingham and Holburn, Ltd., was horn in Adelaide, and comes of musical parentage, her father being a well-known baritone, and her mother a pianiste of note. Her musical studies were begun at the Marshall Hall Conservatory, and her first term brought 'her a scholarship, which encouraged her to adopt a professional oareer. Her debut in concert work took place shortly afterwards in the Sydney Town Hall with the Sydney Amateur Orchestral Society, at the time the leading orchestral organisation in Australia. Her success was so great, and her natural gifts so marked, that on the advice, of prominent musicians she decided to further her studies in Italy. There she became a pupil of Sicnora Falchi, a member of the faculty of the Roman Academy, who immediately recognised in Elsa Stralia’s voice the foundation of a brilliant operatic soprano. This experienced teacher then set to work with a special interest in her ipupil, and was rewarded by the rapid progress which she made in operatic work, and afterwards accomnanied her to Genoa, where, at the Carlo Felice Opera House. Elsa Stralia made her debut in Italian opera. She sang brilliantlv in the role of "Valentino" in "Les Huguenots." confirming her initial success by performances in "Aida." "The Masked Ball." and "Don Giovanni." These successes have proved to be only the forerunner of a long series of triumphs in the world of music. The famous prirna donna opened her Australian season at the Sydney Town Hall on Etoster Saturday, and reports just to hand speak in glowing terms of the magnificent reception accorded to her by her fellow countrymen. It is expected that the New Zealand tour will commence in about three months time.

Galli-Curci, the great prima donna, like many other singers, originally intended to be lx pianist. When quite young she was an earnest student of tlie piano, graduating from the Royal Conservatorium of Milan, where she von high honours as pianist and composer. Mascagni, who was a frequent visitor, to her home, used to admire her playing, though, she was only four years of age, and had advised tier to study very hard, predicting that she would some day become a great pianist. Years later, upon one of liis visits, he chanced to hear her sing, and marvelling at her voice, said : “Amelita, my girl, you have a wonderful voice: teach yourself to sing." This Was the inspiration that led her to leave the piano for the concert platform, and induced her to try her fortune as a singer.