Music and Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 26, 29 June 1907, Page 26

Music and Drama

Air ( I ircnce Brone, the husband of the much-worshipped Miss Tittell Brune, has taken the re-built and beautiful Bijou Theatre on behalf of a wealthy Atneri can syndicate, remarks the “Critic.” Their intentions are big, and their enthusiasm great. The theatre has been leased for a lengthy term, and current American successes will be presented. A very good company will be formed, and will include imported artists and the best local talent. The first production will he “For Her Children’s Sake,” from the pen of the author of the enormously successful “Fatal Wedding.” The stage manager has arrived, and preparations for the opening arc advancing rapidly. Mr Brune appeared in Sydney some two years ago, and since then has been in America. Ji The Adelaide “Critic" says that Mr G. H. Barnes, or “Mr Barnes, of New York," as he is jocularly named by his friends, is about to enter into partnership with Miss Ilina Cooper in that lady's new dramatic organisation. Ji

Without exception, the references to Miss Marie Hall’s art in tin* Melbourne Press have been of the. most eulogistic nature, and she has definitely added the music lovers of the city, to the list of captives her brilliant pjaying has all. oyer the world bound to the magic, of : her Strad. The ‘Melbourne "Argus” in its initial notice, using as its .text the'prelude to “Lohengrin,” which . formed the first orchestral number of her opening concert, says: “As the Knight’ ‘of the Grail gained EUa with a word, so Miss

Marie Hall won the ■ hearts of music lovers with a-note, the purest note of a violin heard here for many a day. . . .

She caresses and coaxes it from her instrument, making it sink through the passion of a Max Bruch concerto or the tenderness of a Mendelssohn andante by the compelling power of genius. . , .

She makes no and triumphs over the difficulties of high harmonies, octaves, mazey sixths, and all the complicated paraphernalia of the violinist with the insouciance of genius.

She has the inherent refinement of taste to give to even commonplace music an indefinable charm, while with m'elody of a nobler mould the result is an exquisite womanly style, the perfection of interpretative art.” And the ‘'Melbourne Age" says that Miss Hall played with exquisite finish and charm, while of her . rendering of the Paganini concerto it doubts, in so many words, whether the great composer himself could have played it better. No less enthusiastic were the criticisms of the weekly papers, and it may be said without reservation that the brilliant young violinist’s recognition struck a note of unanimous enthusiasm. The N.Z. tour commences in Wellington on .July 4. Ji Madame Carenno has placed her three daughters at school in Melbourne for three months. Ji Miss Mari? Narelle, owing to indisposition, did not complete her concert lour, and is now resting in Sydney. JU According to arrangements, three instiuinentalistsjwill, tour Australasia with Madame Clara Butt and her husband. These are Mr. Frank Merrick, a pupil of Lesyhstizky, who. 'has. made a name for’ himself as a pianist, Barre Squire.,-- a violinist and brother of the famous ’cellist and composer, W. H. Squire, and Mr. Arthur Godfrey, who will fill the duties of accompanist, and ■has earned a good deal of appreciation for his comic opera, “Little Miss Nobody.” Ji Ji Tn connection with the London College of Music examination to be held at the-various centres in 1907-8, one of the examiners will be Mr. Theodore S. Tearne, Mus. Bac. Oxon, who is making a special journey from England for this purpose. Ji Ji Supposing (and there is no reason to doubt it) that the Julius Knight Company keep up to their opening standard in the matter of public patronage, ■ Mr. Williamson will seldom, if eyer, have scored more heavily in Auckland than during the present dramatic season which opened on Monday at His Majesty’s Theatre. There was a large and brilliantly dressed gathering in the dress circle and orchestra stalls’ including one or two dinner and theatre parties, and packed benches elsewhere, while, moreover, the atmosphere of the house even before the curtain rose was one of welcome to Mr. Knight, as an old favourite, and the new artists associated with him.

Robin Hood, with its fresh breezy romance, its lovely scenery, and its woodland songs and old world ditties, was a sure card for the management to play. It held the audience in thrall from the commencement, and even those, disposed to be hypercritical on the “east” of the play, were disarmed by the frank tone of the production and its wholesomeness, and absence of affectation. To pass an agreeable evening nothing better of its sort could be contrived. The male portion of the cast is not only particularly strong, but is unusually well balanced and the ladies stiffer by comparison. They are weak throughout with the notable exception of Miss Wilson as Alison, the millerjs wife. • Miss Elbert Orton looks the heroine Marian de Vaux to admiration, but makes'small

'use Of the acting possibilities of the part, which deserve better harrdling. Mr. Knight is excellent, and every single other male part is capably played, Friar Tuck and Little John being particularly deserving of the best that 'can be 'said of them. If the romantic drama'can be staged as a matinee, every V’btingsfer Tn Auckland of the age of nine-and upwards should be taken. It**may'not' teach them accurate history, but “H will give them a taste for the traditions of England. which is almost as good and just as important. J* J» ’ ’ In consequence, no doubt, of the added attention which her approaching departure from Australia has attracted to Miss Tittell Brune, several more or less ridiculous rumours have recently been set afloat about her advents, both past and prospective, to Australia. Regarding the former, the story goes that Miss Brun?, came out on the chance of getting an engagement, saw Mr. Williamson, was engaged by him and — the rest followed. The real circumstances were yery different. Mr Williamson was in search of a “star” actress when he last paid a visit to the United States, and when in New York, Miss Brune was strongly recommended as like/ to suit Australian taste. He promptly entered into negotiations with her, and she arrived here under formal contract. Another “yarn” equally sparing of the truth is to the effect that Miss Brune will shortly take up work in Australia under another management.. Manifestly unfair to her as it is, this requires an emphatic contradiction. Miss Brune is going away in September on a prolonged holiday, the first six months of which she has already mapped out. After that her plans are uncertain, but this much is decided. When she returns to Australia it will be under Mr J. C. Williamson's management — a contract to that effect having already been entered into between the parties. Ji Ji In every company a great advantage is gained if the members have worked together before, and in this respect Mr J. C, Williamson’s new Musical Comedy Company is exceptionally fortunate. Four of tire principals—Missesjtlaispe tVallace and Maud Thorne, Messis. Victor Gouriet arid Myles Clifton • — have only recently coinpleted a' twenty months’ tour of South Africa as members of -the same. London Gaiety Company, in the course of which they played in all the pieces in which they are shortly to appear in Aus tralia. All four of them, moreover, at. one time or another, played on the same stage as Mr Reginald Kenneth and Mr Harold Parks, the former the bari tone and’the latter one of the comedians of the company. The balance of the principals—the Misses Murphy, Miss Celia Ghiloni, and Mr Pat. Bathurst—are alt Australians, and as Australians are particularly quick and adaptable, it is patent that the new organisation will be especially strong in co-operation, as they undoubtedly will be in individual work. Ji Ji Miss Ola Humphrey is working “ real hard” during her last weeks in Melbourne, occupying herself not only with her stage work but also with the writing of a novel of 18th century life. The plot is taken from that of an unpublished drama which Miss Humphrey wrote some time ago. and for which she received many flattering opinions from American managers. After being published in book form the novel may, it is allowable to suggest, be “dramatised”, anew, and, if so, th? manager, who secures it and engages. Miss Humphrey for the leading role, will have “a sure thing.” Ji Ji Miss Tittell Bruno.,has .always been an idol of. “the gods,” but the general public do not realise the depth to which their devotion attains. There are in Melbourne, for example, two sisy?rs who for the last two seasons of Miss Brune there never missed a-single one of the 227 performan ces, and were always at the stage door with a bouquet for their favourite. Comparable to these were. “The Twenty,” a band of Melbourne working girls wlio not only went to -the theatre whenever they could, hut; having found that Miss Brune attended early service’ at a Melbourne church, were wont to go there too, just to lie in the same place of worship' aS she was. These girls clubbed together just

before Miss Brune left Melbourne and presented her, without any fuss or self advertisement, with a prayer book. Ji Ji ■ >'■■

■ The “ Evening Herald” (Melbourne), prints the following with respect to the opening concert in the Victoria capital, of Madame Albani’s 'Concert Company, which is to be hoard on this side at no distant- date. The company, by the,way, is the' largest? and (according to the statement of the management) the liest that has ever' been brought from England to the Southern Continent.

“Madame Albani and her company gave their first conceit last night in the Melbourne Town Hall. ' A miscellaneous programme was well received by a large audience, that showed its appreciation of the i(;oye(?dings by Vrequent and hearty applause, and had the satisfaction of lengthening the concert by obtaining seven or eight encore numbers. The famous singer was honoured by a great reception from the assemblage. .Her first selection, the aria, ‘ L’Amero,* from Mozart’s ‘II re Pastore,’ at once gave convincing proof of the high artistic qualities which have secured to Madame Albani a distinguished place among contemporary singers. The voice, especially in its upper register, is still full arid sweet, and in the excellent management of the breath, the artist sets a shining example to all aspiring vocalists. The aria, finely rendered in true Mozartean style, and ably supported by the violin obligato of Mr. Haydn Wood, was much appreciated. Madame Albani, who was repeatedly recalled and presented with beautiful flowers, added Braga’s

' Serenata,’ in ..which also she was assisted by Mr. Wood’s violin. An ‘Ave Maria,' from Max Bruch’s cantata, ‘Das Feuerkrenz gave Madame Albani the opportunity of displaying her emotional qualities. . The dramatic scena, sung with passionate vivacity, was responsible for another encore, .which this time took the shape of the popular .’Twas within, a Mile of Edinboro’ Toon,' in a rendering of graceful archness. A very sweet, and. sympathetic interpretation of Dvonik’s Songs my Mother Taught me.,’ and the .brilliant- performance of Arditi’s .waltz ‘ Rosebuds,’, a bravura piece .abounding, ip. staccati and arpeggi, scales ; and shake,s. also were received with acclamation, and had to be supplemented by. .another addition, this time ‘ Home. S'yeat , Homes’..artistically and feelingly, sung.

“ Two vocalists and three instrumentalists complete Madame Albani’s company. Miss Mildred Jones possesses an extensive and flexible contralto voice, and was much applauded and encored for her expressive and tasteful singing of> Hatton’s ‘ The Enchantress,’ and Bunning’s ‘ Where Dewdrops Sleep.’ .- Her added . numbers were"<’-Hullah’s .‘Three Fishers’ and ‘Shepherd’s Cradle Song’ by Somerville. Mr. William Greer., a tenore robusto of considerable compass and power, has his voice well tinder’control, and skilfully uses'.his head register. He suceeded in gaining the favour of the audience,' and showed himself quite at home in Towis’s sentimental ‘Mother o’ Mine,’ in A. Vernels ‘My Mother Loves me To-day,’ and in Lloyd’s ‘ A Song of the South’ given as an encore. He joined Miss Jones in M.-V; White’s duet, ‘ It is na Jean, thy Bonnie Face’ (Burns), which Was delicately rendered by both singers. Miss Myrtle Meggy, a young Australian pianiste, and Mr;' Wood opened the concert with a pleasing performance of three movements(allegro, moderato and finale) from Sciiutt’s D minor suite. Miss Meggy also contributed Liszt’s twelfth Hungarian Rhapsody, an interesting prelude by Rachmaninoff, arid Study in G flat by Chopin. The yormg l hidy is gifted, especially. on the executive side, possessing a flexible wrist and deft fingers. Miss Meggy was well received’’ and heaTtily applauded. Mr. Wood proved himself a violinist of considerable attainments. In Huliay’s ‘ Plevna Noth" and? ill Harasate’s ‘Gipsy Dance * he easily mastered the difliciilties of the mixlern virtuoso school, while he showed taste arid feeling in his renderings' of Chopin’s ‘ Nbctiii’ne/ ’!' Schuman’s ‘ TraeuTOcrei ’ and ’ Cui’s ‘ Berceuse,’ the latter two being ericofe numbers. Mr. ThtodOre Flint, who acted as conductor and acconipariist; <lid his work ably and tastefully.” : . The BlHek-BVCfayslav Cdneeji Comp'any Will' "give ii' illioft' three-night season in “tlie Choral ‘Hall, opening ria

Thursday, Jifly 4th. It Is seldom two eueli, world-fained ajtwts are. heard on the satjie platform in New Zealand. Leopold Premyslav was born at Warsaw in 1884, and was a pupil of Moritz Rosen and of Joseph Joachim. When a boy he was summoned to play before the Kaiser, in 1897 before the Queen ; Qt 'Denmark; since then he has met with most wonderful success.- In Sydney- and Melbourne he has been the recipient of great ovatiops. Such phenomenal success has indeed hardly ever been accorded to a violinist in the colonies. Mr Andrew Black, who was so well received in Auckland ~ a year or two back, will be remembered as one of England’s greatest bassos. His wonderful enunciation and control over his voeal organs are an education, besides a great source of pleasure to his audience. As an exponent of oratorio, Mr ■Black to-day stands pre-eminent in England. An exceedingly high-class entertainment was given in St. David’s Parish Hall, Auckland, on Friday evening last, 22nd inst., by. Mr. E. 'S. Cranston and Mr. W. Steel, both connected with St. David’s Church. The programme, which was not a light one, consisteel entirely of items given by these gentlemen, and they must have felt considerably relieved towards the end of the evening. Mascagni’s ever-popular "Intermezzo” (violin and piano) formed the opening item. In Trowbridge’s “The Vagabonds” showed advantage Mr. Steel’s elocutionary powers, and displayed great dramatic effect in Webb’s "A Life for a Life.” Mr Craston’s numbers were all of the draw-ing-room order, and were given with careful expression. The difficult scent by Henry Russell was very suitably preceded by the performer’s description of London life;'tvli'ieh enhanced the effect. We think Mr Craston’s best items were "The Two * Spoons,” arid Grossmith’s “Mr and Mrs Brown’s Evening Party,” which were admirably rendered. The unique representation of the “ Scissor-Grinder’s Serenade ” by Mr. Steel, was excellent. Towards the close Mr Craston contributed remarks upon the life of the Trite Dr. Newman in connection with Mr Steel’s wellchosen “Not Understood," By' the de-servedly-famed New Zeala'nd poet, Blacken. The Rev. A.' C. Wedderspoon, ■M.A., thanked the performers arid ladies who had' kindly assistßd''in the arrangements, and the appreciative audience. ' The proceeds are for the choir fund of the church. d* St.- Patrick’s Operatic Society, Auckland, ' will, on July. 9th and following nights, present . Vineent Wallace’s charming and ever favourite opera, "Maritana. In"order to assure a distinct success, the society have specially engaged for, the pai’ts of “Don Caesar” and “Maritana Mr. Janies Crabtree and Miss Rosina Buckinann. Mr. Crabtree is a .high lyric tenor; he will come. over from Sydney especially to fulfil this engagement. He is highly spoken of in the colonies, for his artistic singing, both with the Sydney Philharmonic . and Liedertafel Societies. Miss Rosina Buekmann is well-known in Auckland; she is indeed a soprano of rare excellence. Miss Madeline Knight is to be the Lazarillo; Mr. Cecil Ryan, the Don Jose; Mr..?Lonergan. the King; Mr. Johnson, the captain; Mr, Owen Pritchard. the Aleade; Mr. Allan McElwain, the marquis; Mrs. Nelson, the .marchioness. .On Thursday night.a new feature will be introduced, when the, society will give us a new, ‘■•Maritana,” in the person of Miss L. Knight, sister to, Miss Madeline Knight. Much has been spoken in high praise of this lady's, eonoe.ption of the part. Scats may now be reserved for the season ,at Wildniag. pnd. Arey’s.

At His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, during the week ~beginning July 15th, music-lovers in , ,the. Northern pity will again have the. opportunity of hearing that distinguished. Scottish, singer, Miss Jessie Maclacbhin,. On. thy above date the “Queen of,iScottifsh Song” will begin her farewell toor of Zealand, and, after a visit to Tasmariig and Victoria, •will return tp l)er native, land, via the East. Miss Maelayhlan,. who made quite a sensation in on thq occasion of her first visit, is ,megtipg with the same extraordinary success as before, and it goes without saying that she will experience another warm welcome in New Zealand. Duying hpr. recent visit to Scotland, she was fortunate enough to (Secure the scryipes pf Mr. Dxpiglps Young,

who has the. reputation of being the best tenor ,Scotland has yet produced. Ills voice is said to be of splendid quality auu of.extensive range. The other metiers of the party are Mr. John .(’cellist) and Mr. Robert Buchanan pianist). As formerly, the Australasian tour is under the direction of Mr. Fredric Shipman, whose representative, Mr. Frank Talbot, is at present in this colony, making all the necessary arrangements. J* db A CATACLYSMIC CRITIQUE. A MARIE HALL CONCERT IF AUSTRALIA. From the firm of musical impressarios responsible for the introduction of Miss Marie Hall, violinist, to New Zealard and Australia, we have received a typewritten slip apparently quoted from somj Australian publication, with a request to reprint the same as an advance notice.

It is with much pleasure we extend the customary Press courtesy in this direction, the more so, as it will be at once recognised that the article is a literary gem, so flawless, so exquisite, so unique that it would be both unjust and unkind to prevent our readers from sharing the supreme, unadulterated enjoyment which its perusal has afforded ourselves.

Our only sorrow is that the name of the writer is not available, or failing that, the paper which owns the services of a critic of such unexampled soul, and possessed of so rich, nay, so riotous an imagination. He, or is it possible it is a she, commences awesomely—■'Silence.

"As she crosses the stage and comes down to the footlights, through the great hush of the packed house, whose crowds quiver with expectancy, you, who have never before seen Marie Hail, will feel a shock of keen disappointment. You have come to see and to hear a famous woman violinist, and there will stand before you a simple, unaffected child, with great sad eyes; a girl, slender and fragile and delicate, dressed simply in white like your own school-girl daughter at your side. She Is not beautiful, only ineffably sweet; there Is about her none of the compelling persona* magnetism of the great concert performers, no mannerisms, no aggressive self assurance. As she stands there swaying in the glare of the footlights, a lonely figure before the great crowd, you, who know het story, see in her the little violinist of the Bristol streets; and perhaps she too sees beyond you and past the glare of the lights and the’ glitter of jewels, back into the old life, for there is no smile In the sombre, thoughtful eyes, nor on the pale girlish face. The throbbing prelude echoes away and dies"?

This, as being the prelude to more impassioned writing to come, “ throbs,” so to say, in the minor key. The opening “ Silence!” seems, it is true, to suggest a fragrant reminiscence of the Police Court, and it is just possible (since there lie some bachelors and maiden ladies alive) you may not be possessed of “your own school-girl daughter at your side” either with or without “great sad eyes.” Likewise, there seems just a soupcon of I’bel in stating that a public performer—and so young, too—“stands there swaying in the glare of the footlights.” though this by the way perhaps accounts for there being “no smile in the sombre, thoughtful eyes, nor on the pale young girlish face.” But let us come to the strong meat—- " The girl raises the violin quietly and draws’ tie bow sharply across the strings. Airl w.t’i' thr.l simple motion the air becomes gloiTiied with pulsing intonations never to be forgotten. The essence of life is crystalised into sound; fresh-throated iie-v birds sing little soft nestling babies crow and gurgle — love — love; the air is warm, heavy with fragrance, drowsy with summer sunshine, and droning or lazy blundering bees and beetles: there is a rustle of n crisp green leaf against Its neighbour, the murmuring of a pine forest. the lapping of creamy little waves on hard white sand. There now! just fancy! all that at once. Did you ever? But language fails. “A fresh throated new bird” must be worth going a long way to h.ar, being something of a curiosity, one imagines, but even this delight pales before “the soft, nestling babies crow and gurgle.” That is what the “ Graphic ” wants to hear when Marie Hall happens along. “Blundering bees and beetles” are attractive, too, in a concert, but it is, after all, on those nestling gurgling babies that one pins one’s faith. Violins, like babies with violent insurrections in Little Mary, one has heard, but a gurgling baby, and one which will nestle,— however, to proceed—

"Faster! "Hhqrper! Shrieks of laughter nnd calls of romping, rollicking children —playtime -

dative time: you are Inughing aloud no. you are nobbing! Tin* wind Hi* dial, it is trowing <tn«k - frightened uhikiMm whimper amt « rjp in the dark — there h* the bias of wturtdriven rain — the tree* drip — the aurf booms Hullenly there Is the long moan of the bitter void night wind PasteV. faster, faster: The world is mad. fear is abrvad. a lost soul is swept by In the black-

iicss someone is hurt is dying — • dend. wall- upon w_jJl. <>f wciuen In anguish the slow thiol’ of the last march for the soldier decid the cold tilled grave and the lonely rnlu-wnSiied hillside.” Phew! IWs your poor "feet?” or words to* that effect. Marie—child or no child- gives one

plenlv for one’s money, doesn’t she? But there is mure to come- •

* A l‘birc of golden ti*aiu|»etM the boBiiiiujis of a thousand glnd voices! Life, light, warmth, perfume, colour, and then fiiifiter, more exquisite in Ude Hwiftly lengthening distance there Host back tile enrols of a band wf little children trudging away down the dusty sunlit road and over the hill into the distance. ‘'Marie Hall lias played.”

One had gathered mo ntHch. But what happened to the 'critic? can obviously take care of herself, but what about the poor young man? One pictures hint wandering round the country, and, really, it shouldn’t be allowed. He may get mixed up with *‘a blundering bee,” or get damp on a wet. wind swept hill, or fall into w cohl filled grave, or turn up home with a soft, nestling, gurgling baby, and no satisfactory explanation other than he ha<l lieen to a concert. Something ought to be done. Subscriptions may be left at this office.

Seriously, is not such preposterous balderdash calculated to injure a player, even of the calibre of Marie Hall? It is surprising that Messrs. Tait Bros, should not have seen the bathos of it all. At the same time it is fortunate, for the critique can scarcely fail to add to the gaiety of nations.