MUSIC AND DRAMA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 15, 15 April 1905, Page 22

MUSIC AND DRAMA.

Wirth’s Circus left Auckland for Sydney on Monday evening, after a successful week’s season.

The famous violinist Sevcik, the ■teacher of the still more famous Kube lik, has just received the Grand Cross of the Order of Francis .Joseph of Austria from the Emperor.

Mr Percy Grainger is giving recitals in London along with the young Danish ’eellist, Herman Sandby. The critic of the “Athenaeum” says, “The ctrength of his technique was fully demonstrated in his effective performance of Tsehaikowsky’s acting Sonata in G major, and he also showed skill in his treatment of two rhapsodies, by Sir Charles Stanford, founded on scenes from Dante's “Inferno.”

Captain Seott-Harden, who has been in the East as war correspondent during the Russo-Japanese War, is lecturing this week in the Federal Hall upon his experiences. Among the features of his lecture, which is profusely illustrated with limelight views, lire his interview with Kuropatkin at Mukden, the battle of Liao-yang, "how I ran the blockade'at Port Arthur and came out in a Russian destroyer,” meeting with Admiral Togo on board the Misaka, etc.

Mr “Freddy” Lloyd has many friends in different parts of the colosiy 'who will be glad to hear he is doing very well in London, having joined Mr Tree's School of Acting. At a recent performance of Caste at His Majesty's Theatre, specially rehearsed by Sir Squire and Lady Bancroft, Mr Lloyd took the part of Captain Hawtree, and was singled out for special praise by the critics, while Lady Bancroft is reported to have been specially delighted with a most finished performance.

There can be no doubt as to the value and excellence of the work done by the Auckland Orchestral Society under the baton of Mr Alfred Hill. A really capital band has been got together, and at the first concert, held last week in the Choral Hall, it was obvious much enthusiasm has been shown at rehearsal, for an ambitious and excellent programme was most admirably carried out. Every item was warmly appreciated by an audience which was in entire sympathy with the performers. The second concert will be eagerly looked forward to.

Musicians, ns well as others, are suffering from the terrible state of affairs in Russia. Mme. Kusa. one of the leading sopranos at the Imperial Russian Opera, has been dismissed for expressing her sympathy with the unfortunate people who were shot down in the streets of St. Petersburg, and her dismissal has been followed by the resignation of Shaliapine, the first basso, and an immense favourite with the public. Jhe police subsequently broke

into a reunion of the Society of Modern Musicians, and dispersed the meeting, on the ground that not more than five people were permitted to assemble at one time in the city. ' The rooms were closed, and all the music was seized, and placed under seal.

Massenet’s opera, “Le Jongleur de Notre Dame,” is steadily growing in popularity. It is of a distinctly religious character, and its composer styles it a “miracle.” not an opera. It tells the story of Jean, the Juggler, who, stricken down with penitence, enters » monastery. He finds, hi>wever, that he has nothing to render in the way of service, such as his brother monks perform. He can neither illuminate missals, nor carve statues of the saints, nor chant the Latin psalms. Finally, he resolves to offer the only thing he has in his power, his juggling tricks and comie songs. As he makes this offering before the altar, a bright light bursts from it, the image of the Virgin extends its hand, and beckons him forward. He obeys the sign, and falls dead at the feet of the statue. The lesson of the acceptability to God of whatever each man can do best is a sound one. The music is quaint and refined; the orchestration masterly throughout.

Air. George Fuller Golden, the monologue entertainer who arrived by the last ’Frisco mail boat, to join the-exception-ally excellent variety company which Mr Rickards is sending round this colony, is certainly one of the most original and fascinating personalities who have corns amongst us to make us laugh. His turn is quite unique. One cannot compare him to Spurr, nor yet to Sweet, both of whom were excellent, but from whom he

differs entirely, occupying a place between the drawing-room methods o£ the former and the broad farce of the latter. The turn is, in brief, unique, and it would be difficult to describe it in any fashion which would convey an adequate conception of its most excellent fooling. From the moment he steps on the stage, the American has the audience with him, and he keeps them in a simmer of merriment. which fairly bubbles over with uproarious laughter ns one inimitable stroke of humour succeeds another. Unlike so many self-termed entertainers. Sir Golden never, in the language of the stage, “’throws his points at the audience's heads. Rather, does he score time, after time by a restraint, which adds enormously to the fun. He leaves infinitely more than most stage folks to the intelligence of the audience, and the smartness and intense enjoyment with which he is taken up shows how welcome is this innovation. It is many years since so great, a reception has been accorded any variety performer of this stamp as that bestowed on this artist, and a very successful tour is assured to Mr Golden all over the colonies. He in himself is a show, and the company of which he is the bright particular star is altogether one of the best which have visited New Zealand. A second and third visit confirm this opinion, but one must protest mildly against the inclu»ion of so inedicore a turn as that of the gentleman who sings comie songs of the S l>ve (k>t to Go Back to Work" order. There is no wit, no music in the songs, which are somewhat indifferently sung, and this one tawdry turn sensibly depresses the audience, and lowers the very high average of the show. Moreover, the programme, is long enough without the items referred to. If in future omitted, not only would they never be missed, but the verve and. of the show would, not suffer any interruption, as it does at present.

Mr J. C. Williamson’s Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Opera Company, which has been much looked forward to. will make its first appearance in Auckland on Saturday evening next, the 15th ins?., at His Majesty’s Theatre, and will introduce six of the most charming of Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan’s operatic gems, namely, “Patience, ‘ The Mikado,” “H.M.S. Pinafore,” lolanthe,” “The Yeoman of the Guard,” and ‘ The Pirates of Penzance.” The Opening production of the Auckland season will be the delightful aesthetic opera. “Patience,” which in its recent revival bv this company in Sydney and Wellington was played to enormous business, and was generally voted to be one of the greatest successes of the season. “Patience” will be played for four nights only, and will be followed by “The Mikado” on Thursday, April 20. Tne company, which is a very large one, numbering between 00 and 100 people, including a grand comic opera chorus and orchestra, will arrive on Saturday morning from Wellington, where it has had a phenomenally successful time, extending over three weeks. There are a few old favourites, but the new faces have all become most popular in Wellington, and Press reports speak in most eulogistic terms of the entire combination. Amongst the new faces is Miss Polly Castles (sister of Amy Castles, the famous young Australian soprano). Who, only a short time back, returned to Australia after two years’ training

under the leading masters of Europe. Mr Williamson heard this young lady in Paris, and immediately arranged with her to come to Australia, having the idea of this organisation in his mind. The result proves the wisdom of bin choice, for this bright and dainty little artiste has more than pleased Melbourne and Sydney critics, being specially suited to this class of opera. Mr Frank Wilson is the principal baritone of the company, and he comes with a big reputation from the Savoy and other leading London theatres. Other artistes are Mr Charles Kenningham (principal tenor), from the Savoy Theatre, London,Mr H. H. Wallace (comedian), Miss Venia d’Loitte, Miss Aggie Thorn, Miss Ruby Arnfield, whilst Auckland playgoers will welcome old favourites in Mr Howard Vernon, Mr J. Ralston, Mr Ernest Fitz, and Miss Celia Ghiioni. The magnificent chorus and orchestra is under the direction of M. Leon Caron, and the operas will be produced under the direction of Mr Henry Bracy. This attraction, Mr Williamson asserts, is the grandest combination he has ever sent on tour through New Zealand. The box plans for the first eight nights of the season are now on view at Messrs Wildman and Arey’s. It is understood the staging and dressing of the operas will be fully up to Mr Williamson's most sumptuous previous productions.