THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF MUSIC.

Backhaus’ Tour. Herr Backhaus, the famous pianist sailed for Australia this week, and will commence his season at the Sydnej Town Hall next Saturday, under L. J. Grave stock’s management. He will subsequently tour Australia and New Zealand, ilis programmes will be selected mainly from the works of Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert, Chopin and Brahms. New Zealand Pianist in London. Mr Guy Marriner, pianist (late of Auckland), arrived in London recently from New York, where he has for six years been studying under Madame Theresa M. Nelson, an Englishwoman, who herself studied in Germany under eminent professors. While in New York he played at numerous invitation recitals, hut he waited to come to London before making a public debut. Since reaching London Mr Marriner lias received a letter, forwarded from New York, from a German impressario, who has offered to arrange a tour in

Germany for him this year. Mr Marriner was in Hamilton some years ago with Chautauqua. Galli-Curcl Criticises Grand Opera. Grand opera, sung in a foreign tongue and performed by plump sopranos and thick-necked tenors, was recently condemned by one ol' the world's greatest operatic stars, Madame Galli-Curci. “It is old-fashioned entertainment, pompous, slow, and full of innumerable absurdities, such as men and women who sing while they are dying, or men singing at great length just before carving another up,’,’ was her criticism. Madame Galli-Curci pointed out that the part of Mimi, the heroine of “La Bohemc,” is usually played by a large woman, who must be carried to a couch, dying from consumption, by an undersized tenor. Alfred O'Shea In America. A writer in the London Daily Mail says: “From America I hear that Alfred

O’Shea, the Irish-Australian tenor, has just given his first recital in N'evv York. He has not been heard in London for a long time now —more's the pity. I am only surprised that he has not yet been lured into the talkies. He is a strong, blunt-faced man of the Victor Maclaglcn type, but perhaps the effortless purity of his tenor voice would be thought out of keeping with his appearance.” Cantata by Presbyterian Choir. The well-known cantata, Maunders “ Olivet to Calvary,” will be rendered by St, Andrew’s Presbyterian Church choir next Wednesday. Mr E. H. ApthOrp will preside at the organ. ...Mendelssohn’s “Hear My- Prayer” WjU also be given. The soloists will be Mrs Geo. Boyes and Mr J. T. Baltershy.