MUSIC NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1370, 27 July 1916, Page 34

MUSIC NOTES.

(By

“ 'G’ String.”)

It will be gratifying news to all lovers of good music to know that New Zealand has been included in the tour of the Gonzales’ Italian Grand Opera Company. This combination was an established institution in Italy until the war broke out, and then they had to find fresh fields.' After a successful tour of India, they came on to Australia, and are at present playing an eight weeks’ season at the Melbourne Princess, which, judging from the success they have achieved, will have to be extended. An eight weeks’ season is also to be played in Sydney, which is also sure to be lengthened. At any rate, Mr. George Marlow, who is directing the tour, has decided that New Zealand is to be included in the tour, and as they come with a repertoire including T 1 Trovatore,” “La Traviata,” “Lucia de Lammermoor,” “Rigoletto,” “Um Balia in. Maschera,” “Carmen,” ‘Il Pigallico,” “Cavalleria Rusticana,” “Faust,” and a number of other classics the season is sure to be a success. Miss Violet Lorraine, the sprightly principal boy of the J. C. Williamson pantomime a couple of years ago,

and who made many friends in New Zealand, is reported to have scored a triumph at the New Alhambra Theatre in London in the revue “The Bing Boys are Here.” Madame Clara Novello Davies, the noted London teacher of voice production, has taken up her permanent residence in New York. Madame Davies is a teacher who believes that anyone “with an ear” can be taught to sing entertainingly. Saturday, July 1, was the 102nd anniversary of the birth of William Vincent Wallace, whose ballad opera “Maritana” still holds its place in the popular affection. He was born at Waterford, and received his training in Dublin. He became a violinist in the theatre orchestra, and conducted subscription concerts. It was after a serious illness, when eighteen years old, that he began his wanderings all over the world. He visited Australia first, then New Zealand, India, and South, Central and North America, everywhere giving concerts with great success. In 1841 he conducted the Italian Opera Company in Mexico, and twice visited England and Belgium from America. He definitely returned to Europe in 1853, and spent his time between London and Paris. He composed six operas, viz., “Maritana,” “Matilda of Hungary,” “Lurline,” “The Amber Witch,” “Love’s Triumph,” and “The Desert Flower.” “Maritana” belongs to that characteristic creation of the English school known as “ballad opera.” It had its origin in “The Beggar’s Opera,” produced in 1728. Slight in texture, it was simply a play with songs set to the most popular ballad tunes of the day. Its extraordinary success in the face of the financial failure of Italian opera left no doubt as to the real taste of the English people, and was decisive as to the direction taken by later composers, such as Sir Henry Bishop, Michael Balfe and Vincent Wallace. “Maritana” was composed in Sydney, it is said, in what is now known as Rowe Street. Wallace was a great friend of John Phillip Deane, who removed the Rowe Street house to Burwood. It bears the name of “Deawalmar,” which gives the first three, letters of Deane, Wallace and “Maritana.”