MUSIC AND DRAMA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2, 14 January 1905, Page 23

MUSIC AND DRAMA.

Mr J. If. Philpott, organist of St Paul’s Church, has resigned his position

It is estimated that the late Dan lino’s funeral was viewed by at least A quarter of a million people.

Mr Pete Hughes is managing for Mr J. C. Williamson the forthcoming tour in Australia of Mr A. Van Bien', the ’cellist actor, in “A Broken Melody.”

Herr Slupoffski has gone io America to rejoin his wife, Madame ".'slap,” who has scored a distinct success over the 'herring pond.”

In Gisborne last week, the Auckland choir from St. Thomas’ Church in that city gave a most successful concert. Their tour is proving a great success.

A matinee was given at the Tivoli Theatre on December 21 to provide a. Christmas dinner for 1000 poor people. The takings amounted to £l7. and Mr Harry Rickards intimated that he would make up the £lOO by giving £53.

The Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society are very diligent in their rehearsals. One notices that principals and orchestra, as well as chorus, were busy at work even in New Year week, which is usually accounted “'in the holidays.”

The cable announcement that Miss Ada Crossley has been engaged as principal contralto for the- famous Norwich festival of 1905 will be warmly received by the songstress’ many New Zealand friends. Miss Crossley left a far greater number of admirers in this colony than did “the marble Melba.”

Mr John Fuller, of the Empire Entertainers, intends to leave Auckland in a short time for a sea eruise through the Islands and along the coast of Australia and Tasmania. He will be six weeks at sea, and not more than two days ashore at any time. By this means his health should be recruited very much.

The New Zealand tour of Tittel Brune, whose successes in Sydney ajul Melbourne have already been noted, begins at Wellington on March 9, with Auckland for Easter, and Christchurch and Dunedin to follow. Harold Ashton, who is. ahead of the Knight-Jeffries combination, mapped out the tour, and will be the advance pilot.

Manager Musgrove has commenced supplying patrons of Ute circle and front stalls of the Lyceum (Sydney) with refreshments free of charge. Rickards is said to be thinking of following his lead. It seems to be an unwise thing to begin; if managers don’t look out it’ll become as. big a curse to them as counter lunches to publicans.

‘"The Skirt Dancer.” having run a week to enormous and delighted Auckland audience#, is to be replaced this (Wednesday) evening by “The Dandy Doctor,” which will run till the termination of the season, which, by the way, has lieeu phenomenally successful. Mr George Stephenson lias secured in London “Miss Mischief,” which is said to be the best musical comedy produced in 1904.

Mlle. Alda, the granddaughter of Mine. Fannie SiirtiMiwen, well known in New Zealand years ago, has followed up her successful first appearance in “Manon” at La Monnaie, Brussels, by an even more striking impersonation of Marguerite in Gounod’s “Faust,” in the same theatre. The Belgian critics are loud in her praises, and speak with equal enthusiasm of her charming voice and her charming face. Many New Zealanders «lio admired young Boris Hambourg when here with his brother Mark, the clever, but father noisy, pianist, will be glad to hear <f his london debut. The “Strad” says; “Boris Hambourg, a fine young violoncellist, and M. Abbas, another, appeared at the end of last month on consecutive

days, and both met with good success. At present the former is the more finished player, but both are far above the average, and as they are still young —• I imagine their united ages to bi well under forty—there is ro saying where ultimately they may not reach.”

The death from heat apoplexy of Mr f'unard, well-known in connection with theatrical matters, was reported by able from Melbourne last week. Mr Cunard trine to this colony many years ago as one of the partners in the Kellard and t'ttnard Company. He then became manager of the business in Melbourne of Mr J. A. Miller, and last visited the colony as manager of the Brough and Boucicault Burlesque Company.

The proceeds of the theatrical carnival in aid of the Gertie Campion Fund,given in Dunedin rwsntly. after all expemaas have been paid, amounts to £lOO. The total subscriptions and donations to the fund will amount to close upon £OOO. Miss Campion had another relapse recently, and last advices regarding her state'of health go to show that it will be impossible to remove her from South Africa to this colony before February at the earliest.

The many friends of Mrs Annis Montagu Turner, the. once famous operatie singer, will lie pleased to learn that she still enjoys her retirement at Honolulu, and cherishes happy memories of New Zealand. Mr John Davies, of Kercrti. called on her when on his way to America last year, found her looking exceedingly well, and had an interesting conversation with her, in the course of which she made inquiries regarding New Zealand people.

“Miss Florence Young cuts herself adrift from opera bardie when she ends her present engagement. In Yankeeland she will rest a while, then set her course for a grand opera career. She is a shrewd and cautious mummer, and isn't likely to take such a step without good promise of success. It is understood that she was offered good inducements to stay in Australia and iaise her voice in comic opera song, but declined, with unwavering emphasis. ’Tis further said that Florence leaves with the biggest banking account yet credited to any Atistralian she-mummer.

The Tiniaru Operatic Society gave a successful performaaoe of “La Ma.scatte,” last week. Tito theatre was crowded, and a great many disappointed of getting seats. The company had gone to great expense in mounting the opera, and the dressing was very bright and gay. The musical portion w good. The principals were Misses Hole and Gilchrist, Messrs S. Gilchrist and T. Palliser, vocalists; and Messrs IT. S. Moore and C. Healey supplied the comic libretto parts. The choruses were well given, and the orchestra did good service. Mr Alex. Munro conducted, and Mr Coombs was leader of the orchestra.

Speaking of 'music in Christchurch during 1904, a local writer says: “Nothing but regret can be expressed at the retirement of Mr Walkxce, so long the foremost in our local musical circles, and who has done so much to uplift the standard of music in our midst. It is. however, matter for congratulation that the two local societies have been enabled Io secure so distinguished a musician as Dr. Bradshaw to succeed Mr Wallace. The Musical Union have done excellent work during the year, ami the success attendant, upon the production of “Faust” will, no doubt, induce the committee to produce other works of a similar character— perhaps in the direel ion of opera di camera.”

Not long ago theatrical posters and photographs in Melbourne used to display exclusively beauteous Indies with tut little clothing; now, says the “Australasian,” they show nothing but the brawny arms and bare chests of in n. The human form divine is still the attraction; the sex has changed, that is

alt. Hacken climidt, the “Russian lie®,* whose thews and sinews are pictured everywhere, is now showing his biceps to thronged and exaited crowds at the Opera House. He is a wonderful wrestler—“a doer, not a talker,” as “W.C.” used to declare himself; and to the uninitiated appears an Achilles minus the faulty tendon.

At a recent jumble sale in connection with a small Methodist bazaar iu the south of England, an old fiddle, covered with dust and denuded of bridge and pegs, which had been discovered in » lumber-rcom by a good lady engaged in the sales- was disposed of for six shillings. A few weeks later it was sold by the lucky purchaser for over £lOO, and it subsequently ehanged hands for no less than £l5OO, having lieeu discovered to bn a genuine Strad, of the best period. It is not recorded whether any part of the sum found its way into the coffers of the Methodists, who had so cheaply east away such a wonderful bit of treasuret rot e. The following rather smart verses were inspired by the breast- of the “Bulletin” man by Miss Titell Brune’s L'AIGLON. The sickly son of Buonaparte, Of Buonaparte the Great. He dreamed a dream and schemed a scheme To bank the plans of Fate; Despite his coft' the pampered toff Felt yearning for renown. He’d fain legain the bauble vain. Yclept “His Father's Crown"— On bed of pain lie sighed in vain To wear Iris Father's Crown. That feeble son of BuonaparteFoor. pallid, girly chap' He staked It's name upon a game. A little game of Nap. Death laughed at bantling Buonaparte, And marked hint for the tomb; The heir of France got ne’er a chance To ’scape Ills early doom. His eoff grew worse, a dismal heatse Was shadowed on the wall; Ho wept by stealth because his health Had tied beyond recall. (Youth, love anil wealth Are naught when health Is gone beyond recall.) He scored no l ricks, he wore no plume Of triumph In his cap: Death grimly played a dual spade And closed the game of Nap.