MUSICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 22 June 1911, Page 19

MUSICAL NOTES.

(By

“G” String.)

Miss Myrtle Meggy, rhe Sydney pianist, is to give a recital in the Aeolian Hall, London, on the 29th inst., in conjunction with the HonJulian Clifford, the well-known English vocalist. Mr Norman L. Martin, who plays the ’cello in the Sheffield Choir orchestral, is, I think, the youngest member of that picked band of musicians. Mr Martin, who is not yet out of his teens, is a very talented musician, who has a great future in front of him. He is a compositor by trade, and is in the employ of the “New Zealand Times. ’ Madame Kate Rooney, who had a very busy time during Easter with concerts in London and the Provinces, is back again in the “Big Smoke.” On April 26th, Madame Rooney sang at the annual concert of the Catholic Association, and on the 2 7th, at the Royal Victoria Hall, with the band of the First Life Guards. Mr A. H. Gee, the basso of Westminster Cathedral Choir, and wellknown in New Zealand, was tendered a complimentary concert in Pillar’s Rooms, Victoria) London, on April 2 7th. He was assisted by sixty-six of the most popular of the London artists, including Madame Kate Rooney, Annie Barth, Ruby Helder, Clara Hubbard, Hope Jackson) Maude Niver, Messrs Barclay Gammon, Harrison Hill, Arthur Helmore, Ernest Meads, Harold Montague, George Mozart, Charles Pond, W. Lewell, Lloyd Shakespeare, George Snazelle, and Henry Stockwell, etc. “Madame Melba; artiste.” This may —or may not —be the new title of the great Diva. Melba is in London at the moment, says “Bayard” in the Manchester “Sunday Chronicle,” and negotiations are nearing completion for her appearance at a West End variety theatre. Next to Bernhardt, the conversion of Melba to variety would be the greatest achievement yet attained in connection with advanced vaudeville. It is not certain what Melba’s decision will be, but at present the odds seem to favour her accepting the terms offered- These are big, you may be sure. It is likely that the inducement approaches in value that which finally won over the great Bernhardt. Should the efforts to secure Melba be successful, it is probable that she will have the assistance on the stage of a famous Italian tenor, and that they will do excerpts from “Carmen,” and other of her favourite operas- It would be a triumph of the music-hall providers if she could be engaged to make her choice of material from “Carmen),” “Rigoletto,” and “La Boheme.”