MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 544, 26 June 1909, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Br Tkkble Clef.) ~

An Hon, Prima Donna. c The performance of Gounod's opera at : Covent Garden last night.' (says- the. London. "Daily News", of April 28/.was of only averago merit, taken as a whole. It had its good points, but there .was also a-great deal that left something to bo. desired. '. it was perhaps an advantage that no impersonation stood put clearly above tho rest, since in suck a.case tho work falls, as it tfero, into its true perspective. ' '• After all, it is Mephistopheles, rather than tho lovers, who dominates the opera, and with M. Marcoux to fill the part one could be certain that tho very most would be made of it. Thero wore many subtle touches which made tho performance one of real distinction. M. Marcoux, too, made all his points without undue elaboration, so that they appeared quite unpremeditated.. Mme. Edvina, who, it is an. open secret, is the Hon. IJrs. Cecil Edwhrdes, made a charming Marguerite. A cortain restraint of manner was not without its value in giving the necessary ingenuousness to tho earlier scenes. The jewel song was sung with admirably fresh tono.and easy vocalisation; and though tho singer's voice is not capablo of much power, sho never made tho mistake of forcing it, and so was as successful in tho. more dramatio moments as in the set arias. ; She had not a very gallant lover in M. Fontaine, who did not make an extremely interesting figure of Faust. ..

Notes. An example of Australian enterprise is furnished by n recent move made by Messrs. J. and N. Tait. , This firm, which has to its credit such successes as the Madamo Clara Butt tour throughout Australasia, and other ventures, lyis started operations in London, whero Calve, tho famous singer, is at present performing under their management. The same firm will take tho Besses o' th' Barn Band through the East.and South Africa during the coming yerc. j When Sir Edward Elgar, tho famous musical), was a boy he was noted for his precocity. As a rule, ho was very silent, but when ho 'did speak it was usually to say something either witty or profound. Olio day. an amateur musician named Spark phiyed a piece of his own composing in the ho'nso of young Elgar's father, and overyouo was loudin praising it except tho future knight. "And what does little Edward think of it?" asked some one.. ■ .. "I think that if you pulf a. 'spark' too much;' you will:blow it out," vaa tho unlocked for and crushing reply.