THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17412, 26 May 1928, Page 17 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

"To Extremes." c Moiseiwitsch, the famous pianist now to New Zealand, is of the opinion that the majority of modern oomposers. go to unnecessary extremes in their works. This, he says, particularly applies to some of the prominent modern composers of Russia and Germany. The great classical and romantic composers arc still the mainstay of every pianist's repertoire, and Moiseiwitsch does not conceal his preference for them. As regards modern composers, the Russian pianist placos Rachmaninoff on a very high pedestaL and claims that his piano concertos are the finest composed during the last 50 years. Moiseiwitsch is a wonderful exponent of the second and third Rachmaninoff concertos. The first was recently re-written, and last year Rachmaninoff himself introduced his fourth concerto in the United States. Don Cossack Choir. Three men who influence the attitude towards Great Britain of nearly 100 million people sat round a small table in the West End on March 26. They were the Ambassadors of Belgium, Italy and France. They had not met, however, to discuss international politics. They were merely a trio of the many distinguished people who were present at the Sunday dinner-concert at the May Fair Hotel. The concert was given by the Don Cossack Choir. There were 30 of them, dressed in tight dark-blue uniforms. They sang very pleasantly a number of Russian songs. Their conductor, Serge Jaroff, showed more vim than almost any other conductor ever seen in England. The choir sang with the utmost energy but also with admirable effect. Nearly 150 people, including the Marquess and Machioncss of Bristol Sir George White, and Commander Lister-Kaye were present. Orchestral IHuslo In New York. An interesting commentary on the subject of the support accorded to the best in music is found in the necessity for the merging of the Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras in New York. It has been found that sufficient support has not been accorded these two organisations to enable them to carry on their work without serious financial embarrasment. This in a city of 7,000,000 souls. One or two gentlemen have been paying tremendous sums in an endeavour to keep things going, but now feel 'that there is not room for the two organisations, with the result that a merging of the orchestras has been completed.

Singing at 78. Sir George Henschel, who was born 78 years ago, sang on March 25 at the first of a series of chamber concerts at the Arts Theatre Club, London. The illustrious old musician, who in his time has shone as conductor and composer, as well as singer, accompanied himself, as his custom has always been, in songs by Schubert, Loewe, and Schumann. The artist in him was still imaginative and vivid. "Wunderlicher Alter!" we echoed, after his extraordinarily moving performance of the last of Schubert's "Winter Journey" songs. Ifis voice was unniistakeably the same, only a little more tremulous. It was always rather gruff in quality, but still a fine instrument of art, thanks to the true value always given to individual words and something of the actor's art in communicating with the audience. Reorganising La Scala. With the authority of the Italian Government io proceed with the expropriation of the rights of the private box-holders of ihe Scala Opera, in accordance with ihe plan of reorganisation of the institution, Ernesto Belloni, Podesta of Milan, informed those box-holders recently that their rights would be taken over at once. These box-holders, according to a dispatch 'to II Progrcsso Halo-Americano, will be indemnified in cash, the amounts to be iixed by a special commission. The expropriated boxes are to be offered fo the public in the same waj as the individual seats. Musical Moments. Paul Althouse, who delighted New Zealand audiences with his singing a few seasons back, is singing in opera in America.