THE CONCERT PLATFORM

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7507, 15 September 1902, Page 1

THE CONCERT PLATFORM

■ — ♦ - Mr A. H. Canby, to whose enterprise we owe the Gerardy tours of last year and this year, will, in November, direct a long tour by Mme. Duse in the United States. Miss Amy Castles, after singing again* in Sydney, will rest in Melbourne, helping her sister, Dolly, who is studying voice cultivation. Then she. will return to Paris. At Miss Amy Oastles's farewell concert in Sydney £450 was taken. The receipts, less £75 lor expenses, were devoted to the Mount. Kemfcla Relief Fund. > Madame Antoinette Sterling has decided to take her farewell of the concert platform, -and will make, an extended tour of the principal cities of the kingdom for that purpose next winter and spring. Foldesy, a young "'cellist, who has lately appeared in London, is described as possessing the finest technique of any 'cellist before the public. His feats are said to be quite as astonishing as K.ubelik's on the violin. . '■' f Miss Florence Menkmeyeiy the wellknown AustaaliaK\pianiste t who >has spent her life mostly on the CContinentt t where she has 'been! heard in the pricipal cities of Italy, France^ Germany^ eta 4 wjll fihortiy be reheafd^m Sydii^yj, as she \HII give a senes of Mci^& aVffie "Centenary Hall. At these Miss Menkmeyer will appear in the capacity) of vocalist (dramatic soprano) as "well as piaoiste. De Karen's "Robin Hoodi" was staged in Melbourne J>y the Royal Comic Opera Company for the first time on August 23. The Melbourne papers speak with enthusiasm of the piece,, and also of . the new American tenor, Mr George Lyding,, who made ihis debut as "Robin Hood." His singing, voice?, and, bearing are alluded to with the highest praise. Mr Lyding, who, in America, has had experience as a ohurch organist as well as opera singer, was vocally tarained in Italy. He joined the Josephine Stanton Opera Company for their tour of New Zealand and Australia^ but after singing through Maoriland with it as leading tenor left the organisation and went to Sydney. He afterwards returned to this colon^ with the World's Entertainers. Mr Maughan Barnett, the Wellington! pianist, is giving piano recitals in many of the New Zealand towns t and at the end of the present month wjll visit Christchurch, where ? in conjunction with Mr F. M. Wallace^, three concerts will be given. Mr Barnett made his firet appearance as a pianist in London in- 1887^ playing at the Burlington Hall t and in North London and' Kensington* In 1889 be left England, and was appointed organist of the Hobarfc Cathedral. Some eight years ago he settled' in Wellington, where he now reriiJes. ' In England Mr Barnett was organist of the Church of King 1 Charles -the Martyr, Tunbridge Wells, and, later on, of fit Mary Magdalene, St Leonard's on Sea. His compositions include the ode performed- at the Ohristchurch jubilee Exhibition, a cantata, the " Song of Empire," sung during the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee cele^ brations in Wellington, a short ode sung at the laying of the foundation stone of the new Town Hall in th© same city during the visit tff the Duke of York, and a number of piano pieces and part songs. M. Jean* Gerardy, who is twenty-five years of age, is a native of Belgium. Liege, the cradte of many brilliant artists, is the birthplace of Qerardy, who was born there on Deo. 7, 1877. Has father, a oelebrated pianist, who was master of the Conservatorium at Liege, did a great deal for his son in bringing out his artistic capabilities, and in teaching him to make the best use of his time. Jean Gerardy entered the Conservatbrium at seven years of age, and six months later carried off second prize for this year— a phenomenal achievement. He made his firet public appearance at the age of nine, at Liege, and graduated when only eleven, going forth the youngest graduate ever sent out by the Conservatorium. A mere child of eleven, he began his professional ' career at . once with Paderewski and Ysaye, and played with the greatest pianist and one of the greatest violinists of the day the trio of Rubinstein and other notable works — a proof of / the genius of the youthful' player, who has created for himself a position in the artistic world similar to that of Piatti, Davldoff , or Popper. In the same yes.r, he toured England with Paderewski »nd Ysaye, and afterwards travelled the Continent. He appeared in Germany with (Sans von Bulow,

in Vienna with Hans Richter, and his famous Philharmonic Orchestra, afterwards appeared at concerts with Madame Adelina Patti and Madame Melba; and at sixteen years of age he was engaged for a series of fifty' concerts in America, in company with v Stavenhagen, the pianist. His success was equally as great in "the United 1 States and in Canada as in Europe. During the past few years he has visited many great capitals of Europe, starring three times in Russia, and receiving decorations in Paris and Madrid. He treasures many costly gifts bestowed upon him /by Queen Victoria, before whom he played frequently at Windsor.