The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 1017, 23 May 1925, Page 19

The Deadhead's Diary

Kreisler, acclaimed "the greatest of them all," opens his New Zealand tour m Auckland on June 2. He has but one violin with him, a very fine Guarnerius, though he owns a Stradivarius of great value, but that is m America. "I do not care to bring two violins," is his explanation. "There is always risk, and for my part I always play one for a long time. One gets into harmony with the instrument, and it is not good to change often. No,' I did not open my violin cass on the voyage. Indeed, I play scarcely at all except at my concerts. I do not practise. That is not to say I did not practise a great deal when I was younger. Now, when I am playing, compositions, I feel that I am going into some magic country, as it were. If I had practised beforehand I should not feel so, and my playing would become more mechanical, and lose its freshness." '.•■■■■;!';■'.' : s ■•..■' sV ■ 1 Kreisler's Wellington season will be of two concerts, and he will give one copcert each m Chrlstchurch and. Dunedin. His accompanist, is Mr. Carl Lamson, an, American, distinguished m that field of music. The definite dates are Auckland Town Hall, June 2, 4 and 6. "Wellington, June 9 and 11. Christchurch, , June 13,/ and Dunedin, Juiie 16.

Mrs. Kreisler, who is an American, is accompanying her husband on his tour of Australia and New Zealand. "Kreisler," says an 'Australian journalist who interviewed him, "is one of the most exhilarating and; vivaciousparsons it is possible to imagine. He is fifty, and his black moustache and upstanding hair have begun to. turn grey, but" he is like a boy of seventeen m his delight at seeing hew lands and meeting new people. He is never happier than when talking of his art. He cannot accustom himself yet to the southern hemisphere. 'You know this is the first time I have crossed the equator, the first time I have been through the tropics,' he explained. 'It is all wonderful to me to see the dipper upside down m the sky,- and the Southern Cross. I ; cannot accustom myself to finding the sun m the north, and to thinking of the south as cold. Vttien you people' find poets writing of the cold north 'wind and the warm south you must find it very strange 1 ." .:».'■■■■•:: ::. The proposed tour, of the Dominion by Madame Elsa Stralia, the great dramatic soprano, has been indefinitely postponed. "Hard work is the "surest road to success. Set a mark for yourself and when you reach it, set another one still higher. Never be completely satisfied with yourself." The advice is that of Galli-Curci. "There is no such thing as a 'cold' audience. An audience is what you make it. If you- are really inspired, the, audience will respond. It is all up to you. Some artists sing to the heart. Others sing to the brain. Both types have their audiences, but the size of the former's audience ,is always bigger than the latter's. There is no sincerity m the so-called artistic temperament. Temperament is like a little mad horse, good when held m, but mad wjien it runs away.' The real artist is a sensible person who does not concern himself with the petty jealousies of the stage." Lovers of good singing will hail with delight the advent of George Castles and Alberto Torzillo now appearing m Fuller vaudeville. Mr. Castles, is as well-known as his talented sisters, k Amy, Eileen and Dolly. He is perhaps the best tenor appearing on the Australasian stage. Accompanied by Mr. Torzillo, the brilliant harpist, Mr. Castles will be heard m a selection of popular 'songs. Many old-time English, Irish and Scotch ballads are included m his repertoire. This act; recently engaged for a tour of the Fuller circuit; is as fresh as a rose, m these days of frenzied jazz. . , ;. Among the , new artists to join the /Fuller circuit is Ben Beno, who is known as "The Man on a Chair m the Air." Beno does everything but hang by the hair of his head, and if he could find some way to do that he would probably take the risk. He leaps from the stalls to a trapeze hung from • the cross-girders. But there is more to come. A kitchen chair is passed up, and poised at heart- thumping angles, he and the chair sway to and . fro to the consternation of the women folk. Not content with that, he blindfolds himself, swings for a time, and then, trusting to his sense of distance, and perhaps fate, turns a complete somersault and ends up by hanging head downwards holding the chair m his\hands. Beno will be seen here at an early date. . Rin-Tin-Tin and Louise Fazenda— that's the usual starring team that heads the cast of "The Lighthouse, by the Sea," a Master Picture. The picture cannot fail to. have an abundance of rapid-fire thrills and dramatic action with these players interpreting the leading roles, inasmuch as Rin-Tin-Tin's triumphs m "'vT'he.re the North Begins" and "Find Your Man" speak more than highly for, Jiim. and Louise Fazenda's long record' of laurel's has given her an enviable .niche m the hall of fame. Both stars are noted for their athletic prowess, t and the story which , concerns, itself with the (terrific struggle between the light-house-keep«ers and bootleggers, with a score of revenue officers "•> and cutthroats to furnish additional thrills, i represents, one would imagine, the ideal vehicle for such ability.

Mr. John A. Holman, manager of the American Telephone and Tele- • graph Company, recently stated that the public demand for classical music has been unprecedented to the detriment of jazz. He spoke as from the commercial standpoint of broadcasting. -In January, 1923, he said, 75 per cent, of radio listeners demanded jazz; m January, 1024, the percentage was reduced to 35; and m January, 1925, only 5. per cent, of radio listeners-in asked for jazz music. It is all for. the classics to-day, says Mr. Holman. Still jazz is not so easily disposed of. But it is calling for more musicianship and performances by artists of their kind. . Records of- notable examples of music of the new order have .iust reached the Dominion m the form of reproductions by the Hannan and the New Princess Toronto Dance Bands. The dances include "Eat More Fruit," "Let Me be First," and "I'll Take Her" Back." The' titles do not indicate the excellence of the' playing of these two outstanding dance bands nor the attractive character of the pieces as music. . ; Galli-Curci. like other great artists, found that poverty was a great incentive to ambition. Her parents met with serious business reverses, and /it became necessary for her to give piano lessons to help keep the family out of want. While she worked very hard, she let no day pass without devoting part of it to her voice, urged on by the encouragement given her by Mascagni; -. and after the family had extricated-.it-self from financial difficulty, she went • to JRome to try her fortune m opera, and soon afterwards made her debut at the Costanzi Theatre. Her debut was a success, and she signed a contract at the munificent fee of 25/- per performance! This was, the beginning of the career of the singer who is now said to' be drawing?, -, tfie highest fees ever paid to a prima donna m England, America, or Australia. It is an interesting fact that Pauline^ Frederick, appearing /m Melbourne m" "Spring Cleaning," under the J. C. . Willlam'son Ltd. management, by arrangement with E. J. Carroll* originally intended to become a grand opera singer. However, she to go m for light opera instead; and later graduated into ,dramaV She starred with William Gillette* m ."Samson," and her appearance m "Joseph and His Brothren," "Innocent," and other plays established her as a star m her own right. On the screen, she holds .a supreme position riot only by reason of her acting ability but also because of her remarkable powers of emotionalism. One of her greatest successes was achieved as Donna Roma m -the picturisation of Hall Caine's "Eternal City." "Spring Cleaning," the .comedy m which Miss. Frederick make's her first appearance m Australia, is by Frederick .'Lbnsdale, who wrote "Aren't We All?""' which has proved the greatest -success, perhaps, m the VanbrughBoucicault repertoire. Another play of his, "The Fake," is to be staged by J. C. Williamson Ltd., who hold the Australian' rights. :: '■' '! Peggy Hamilton, famous modiste and designer of women's fashions, who has just returned from Paris, spent an entire day recently m posing the feminine stars of the Warner Bros, studio m the latest fur creations. The eight garments used had a valuation of more than 40,000 dollars and with Irene Rich, Dorothy Devore, Louise Fazenda, and June Marlowe posing m them, they looked like ah even million. "The Redeeming Sin," a forthcoming Master Picture, is a story of the Latin Quarter of Paris, and introduces Alia Nazimova as Joan, Queen of the Apaches. The old .Paris atmosphere, it is said, has been faithfully created, entire streets and buildings, including a big church, , having been specially built. Nazimova is supported by Lou Tell egen, the late Sarah Bernhardt's leading man. : : :: :: . ♦'The Code of the Wilderness," a "orthcoming Master Picture, proves an jxcepti.onally fine example of a dratiatic cattle range story amidst a setting of the wide spaces and towering fountains of New Mexico. , It shows the code of the wilderness as being one of stark reality and stern justice, and when Alice Calhpun, as Ruth Harkness; the city giri, takes possession of her inherited ranch, she finds the life Quite thrilling enough. The picture abounds m quaint types of wilderness folk, and. love complications leading to exciting incidents which keep the audience guessing until Ruth projnises to marry the" ranch boss, Rex Anderson, a part strongly played by John Bowers. :: :: s; With the new coiffure decree from Paris demanding the close massing ot hair m a sort of cap-shape, with the tips of the ears showing, June Marlowe has introduced a very charming idea by rouging the lobes of her ears. It gives her face a roguish appeal that is adorable. She uses- this 'mode of hair-dress m the Warner picture "Tracked m the Snow Country," m which she is co-starring with the won-der-dog/Rin-Tin-Tin. Fay Compton, the talerite'd English actress, who has the, leading part m the Master Picture version of A. S. M. Hutchinson's vTliis Freedom," has one of the most difficult role.s in her career m this -picture. Miss; Compton is called upon to play -thTe succeeding phases m a woman's life from;. severitee;n" years to forty. Her .characterisation ; of Rosalie Occleve, the woman who wanted to be free and have a career ftke a man, is one of the finest, bits, of acting seen m a photoplay (ibria yery^. long time. ' -..'-■ ..;-•• »: ..*«•■ ■•.■'.•:,«■,■,■ ■■;: Present productions at the;. London theatres include several which are to be staged m Australia by J. C. Williamson, Ltd; Amongst these are: "The Pelican," ! "Katja the Dancer," "The Street Singer," "White Cargo," "Spring Cleaning," and "Primrose." The last two have just been^ta^ed at Melbourne Theatre Royal and His Majesty's respectively. On the other hand, .there are several now running which have already been produced m Australia. Included amongst.£heni ■-are revivals : "Iris." "It Pays to Ad ver - tise," "The Dollar Princess," *" "Old Heidelberg," "Are You 'a- .M^Sori," arid "Lightnin' " (staged m London, by J.C. Williamson. Ltd.) The firm ■■'■pill shortly present Josie Collins at ,the Princess Theatre, London, m Lehar's iijew> opera, "Frasquita." . ; . .■'[£ 'J^'V^^'^S