MUSIC IN AUSTRALIA

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15309, 9 August 1923, Page 9

MUSIC IN AUSTRALIA

WHAT IS THE STANDARD? EDWARD GOLL'S OPINION. Edward Goll, of Melbourne University, who is touring Europe, has made some interesting musical discoveries. !ie told a Sydney Sun representative that the standard of music in Australia is higher than that in London. Australia, he declared, is musically unknown in the great Continental centres of art, and with the exception of Melba, our country gets no advertisement of our musical taste and ability. Mr Goll astounded the Viennese when he informed them that some masterpieces which are now being produced there had been rendered in Australia. Ho paid 2,000,000- kronen to hear Jeritza, by whose performance he was overcome.

Mr Goll was interested to hear the Royal College of Music concerts, arranged to assist young British composers to secure the performance of thir own compositions. These were the greatest surprise of all, showing the wonderful development of the great orchestral creations. Sir Thomas Beecham's reappearance at the Albert Hall was accompanied by a magnificent performance by the London Symphony Orchestra, one of the best in the world. / Mr Goll heard the orchestra of the Reicbwein with its great conductor, Max Roger. He attended the Max Reger Festival in Vienna, and found tremendous enthusiasm for Reger's music.

"The conductor," he declares, "was astonished when I told him that Roger's greatest works for the piano had been played in Melbourne. Except for Melba, Australians residing in England and America have failed to advertise Australian music. I myself was able to give Vienna people quite a different' picture of Australia's musical standard.

"But Australia is practically unknown to the Continental world, and these people marvelled to hear that Roger's and others' masterpieces had already been performed in Melbourne when Europeans wore only beginning to appreciate them. "I hoard wonderful performances in the Vienna Opera House, including 'Korngold Die Todbe Stadt,' which is a very cleverly conceived work, and also that of the Richard Strauss legend, 'Joseph,' which is magnificent from every standpoint.

"The scenery is the grandest I have ever seen on the opera stage, and the production cost was 2,000,000,000 kronen. The Austrian currency is so depressed that rates for the kronen have not been quoted on the London exchange for months: this figure, therefore, might moan anything. Considering the country's financial plight, this expenditure shows the great influence of Strauss's name in convincing the Government that it was necessary.

"On this occasion the orchestra consisted of 150 males, and the impression on my mind both of the music and scenery was too grand for words. It was absolute ecstasy.

"The performance of Puccini's 'La Tosca' at Vienna also, with Jeritza as Tosca, will live for ever in my memory. I paid 2,000,000 kronen for a scat to hear Jeritza—one of the greatest singers in the world since Destinn.

"Never have I heard such a magnificent voice, which is combined with the greatest artistry in acting. Through a friend,' I met Puccini, who looked wonderfully well. He was overcome with emotion by the performance and the public ovation. He :-n.c that through Mclba he knows all about Australian opera."

Mr Goll will give a series of concerts in England during September and October after which he gives recitals in France, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, where he hopes to perform tome of the modern piano concertos.