DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 37, 10 September 1892, Page 902

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.

THE success achieved in these colonies by the cheap edition of the ‘ Bancroft Memoirs ’ has been of so decided a character that the portrait of the charming authoress will interest many. Liar picture, being taken from a recent photograph, represents Mrs Bancroft as she is—matronly somewhat—but still mischievous-look-ing. To any who have not read the ‘ Memoirs ’ they are most emphatically recommended. Next to seeing the Bancrofts act —a pleasure we are not likely to have —the most enjoyable thing is to read their book. Leon Driver, the young pianist who has lately been touring the colony, gave a benefit concert in Auckland last week. Tne young man, who is unquestionably clever, wants to go Home to prosecute the study of his profession, and the sooner he does so the better for himself and his art. As we have intimated before, Mr Driver is admirable in execution and technique, and will make a name for himself and for the colony when once he has discovered that he has a vast amount to unlearn before he can style himself a musician. Technique and execution are, after all, mere matters of practice, and unless they have something to back them up, will never move mens souls or even enchain their attention for any lengthy period. The musical fireworks with which Mr Driver loves to dazzle his audience are occasionally electrical in their effect, and they frequently command wonder, but they are not music. We have not the slightest doubt that, were the order given, some Brummagem firm or other would turn out a mechanical pianist who would play with the same marvellous facility of rapid execution so remarkable in Mr Driver ; for truth to tell, the young man is at present nothing more nor less than a machine. His execution is unsurpassed—we really believe unsurpassable, but then e'est fini. The rest must lie learned. Pooch, expression, sympathy, artistic appreciation of the beauties of light and shade—these are at present conspicuous by their absence in Mr Driver’s playing—that they will come we have no doubt. When Mr Driver goes to Germany, his execution will be commended, but he will be told that •he knows nothing else.’ This, though too severe and not quite truthful, will do him a world ot good, and his fellow students will soon reduce the self-appreciation which forms so great a barrier to the success of many and many a young artist. In a few years Mr Driver will be famous, and the colony wil be proud of him. He has, however, as we have said, a good deal to unlearn, as well as learn, first. He must find out that an assumption of ‘ Frenchiness ’ does not make a musician. He will cutoff his long lank hair (which most annoyingly will not grow nicely and flowing like a Rubenstein ora Beethoven) and get himself sunburned. Long hair and effeminate peculiarities of appearance are atoned for by the genius of a Paderewski, but they sit with an ill grace on the shoulders of a colonial musician in the rough. He will learn that posturings and equine tossings of the head are not sublime but ridiculous, and be cured of the many absurd affectations with which he is at present somewhat overburdened. He will be taught that a simple bow on answering to an encore is preferable and more dignified than strange contortions and undulating motions of the body from the feet np. He will recognise that be is only one of many ‘ sketches ’ of great men in their profession of whom the world has many millions, and that on his realization of this at an early date depend his chances of becoming finished.

Above all he will abjure the ‘ Monsieur' and the Lion and acknowledge his colonial extraction. It is a good thing to be a colonial, Mr Driver, and a very proud thing to be a Thames boy, and to have taught oneself enough of music to go home and make a name, of which not only you and your Thames friends will be proud, but of which the colony will also be proud. England is not always to have the monopoly of producing the best of everything, and a good colonial name will soon, we hope, be as valuable a cachet for a musician as a German or accented French nomenclature.

Foli received the greatest reception ever accorded to a vocalist in Dunedin. Santley was great sometimes, Patey a success, but Foli, who is to our certain knowledge still at the zenith of his fame, and whose voice is unimpaired by age or other things, has achieved a triumph. He is now on his way up the .colony. In Wellington Foli ought to do magnificent business. He is undoubtedly the best singer we have had in New Zealand, probably the best we shall have.