MUSIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1074, 11 September 1930, Page 14

MUSIC

(By F.1.R.)

Glancing. Ahead — September 25'(about)—Auckland Choral bociety. Jan Kubelik.—October. N.Z. Violinist on the Air Mr. Vincent Aspey, the young Auckland violinist who is now residing in Sydney, is a frequent performer from 2’FC. His friends iu Auckland will be pleased to learn that lie will be on the air from that station as violin soloist on September 10, 11 and 19. His items will be the Andante Allegro from Vivaldi's Concerto, Vieniavski's “Concerto in D Minor,” and “Polonaise Brillanta” (Vieniavski). Carl Rosa Conductors Richard Austin, one of the conductors for the Carl Rosa Opera Company's recent Season at the Strand Theatre, London, is the son of Frederick Austin, who will be remembered for his fine work with the British National Opera Company. Prior to joining the Carl Rosa he was conductor of the Bristol Symphony Orchestra, and be has had a wide musical experience. Three generations of the famous Goossens family have been among the Carl Rosa's conductors during the 60 years of the company’s existence —probably a record. And 1 ■wonder (says "Rambler” in the “Daily Mirror”) how many people can remember that Sir Henry Wood has also been a "Carl Rosa Man?” * * * Music Week Romance Music Week in Sydney was attended by the announcement of the engagement of Miss Kathleen O’Connor, singer and song-composer, to Mr. Roy Agnew, the eminent Australian pianist and composer. In the face of Mr. Aguew’s work as a composer, in which he has made his name in London as well as here, his fiancee makes light of her own efforts iu that direction. However, when in Italy during one of her many trips abroad she studied composition in Florence, under Castelnueo Tedeso, one of the modern Italian composers, and she has had several songs published. One song published in London, and sun by Miss Phyllis Archibald, who was out here with the last Melba Grand Opera Company, was "If I Be Living in Erin,” with words by McGill. The New York Composers’ Corporation published Miss O’Connor’s setting for McManus’s “Lullaby,” and her song, "Evening,” published by Chappell, was included by Mr. Alfred O'Shea in the programme of one of his Sydney recitals. A quiet wedding at St. Mary’s Cathedral will be followed later by a joint recital before they leave for England.

New York Philharmonic It is not, I think, generally known that at least a part of the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York which so recently visited us under Toscanini, is one of the oldest orchestras in existence. Really, of course, Toscanini’s orchestra aforesaid. is a combination of two orchestras, writes Robin Legge in the London “Daily Telegraph.” That part which used to be known as the New York Philharmonic has had an unbroken record of 87 consecutive years. It was founded in 1542, when at its first concert it played Beethoven’s fifth symphony, that in C minor. At first it consisted of 63 players only; but that was considered a large orchestra in those far away days. The orchestra that today numbers half as many again came into being more or less regularly to suit the demands of Wagner and Richard Strauss and others of the “moderns.” Among the great men who have conducted the New Yorkers have been Leopold Damroseh, Anton Seidl. Emil Paur, Colonne, Sir Henry Wood, Sir Thomas Beecham, Weingartner. Safonoff, Richard Strauss, Mahler. Furtwangler, Molinari, Mengelberg and Toscanini. Kubelik's Tour Jan Kubelik, in the {mime of his musical career, is commencing a New Zealand tour at Wellington on Saturday, September 27, under the direction of Messrs. J. and N. Tait, and under the personal supervision of Mr. Claud Kingston. New Zealanders will remember a Kubelik whose prodigious repertoire and exquisite playing forecast world triumphs. He is returning after a long absence in the full maturity of violiuistie art, and is -to inspire with his technique, manipulative power, sympathetic expression and novelty of selection. Fresh from Australian triumphs (these following on a tour of Europe, the Continent, America and England that left no doubt in the minds of musical enthusiasts that Kubelik is a genius) he is to satisfy the appetites of those New Zealanders who appreciate good music, and Who also acknowledge a deep deht to the Taits for their consistent ambition to foster music-love in the hearts and minds of people so far removed from (he world’s art centres. The Auckland season will commence on October IS.