THE CONCERT PLATFORM

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7435, 23 June 1902, Page 1

THE CONCERT PLATFORM

: ♦ • At Hs concert to-morrow evening, the Christchuroh Musical Union -wrill perform "Zadok the Priest" hi addition to "Tie Golden Legend." .. Colonials will join in regretting that MissAda Crossley, the . distinguished South Australian ,contraltOj lately, suffered a family bereavement. A full-length portrait, of Madame Melba, front the orush: of Mr Rupert Bunny, is the chief attraction for. colonials in thi? year's Royal Academy. ■ . The Wellington Amateur Operatic Society is rehearsing Sullivan's "Yeoman of the Guard," for a season of seven nights, opening on Wednesday 1 next. .'.* ■"■ : - Borne time has elapsed since the Ohostchurch Motett Society announced a oooaoert of any kind.. It is to be 'hoped that this admirable institution is not beginning to languish. • . . . , , Mrjs .Brown Totter .is "to recite " Antigone" at the Bristol 1 , Musical Festival, to the accompaniment of Mendelssohn's music, and likewise Bjbrson's "Bergliot," to the musical setting by Grieg. The two concerts given by Mdlle. Dolores in Sydney after her return from New Zealand were both w«Il patronised. ' The Sydney critics declared that Mdlle. Dolores's voice has benefited by her visit' to this colony. The students of the Bath School of Music recently presented' a beautifully carved violin bow to Mr Ernest Toy. The talented young Queensland' violinist has ; made rapid progress since h« visited Chrietehurch. - As long ago as May 1 Madame Melba engaged for no less than, sixteen, big musical At Homes in London this season, at, a fee of 500 guineas each. , .In each case the host is a millionaire, and ntembers of the Royal Family will be aniong, the guests. :■■■'. ; The death is announced of Signor I^go, a ; well-known impresario, who was for some years director of the Covent Garden Opera House, London. To Signor Lago belongs the honour of having introduced *' Cavaleria Rusticana" to the English public, and also the now famous prima donna, Mdme Ella Russell. . Madame Agnes Janson, who visited New Zealand with Mr George Musgrove's Grand Opera Company j is in London, where she will appear shortly. Mr Lempriere Pringle, the baritone,, who belonged to the same company, was, on latest advices, a member of Mr George Alexander's Company, appearing in London in " Paolo and Francesca." *- Miss^rßegina Nagel, the Australian contralto, who visited New Zealand six years agb, as a member of a "Trilby Company," and has spent, one. part of the interval studying tinder Madaane Marchesi, and another charming the ears of English audiences, gave a concert at St, James's Hall, London, on June <tf. The Princess of Wales *nd 'Princess Henry of Batteriberg both gave their patronage, and showed great interest in the concert. Mis® Nagel had the honour of singing to Princess Henry of Battenberg reoently. Madame Calve, the eminent operatio soprano, is hankering after the degitimatei stage, and it is rumoured that she may appear in/.a^agirajjic drama, at ti^e.Tflieatre Antoi^.in 'Pansv v K,^'iiot;v%^;^)^fi that one hears of secession from ifchef lyiic to, the" dramatic stage, but there is no doubt that on the former there are many very great dramatic artists. Madame Calve herself is quite as great an. actress as she is a singer, and! among others we can call, to memory at tlhe moment is Ernest Van Dyok, who, in addition to being one of tie greatest Wagnerian tenors of the day, is aleo a superb actor. Jean, Gerardy, who opens his tour at Mel-, bourne «ri July 10, is bringing with him) a. very fine, company, which is to include M. Aime Lachaume, the brilliant pianist, and Miss Electa Gifford, an American dramsutic soprano. Miss Gifford is a native of Toledo, and subsequently was engaged a>3 soprano for a big Chicago church. Later she went to Paris, where she studied under thia great teacher Madame Marohesi ; ails© with Mdniet De Picciotti, amd' mis-en-scene with Herr Koerwg at the Grand Opera, Berlin. In 1899 she was engaged as. first sopranoi for the Royal Opera, Amsterdam', where she took such parts as Marguerite, Juliette, " Ophelie, the Queen in Les Huguenots, etc. Mr A. H. Canby, of New York, in a letter to his Austratf an manager, tellis t^e latter that he can announce the artists a<rcompanyimg Garardy in strong terms,- as they .are sure' to make big hits. The Coronation "Command " performance; which will take place to-morrow, will open with Dr Elgar's new arrangement of " Godi Save tba King," sung by 160 voices of tihe Sheffield Festival Choir. Tbas will be folIbwed by Dr Elgar's Coponatioa Ode, or at .• any rate; a large portion of it*. Fox the ode, is in no fewer l^aai seven numbers, in.' all of which, excepting the quartette "Only Let Thy Heart Be "Pure," and in the duet "Hark Upon the Hallowed Air," the chorus takes part. One number is a solo, " Bri-( tain, Ask of 'Thyself," which will be sung by Madame Melba. Thie words are from the pen of Mr A. C. Benson, a son of the late Archbishop of CanterDUry. In the finale the band of the Coldstream Guards will taifce part. The Sheffield singers will then, leave the stage clear for tibe regular members of tlip Opera Company, amd three or four fetyotirite scenes from operas will be sung by M. Jean de Reazke, Madame Melba, and other leading members of the troupe. In all probability the stalls will be ten- guineas each. /• ; * „ , .... , ■ . "i "■....,.