MUSIC NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1359, 11 May 1916, Page 34

MUSIC NOTES.

(By

“G” String.)

Madame Emma Calve, who is recognised the world over as the greatest of all Carmens, is the latest prima donna to enter the vaudeville field. She has “signed up” for a tour of the Orpheum circuit in America, and made her first appearance on the vaudeville stage at the Orpheum, San Francisco, on Saturday afternoon, April 9. The celebrated singer was assisted by her husband, Signor Gasparri. Tom Karl, an opera singer well known in the United States and Europe, died at his home in Rochester, America, on March 19. Mr. Karl’s opera experience covered 40 years, and it is said that he had sung in no less than 150 operas. He was one of the organisers, and for many years manager, of that most successful of English opera companies, the Boston Opera Company. Mr. Alfred Hill, the well - known New Zealand composer and musician, has composed a stirring march for the Australian Riflemen’s Battalion Band, which he has dedicated to Lieutenant Carmichael, who has just left with one of the Commonwealth contingents to do his bit for King and country. Several Australian singers and musicians are at present upholding the credit of their country, both in England and America. Mr. William Murdoch, the Victorian pianist, is touring the English provinces with Madame Clara Butt. Miss Elsa Stralia is scoring a series of brilliant successes in London and elsewhere wirn her gifted soprano voice. Miss Florence Hood, the young Victorian violinist, has made a deep impression on London concert-goers with her fine technique and musicianly readings. Speaking of her performance of Bruch’s “G Minor Concerto” at a recent concert the “Morning Post” says that it was “distinguished by its marked perceptiveness, its musical expression, and its technical ability. Miss Hood r-rveals herself as a musician by the sensitiveness of her phrasing—so well exemplified in the slow movement —and by the success with which she achieves a definite artistic effect.” In America Mr. Ernest Hutcheson, an infant pianist-pro-digy of years ago, has developed into an artist of high rank, and is a leading figure in New York musical circles, while Mr. Percy Grainger continues to make himself popular in the same city with his piano playing and his brightly - written compositions. Madame Frances Alda, the soprano at one time a member of the J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company’s church, appears with success at the New York Metropolitan Opera House, and also engages in recital work. Miss Evelyn Scotney, known to New Zealand play-goers as Miss Ivy Scott, and for a long time under the J. C. Williamson banner, has been making successful appearances at the Boston Opera House. Mr. Benno Scherek, although not Australian or New Zealand born, but who was identified with music in both countries for many years, is now orchestral director, pianist and accompanist at the Musin Virtuoso School, New York, an institution presided over by Ovide Musin, the famous Belgian violinist. Ovide Musin visited New Zealand several years ago. News of the death of Mr. Maurice Farkoa, the French tenor, came to hand by last week’s American mail. Mr. Farkoa, who was for many years a leading member of the London Gaiety Company, died in New York on March 22, the cause of death being apoplexy.