MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 9

MUSIC.

> (Br Treblb CtiEi.). Caruso's Throat. ' , .;. .",■ Opera-goers and the musical world.in genoral have been considerably exercised in mind over tho reports of Caruso's.voice. The:latest news'comes from Milan, and is given as foly lows by the correspondent of tha London •"Daily Telegraph":— •■ . : ". : . '"Caruso has really undergone'an operation. •' Every arrangement was made, for' the maintenance of'the profoundest secrecy.- The operation• was performed ( in the, ■'. morning, when the clinic is closed to the public. Professor' Delia Vedova was assisted, by three colleagues, whoy in all probability, swore an oath to keep , secret. It,-has. not, yet. been ascertained whether everybody went in _ disguise to the operating-room,'but it is highly probable that the encounter took place-with all circumspection and solemnity. 'Caruso had been sent to Professor Delia Vedova -by tho doctors who were-.attending'him in New, York, and he had been preceded at tho clinic by iVarious tekgr}phic\a'dvices,'VHe,,had,'aß a matter,of fact, already entrusted'his harmonious larynx to tho professor 'three years ago, and now ho had'to;undergo at the,.same hands an operation which was,;so to.say, the pendent of .the former. 'It. was a, question of.;two symmetrical operatione. Three_years ago it was the right vocal chord; now it was the turn of the left. . "■' ..-.■:', : -.,.' "The operation in itself was only a slight matter. Its object, k> far, as I have beerl able to. understand, was a very minute.cutting iii order to facilitate the production of tho voice, and.' to : assist the ■ working. of the ■' vocal chords. But it was also an extremely delicate affair, because of tho effect which it might have upon tho timbre and endurance of the voice. Threo years ago it succeeded splendidly, and the success, seems to have been repeated. But oh tho present occasion, owing to'his efforts during the-American season, Caiuso was not in such good condition. He has sung for as many as nine evenings in successioh, a: prodigious performance, which is.to be explained only by. the robustness of the famous tenor, and' the £1000 whicK were the adequate compensation for each oveningVefforts. . . ■ ' ■ .. , "Well, the operation\:has succeeded. Caruso v wil] have to remain under the observation of science and under,a strict regime until the end'of June. :,Only in July will he be able to resume the utterance of notes and the reception' of banknotes. His voice, tho competent authorities, say, will be found even' more ' beautiful 'than before. But ho v ; will have to be careful not to resumo'the strain of past seasons. His voice will be limpid and fresh, but it will have-to be iised with-eco-nomy. It will still be worth sundry millions to its proprietor, so long as" he , does not ask it for them all at once. , ' . , . /

The Butt-Rumford Plenlo. . ; Mr. C. L. Graves, the ivell-known musical critic, has published a number of amusing slots under the title of "Musical Moustrosities," ' in' which, amongst other things,.the music of Kfchard Strauss, the infant, phenomenon,/ and. Mr. Mark Hambourg come in for a good deal of gonial criticism. Aii article on "Art at.the Antipodes", deals with the tour of the Kennorley-Rumfords, and gives some startling information about their, concerts.on this side of "the world. "The results,of the tour,".says Mr. Graves, "may be' .thus summarised.' Seventeen', bushrangers . have abandoned their calling and adopted the musical profession. Forty-one aboriginals have changed their names to Bummerley or Kenford. Sixteen wallabies have died from excess of rapture at .hearing the efforts of the great artists. .The record is,, on, the whole, most satisfactory, but tho Count and Conntoss make no secret of" their disappointment at not being kidnapped by the Mazawattees." . .. Amy Murphy and "The Bush." , Miss Amy Murphy's fine soprano made the Sydnoy Liedertafel's second concert of extra worth. In tho "Shadow Song" and "Norwegian Echo," the "Maorilander- justified the words of praiso spoken* of her from time to time. Messrs'. Emil Sussmilch andC. Larsen wero the other vocalists. Conductor Arundel Orchard drove his orchestra to' victory on a-number of attractive items. The first performance of Mr. Howard Carr's Chorio Ode, "The Bush," was-the centrepiece of interest. Tho poem by Mr. Frank Fox shows Nature in a roverent, tranquil mood. Thoro-aro no dancing orgies of sound in the Carr composition, no birds, no waterfalls, no bush fires. Tho composer keeps to tho key set by the vprse, and in that there-are no sounds but those of dreary winds. Tho : poet sjiould really have introduced a .bird and some locusts, and thus havo given the composer a chance to be less dirge-like. There are doubtless high, thoughts and "immortal longings" in the .composition, but the average human ears can't detect them.—From latest "Bulletin." '. . -.* ■ , - ; , , Herr Grcder, who came, out here as a member of the Gei'inan Opera Company, left Sydney on July 5 for Ainerica. Ho was accompaniod by Miss Verdi Lawrence, Miss Ruby Faulkner, Miss Alice' liushby, MisV Margaret Sawell, and Mr. Frank Elton, all of Sydney, and pupils of Herr Greder. Tho itttoitioa 14 that thw will bo a concert party.