£6 FOR A SEAT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17453, 30 December 1930, Page 9

£6 FOR A SEAT

CASALS RECITAL IN BERLIN STRAVINSKY’S MAD MUSIC

No matter what the conditions Ger many will always have its music. Em piica may lotteii, and kings lay down their crowns, but it is a queer week in 'Berlin when one may not hear the nine symphonies of Beethoven. Dr. Greta Short, who has just returned to Wellington from a visit to Berlin, mentioned that she had heard a good deal of Stravinsky’s mad music during her recent visit, .and like, a lot of o.Lher modern music, she was inclined to think it was composed as a joke. Without form of expression, and devoid of sentiment of romanticism, it seemed to go oil ami on, until the composer was tired, and then stopped suddenly without any reason. Some of it she had to confess was fascinating in u grotesque sense, hut. there was much that was not. Stravinsky's no>v smite, “.Madrid,” was so much ship-flush jazz music, with the Spanish idiom creeping out here and there. ‘ 1 think lie is joking half the time,” said llr. Short. “lint all this modern music has not the Slightest effect on tlm popularity of the classics, and Beethoven is played all the time. They must Imve their Beethoven.” “I was fortunate in being present one night, said Dr. Short, “at the I'hilharmonic when Sir Thomas Beechani a inducted at, the invitation of Furtwangler. The great hall, which scats 3030 people, was filled, and Boecham was given a great reception. The symphony was the Cesar Franck, and it was beautifully played and delightfully conducted. I also heard a. great performance of ‘lsrael in Egypt’ in Berlin, and was thrilled by it, and 1 wondered i if it had been suing in Wellington. I “While I was in Berlin Casals, the Spanish ’cellist, gave one recital at the Philharmonic, and seats were sold for as high at ,C 6. The. place was packed to the dobrs. It is tins largest hall in Ber-1 lilt. . ! “I also had the pleasure of renewing mv acquaintance with Irene Triesch,the finest actress in Strindberg and Ibsen plays t hat Germany knows. She is I lie .wife of Frederick Lumond, the great pianist, and perhaps the finest exponent j of Beethoven to-day. Ho was still play- i

ing, though over 70 years of age, having lost a great deal of money through t‘he war, bamond is a Scotsman, born in Glasgow, but has been resident in Berlin for half his lifetime." . ‘ “1 think tho German actors are the finest in the, world,” said,Dr. Short. ‘-In England they used to have line actors in the clays* of Irving and Tree, the Tevrys, Mare, Wyndham, Toole, Hiiwtrey and Alexander, but their prototypes scarcely exist to-day. They Have nicelooking men, who move gracefully qbout the stage, but are they in.ihe true sence of t!ie, editions of themselves,?-' u»i -e 1 saw in ■ Ixnklba . was' outstanding; That was Noel Coward's yh.afmihg L ipu\(t*il comedy '.Bitter SpectA 1 It'diasvKe most fascinating waltz possible.:’