MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 19 June 1909, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Bt Treble Ci.ef.)

"Samson ot Dallla." Tho opera season began at Co vent Garden, London, on April 25, with a performance of "Samson et Dalila" —tho embargo hitherto plaoed upon it by tho Lord Chamberlain having been removed. Dr. Saint-Saens, its composer, who is 74 years of ago, was among tho audience.

Except that for tho first timo for many years a new work—new, that is, to ihis country in so far as its stago trappings aro concerned—excerpts from tho music aro moro or less familiar features of the concert-hall programme—was billed for tho opening night, and that tho French language, all too long banished from the London operatic, boards, was returned to its rightful place in the roportoiro, the proceedings last night were, for tljo most part, of a wholly familiar natu'e. There was tho same brave array of empty boxes during tho first act, the samo regulation number of calls upon tho fall of each curtain, and tho samo distracting confusion in the vestibule upon tho conclusion, of the performance. If "Samson et Dalila" is indifferent opera, it is (says the "Standard") by no moans ineffective melodrama. It furnishes full opportunity for spectacular display, and iho presence on the stago of tho heroine is invariably accompanied by melodious strains, while tho music, designs with a view to intensifying tho moro exciting situations, is always appropriate, if little moro. Clever as is the instrumentation—even for these advanced days—the work rarely, if ever, striktss the hearor as sinooro or deeply felt.

Tho selection of Mme. Kirkby Lunn to fill ono of the title- roles could not fail to bo a source of congratulation, and her, vocalisation was throughout faultless, and her delivery of the well-known aria, "Printemps qui commence," and her sbaro of the duet containing tho famous "Mon Goouf s'ouvre ata voix, could scarcely have been improved upon. Moreovor, sho cut a fine figure in her sumptuous dresses. It cannot, however, be said that she fully realised the seductive witchery associated with tho fair temptress. The tenor was M. Fontaine, M. Murray Davey tho bass, and Mr. Mooro the baritono.x In tho light of modern developments, "Samson et Dalila" is not good opera; but it unquestionably affords a pleasant evening's entertainment, even if its. musio serves to adorn a talo rather than to convoy any definite or convincing message.

Tha Alfred Hill Concert. People are almost falling over one another to assist Mr. Alfred Hill, and an enthusiastic and influential committee have taken up the work of giving New Zealand's. best-known composer and conductor .a big concert to cheer him up in his convalescence. Quite an interesting programme has been arranged, and there is small doubt that the public will respond heartily to hear the good things in store. AVellington is starved for good orchestral music, and therefore it will be learned with pleasure that Schubert's "Unfinished" is "on the stocks," together with tho fine overture to the same composer's "Rosamund," and tho slow movement from Mr. Hill's "Maori Symphony," of which all too little has been heard. Tschaikowsky will also bo represented by his "Dormroschen," so that a genuine treat may bo safely anticipated. Ono item that should fill tho Town Hall unaidod is the reciting of tlie Hon. A. T. Ngata.'s poem, "Soenes from the Past," by tho author. Thoso wiho have heard Mr. Ngata as an elocutionist are aware of tho dramatic fire and colour which he is able to summon in declaiming this epic poem on the Maori race. Messrs. Jolm Prouso and E. J. Hill, and Miss Phoebe Parsons aro aJso to assist. The concert will be given under tho direction of Messrs. J. Maughan Barnett and Robt. Parkor. " f

Why Ha Wouldn't. ' , To a musical friend Tstihaikowsky is credited with saying: "You ask me why I do not compose a trio? Pardon me, my dear friend, I would like very well to please you, but it is beyond my powers. My. ears cannot endure tho combination, of piano and violin or 'cello. To my notion' the characters of tone swear at ono another, and I assure you that it' is a sacrifice to listen to a trio or to a sonata for piano and strings. I can't explain this psychological fact; I can only stale it."

TTio Death of Ragtime. "Ragtime has had its funeral," said John Philip Sousa recently, in discussing popular music. _ "It had the gout or dyspepsia long before it died. It was Overfed by poor nurses. Good ragtime came, and then half a million imitators sprang up,_nj?d as a result the people were sickenedwith their 'stuff.' I have not played a piece of ragtime this season," lie continued, "and it is simply because the public does not want it. I used to play it. I do not discriminate between ragtime , and grand opera or anything else that possesses merit. Some of the best of the old ragtime pieces will bear as clever manipulation as Dvorak bestowed on tho'old Slavonic. dance tunes."

Doolcy on "Salome." * Mme. Teftrazzini has been a great favourite at the Manhattan, but Hammerstcni's greatest oard has been Mary Garden (writes a New York correspondent)— Mary Garden in "Thais" in "Le .longleur de Notre Dame" in "Pelleas and Melisande," but more than all in. "Salome." Tlio music of the latter is an acquired taste, but those who have acquired it seem to enjoy it.. Fortunately for tho procurer's sake it takes at least fcce hearings to begin to like it, and five moro to decide whether one really likes it or only thinks ho does. "Mr. Dooley" has given the best description of this opera that I havo seen. It ought to give him a nicho in the Hall of Fame. And his explanation to "Hewnossy" that the story was taken from the Bible, but that since Mary Garden sang it it can never go back again is inimitable. ,

Notes. ' Mr. Spencer Lorraine, who comes from •London with a line reputation as a teacher of singing, has decided to stay a low montns in Wellington, during which time he will take a certain number of selected pupils. Mr. Lorraino camo to New Zealand on account of the indisposition of. his wifo, who was ordered a long sea trip and a complete change of air and scene. >

Mr. jay Ryan, tho Irish baritone who toured JSow Zealand with Miss Ada Crossley, is now singing for' Sir. Harry ltickards in Melbourne. ' Hammerstein, . the ■ New York impresario, recently boasted that ho nover counts • the dollars, but ho seems nevertheless, to bo quite certain that his subscription list lor the opera to-day is £80,000, as compared with £oOUO threo years ago. ■ The average nightly incomo in the Paris Grand Opera is £540. In New York that would just about' pay for tho lighting, heating, house staff, stage hands, ■ advertising, aiid printing in any of the opera houses, with no money left for the "stars" or other principals, minor singers, .chorus, conductors, and orchestra. Bernhard Ziehni, of Chicago, the associate censor and prompter of the late Theodore Thomas, is recognised us tho most profound theorist authority in music. Ho has givon ais life to a study of tho scientific sido of music, and has solved many problems in the evolution of musical art.

Kussewitzky, tho king of contrabass players, was recently heard in concert in Berlin. The left-hand agility and accuracy of Jhis renowned Russian virtuoso are said to be simply astounding; his hand flies up and down the huge, unwieldy instrument with a speod and cert ainty that bafflo description. Tho artist's manipulation of tho bow also shows great strength and flexibility. His conceptions always reveal tho truo musician of lofty aims, and the soul of the real artist shines forth in ovory pieco ho plays. Music is the only art that throws to tho winds its early rules and tho patient training, which is at one and tho same time both indispensable and (superfluous. And modern music, if it liavo an intolligibto future, ipstead of a mero "iridosccnt shimmer," is an attempt to let Nature speak in us, and to go back to tho earliest, untutored forms of song. But it cannoti thereby become popular or widely sought; you cannot crcate a music or a mythology "of malice prepense," for neither Nature nor tho "primitives" can ever aßain be understood by tho mass.—"Saturday lteviow."