MUSIC AND MUSICIAND

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12643, 31 December 1926, Page 14

MUSIC AND MUSICIAND

; MAURICE BESLY A DISTINGUISHED MUSICIAN, Supporting the great English contrnlto, Mis* Phyllis Lett, on her forthcoming tour or New Zealand, will be the brilliant young English musician, who in the ranks of the younger musicians of the day may be said to hold a somoWhat unique position, in that his already wide fame rests equally upon his acknowledged position ae a conductor, and his success ns a composer. In addition, he is a first-rate accompanist, in which position he will act during the forthcoming tour. He has conducted the London Syinphony Orchestra, the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, the Vienna Philhamonio, and Scottish Orchestra, and he has many times conducted the British Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has also a chamber orchestra of his own. Among Mr Besly’s several orchestral works is “Chelsea China/’ of which the London "Morning Post” says: “A very charming work with plenty of force that makes for permanence, namely melody. Indeed, gomejof Mr Besly's themes are positively haunting.” “Mißt in the Volley,a tone poem, described by the “Daily Telegraph” as a work of great depth and loveliness of expression; “A Portrait of a Dancer in Red,” founded on a poem of the neo-Georgian impressionist, Harold Acton, and a very short, but lovely “Lullaby for a Modern Infant,” a work which shows a sense of humour as well as musicianship. Mr Besly has written extensively, for the piano, all in the impressionist mobd. As a song writer, Mr Besly has already a good share of success with the public, as well as the blessings of the critic. The famous English critic. Ernest < Newman, last month desorihed “Epitaph” as a work of outstanding merit, and it was chosen by Dame Clara Butt as an encore to Elgar’s “Sea Picture” at a return concert in the London Albert Hall. “The Second Minuet” is probably the best known of his songs. It is being featured by, Galli-Curci oh her American tour this year.

TOT! DAL MONTE BLACK OAT FROM NEW ZBa- * LAND, “My black cat, bad luckP That eea whnt you call applesauce I” Exhibiting with one gesture the pet she had obtained in New Zealand, the-knowledge of American Blang she had acquired on shipboard and her contempt for a wellknown superstition, Signorino Toti dal Monte, Italian prima donna, engaged by the Chicago Grand Opera Company arrived in San Francisco on the Oceanic liner Sonoma from the Antipodes reoently, writes our San Francisco correspondent. The pet was a cat of midnight hlacknesß. Signoyina dal Monte called it Kia Ora, a npme she took from the language of thg Maoris.

ZANE GREY RETURNING TO NEW ZEALAND Znno Grey, creator of outstanding stbriCß of tho West and one of the three most widely read authors in EnglishSpeaking countries, is returning to New Zealand for a stay of indeterminate length. He is ’accompanied by his brother, H. C. Grey, his secretary, a motion picture camera man, and Captain and Mrs Laurie D. Mitchell, the former an English sportsman. While in •Now Zealand this time, he Will, keep a keen look-out for otory material; and if he finds inspiration, ho will'_write a novel, which in addition to beiqg published in book form will bo produced on the screen by Paramount, exclusive producers of Zano Grey’s works. "I am not promising a story," said Grey. "But if I find one I will write it. I am convinced that Australia and New Zealand are fertile fiolds for authors, and I am sure that, an American produced picture featuring an- Amoncan

heroine and an Australian hero with either of those countries as. a background would , prove immonsoly popular throughout the world." Zane Grey is enjoying the satisfaction of leaving tho United States with the knowledge that the screen version of liis supreme effort,- "Tho Vanishing Race/' a mighty tribute to a great race, has been endorsed by the American public. The. author was inspired to .write “The Vanishing Race” 1 twelve years ago when he first. yiffited • tlio Painted Desert ;of Northern Aribimav Ha wanted to write the otory; immediately, but instead waited nine years,- during which time no achieved- great famo through, the success of his other stories of the great; Wost, "Riders of tho Purple Sage,” "The U.P. Trail,” and many others.

a .'■ ■*■■■■•. * He visited the magic desert, the desolate last retreat of the. former rulers f the North Amerioan. Continent,' again and again, obtaining more strong, material- on each visit. He was moved ainoorely to pet forth tho case of the

PERCY GRAINGER In anticipation of tho arrival in tile Dominion of Percy Grainger, famous modem pianist and comjfosef, the Wellington commercial travellers’ niale voieo choir are still practising some of his choral numbers with the intention of singing them under Grainger’s baton. This is something quite new, and should make an instant appeal. When on his way to Australia a few months ago, the composer told the writer (Auckland “Star”) that there was nothing he liked better than collaboration with the choirs in the various places visited by him. It would he an interesting and instructive event if each centre in New Zealand could . arrange a “Percy Grainger” night, prepared by Grainger and under his sole direction. It has not been definitely announced vet when he is to come tb the Dominion. PERCY GRAINGER’S RECORDS Among the many Gainger piano records the most outstanding—certainly one of the most ambitious—is tho wonderful interpretation of Chopin’s “Sonata in B Minor,” which occupied six ..sides of records. The impressive and stately first movement is reminiscent of the Chopin of the polonaise and is full of fire and dignity. There is Chopin of the nocturnes in the second subject, and a short scherzo of extreme gruce and eifin fancy* BACKHAUS i RETtTRNS TO~N.Z. IN 1029. Wilhelm Baokhaus, the famous pianist who recently completed his Aus-tralian-New Zealand tour, returned t° England by the Cathay recently. Mr E. J. Gravestock, who was responsible for the visit of this great artist to Australia and New Zealand, reports that Mr Backhaus’s tour was one of the most successful ever undertaken by a visiting frianist. Nearly sixty concerts were given, which included thirteen in Sydney and twelve in Melbourne. Backhaus’s repertoire is an astounding one, and he played 175 different pieces on his tour, and he could have played more if it had been necessary. ■ He' gives a concert in the Queen’s Hall, London, in Janu-' ary, after which he will visit Germany and Italy. Mr Gravestock has arranged for Backhaus to make a return tour in 1929. ■ • • • N.Z. SINGER’S SUCCESS ' Miss Katharine Lewis, of Hastings, New Zealand, who has been studying singing at the N.S.W. State Conservatoruim, under Mr Roland Poster,' has been engaged by J. C. Williamson and Company to go on tour with Moscovitch, the celebrated actor, as the singer of “Ben Bolt” in “Trilby,’V a role which was undertaken by Madame Elsa Stralia in Sydney.

illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllElllllllllllllllillllll "THE BIG PARADE” FOR DE LUXE The latest Press exchanges from America show that the world’s supreme record has been won by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s screen epic, "The Big Parade. This world-boating motion-picture production, showing in one theatre only— The Aetor. New York—in 51i weeks achieved in receipts 1,012,403 dollars, truly amazing figures; and in addition the picture is now in the eighth'week of its second year. There are 10 "Big Parade” road shows operating at the same time throughout the United States. "The Big Parade” has been eeciired for the De Luxe Theatre, Wellington, and fqr the Majestic Theatre, Auckland. • * * * "The Big Parade,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s screen epic, and one, of the most discussed motion-pictures in the film world to-day, was screened at the Government Publicity Theatre on the 21st instant, in the presence of Cabinet AUnisters and representatives of the Defence Department and Returned Soldiers’ Association, and without exception "The Big Parade” was acclaimed to be "a splendid picture, particularly clean in character, and absolutely _ freo from the slightest suggestion that it asserted in any way that America won the War,” This latter . information wes unjustifiably levelled at the pioture by a section of the Press ih London, but it was given the lie by the great section of the fairminded British publi«vwho attended in suoh volume that "The Big Parade” ran to a season of over seven months at the Tivoli Theatre, and in doing so established a record for the British

Red Man, this ragged remnant of the proud army of copper-hued, kings of yesteryear, and be became their friend. "Tho Vanishing American” was the result. Three years ago he completed the story and went to Jesse L. Lasky. first vice-president of Paramount. Grey is tlio type of man who would hot permit Ilia story to bo filmed in the ordinary way. To impress upon Lasky the real worth of the story and its magnificent scope, he took Lasky, Lucien Hubbard, supervising editor of all Zano Grey productions for Paramount, and thirteen others no hib guests into Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. One night in the Sagi Canyon, by firelight, ,200 miles from a railroad. Zano Grey brought forth hin manuscript, and Lasky sat there into tho might until he had finished reading the last page; Lasky kiicw thnt ho had been given an opportunity to help make scre.a bistorv, and plans wore made for producing the otory .on a scalo that it deserved—and received. ' Zano .Grey will, be in New Zealand during the screening of the "Vanishing Race" in this country, and ho will also once again' try his luck with the big gamo fish in theao watorß.

A WONDERFUL COMPOSITION Arthur Honegger’s musical composition “Pacific 231,’’ has been attracting great attention on the Continent. When reading the description.'of tljis extraordinary work, a . sketch of ; a railway train, apparently with the noise of the locomotive yielding itself to modern harmonies, One wonders Whether he ought to he exultant or depressed at the fact that Honegger is unknown here. He is a very able musician; he was one of the fatuous “Six,” hut since the value of the influence which this much-discussed French group- has exercised upon modern- music has still to he determined, ono infers to examine his sepres for their own sake. Now 34 years of hge, he was born at Havre of Swiss parentage, and studied in his natal town, and also at the conservatories of Zurich and Paris. A charming vocalist with Williamson’S twelfth International Vaudeville Company is Miss Hilda Nelson, an English'soprpno who wins glowing-no-tices everywhero. Her voice is of brilliant range, and she chooses her numbers with admirable judgment to meet all tastes. She is equally at home in brilliant operatio excerpts ns in ballads, and she has had a lengthy experience in Gilbert and Sullivan roles. Miss Nelson has a fascinating personality, which enhances the success of Hkr delivery. • • • • Miss Sylvia Pointer, of Auddand. is playing leading soloist with thd Sunbeam Children Company, which had a successful season in Auckland not long ago. “the company is now touring Australia. . •>* • • Mr Ernest MacKinlay, the New Zealand artist, who made so good an impression in his many appearances at Wembley last yeftr, sang at the garden party given by the “Not Forgotten” Association to flour hundred wounded soldiers at Buckingham Palace He has hid ail offer of a thrfee years’ engagement with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, but refused,, as he had othtr things In view. He has had a month’s holiday in France and Belgium, wnifi, With another “SsKiwi” (N.Z. DiviSiOn COncert Party), Bert Greene, he visited most of the Old places hi knew so well—Dickesbuche, Armentieires. They found many changes, but renewed acquaintance With several old friends who had pleasant recollections of the Now Zealand soldiers. » • • • Dame Clara Butt has few compeer* In the sphere of aacred songs, and there is a whole batch of Butt discs to choose from for the asking.

A BRILLIANT STUDENT At the recent examinations of the N.S.W. State Conaervaiorium, an exceptional record was achieved by Miss Merle Miller, of Lyttelton. New Zealand. Although only a first-year student, she took first place With distinctiota in advanced pianoforte: second place with honours in advanced singing (third-year grade): distinction in history of music, first and second year; honours in first-vear’s harmony and honours in second-year’s theory. Miss Miller studied pianoforte under Miss Winifred Burston. and singing under Mr Roland Foster. • • • • Outstanding in the list of solo instrumentalists in the new lists is Frits Kreisler, who is heard in the Beethoven “Gavotte in F Major,” which is at once typical of the composer, and the “Minuet” (Bach-Win-ternitz) both of which have the distinction of style which mark the great artist. * * * • Nicolai’s popular overture, “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” is played by the New Light Symphony Orchestra, Tame is something positively infectious about the robust jollity "nth which the music is interpreted. This ingeniously-constructed inter-play between woodwind and strings is delightfully done, especially in the play, ful vivacity - of' the first principal theme. • • • • The Royal 'Wellington Choral Union has drawn up its programme for 192*. The following works are set down for performance: “St. Paul”. (Mendelssohn), “Cavalleria Rusticana” (Mascagni), Verdi's “Requiem’* and “The Messiah.” ••• . * A hundred young men armed with whistles and latch keys shouted down the actors in a popular farce with music at the People’s Theatre, in Berlin, with the cry of “No Jaaal Plav Shakespeare. No Bluest Play TollerP’ This is in direct contradiction of time-honoured tradition, which ordains that in the summer, or holiday season, only light fare should he played on the German stage. '•• • • Harold Lloyd's latest tor Paramount is “College Days/* which is Showing aS the De Luxe Theatre to-night. Th-re is no doubt that this is the best thing the famous comedian lias done for the screen, and it is bound to establish him still more popularly among his many followers Harold Lloyd has been signed on a long term contract with Paramount, nnd ha will bo seen in several of the fifteenth birthday group which Paramount is releasing in New Zealand next year. These will include "For Heaven’s Sake” and another story which is at present in the course of making.