MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 746, 19 February 1910, Page 9

MUSIC.

.(By;:Treble Clef.) ;. . New Opora by Mascagni. . Maestro Mascagni, it- is announced, signed a'contract with the American firm of Messrs. Licbler and Co., according to which a new opera, which the composer of "Cavalleria Kustican'a" is writing, will be first , performed in . America, and ho himself will go to the 'United States to direct tho rehearsals and to conduct. The chief role will he taken by Miss Bessie Abott, a young American prima donna, who, sang 1 for several - seasons at tho. Metropolitan Opera House, and whom the maestro heard there.

The title of the new opera will be. "Ysobel," and the scene mil ho laid in England, the story being based • on Tennyson's poem ."Godiva," from which. Luigi Illica, the well-known librettist, took-tho subject, It will bo the first time that Mascagni has selected not only an English theme, but . one that is not Italian. Maestro. Mascagni ■ has pledged himself to have the new -opera ready in. October, in order that tho .first, performance, may take place in Now-York at: the' beginning of December, 1910; ; The contract .involves the' largest feo ever paid, as a royalty for a' musical work, and the largest salary ever paid to a composer to', act as musical director.• : The new opera will afterwards ho given in Home in 1811,-during the celebrations of tho fiftieth anniversary of the pro--clamation of Rome as . tile capital of Italy; ' . New Role, for Miss Amy Castles. , Miss Amy Castles lias been engaged for a short season in two; of Puccini's opeTas, "Madame . Butterfly" and '."La Boheme" ; and . most of her.: friends declare that she is more fully equipped for- this, important. - work than many people may. have beeai 'led- to expect.- Somo-years ago, when, she was training her voice under tho'instruction of the . famous M. vßoiihy,-.:, she acquired a largo oi»ratic repertoire, what is otV.cpnsid.erable. to all operatic -artists; thoroughly: studied the art of acting under the distinguished care of -M. ■' Valdajo, whose 'dramatio school is one of tho greatest in 'Paris.' Again: she has, received, and-' declined," offers for appearance in opera, not only in England, but on tho ■ Conti-, ne'nt. -

English Music Association. \ At the recent 'annual, dinner,.of -the Musical .- Association in London, Sir Alexander 'Mackenzie, proposing the: toast of "The. Association,":' said that' this toast'; was. bound- up 'with, the. memory 'of . the association's . founder,.. Sir John '. Stainer. He was a typically English musician, and the first, or almost the first, who made'it his life's work to insist upon -the necessity for. general training and.,culture of musiciiins side, by side ivith;,ithat:.,technical training, without which' this "could riot live.; In 1871, at' the,timo;of.]thie so-' ciety's foundation, there; was no. preee:', dent for, any. such : institution, either on the Continent or in. Britain. There was no such society in, Europe. They were the. pioneers of their kind, and to-day they .-were : the ' best recognised musical organisation in England. Theirmembership , to-day,' at vthe age of 35, was.-209. Tho finances,' alsfl. the general position of: the society,' had (.never previously stood, in such a .firm position.' ;At the present' time, he contended, thoy ,stood in greater need than ever: of / such 'institutions, ■ which, while keeping .pace, with the movements of the.:present, maintained a reverence, for history, and-kept the, memory of the ■ past fresh and green; jVt the' International Congress of Music,;',' .which, took -place' in Vienna- in. May last,. .the; English section,. as- well .as this'associa- ■ tiou, was' well; represented. ; The' Eng-" lish' members" present,/ accepted 'the!. ie-.' sponsibility 1 of holding tlie next . congress: in London—an event 'which "was to' take ' place' at i AVhitsuntide. in 1911. • He hoped: that-they would show their visitors their: national musical: institutions- and habits, and prove that in their ■ enthusiasm. for music they were not behind any nation in 'Europe. • It;was a great-chance.to dispel: the raists'Of ignorailce''which-.'obscured' fair* judgment- with /'regard .'-to '• English music; :, '•. -

Sir Frederick Bridge, giving; "OurvNew: President," said that ,'.;nt;A'h,,'age; when ■otheri,men ' were; retiring fvoni;'tri'e■: national '.services, : Dr.\Cummihgs. was..undertaking. the superintendence Idf i great musical school; '; Dr.; Ciimmings; in reply, said'ho- was' present at' the - initiatory meeting of the association; which ho believed to' be'a very valuable adiu'nct'of musical in, as it, did, 'not only,'professional: men, but also .the indispensable musical'.amateurs. ;

Madame Emma Calve. Madame Eninla Calve, who* is Expected to . visit New Zealand this'. year, -is.'a woman of the simplest tastes, despite the inevitable luxury of .her Jife . and surroundings.;-. She is by now 'rich enough to keep up three expensive establishments and to;travel, as she ■ does, 1 in the .magnificent stato of a royal personage; ■ yet ■withal,\sho is. just as quiet.'and homely as many a peasant in-her native Aveyron. .Beyond all. her priceless possessions, her jewels, her pictures, aud objects of virtu, she prefers nothing so much asthe frugal, rustic life to v;hich she was accustomed in. her childhood. Whenever sho returns to Paris'from her tours abroad, it is not long before her beautiful'apartments ill' the Avenue Ingres .are ehut up, and 'she is.rolling*.away in the train, bound for her Aveyron. Hero as often as possible tlio great songstress spends-her leisure; superintending hor model farm, and otherwise leading the caTe-free existence of a oountry gentlewoman. . Elgar. in Italy. A 'musical""event of special.'interest to Englishmen was to have taken' plate' at Rome on January .6,, .when Mr. Landon' Ronald, tho . well-known conductor, was to lead the orchestra at one of the great symphony, concerts, of. the "Royal Academy of Santa Cecilia" in Sir . Edward Eigar's, Symphony. Mr. Eonald explained -to a member of "The Daily News" staff last month that this would be the first occasion oh which Elgar's Symphony has been given, in Italy, and the first occasion in-that country on which an Englishman has been asked to' conduct. The-Italians, he. said,; are not- a symphony loving' people, like tho Germans,';hut the introduction of.l Elgar may: probably have. an. immense influence on tho development of-miodevu. Italian music.' : iw;

i "You must remember,'' Mr., Ronald explained, "that the, concerts of the Santa Cecilia are., watched by all the musicians of the- peninsula. To appear there is to appear, before the whole musical'public. of Italy.; Tho importance of the'event may be judged "from the names of .tho conductors, which include' Maseaghi, Vincent d'lndy, Gustav Muhler.

' "In addition to Elgar's work I- shall give tho "Welsh Rhapsody of Edward German, the Oberon overture of Weber, and,-Grieg's Peer Gynt suite. But as the 'Elgar symphony lasts fifty minutes, and'the concert only lasts one hour fortyfive minutes, of which a quarter'of 'an hour is interval, you will see its real purp'o&j." ■ ■

Mr. Ronald went on to .say that lie. regarded Klgar as characteristically British," and owing nothing at all to tho Germans. "I regard; lilgar,'" lie . said, "as one of the three... great. symphony writers of the world, the other two being Beethoven and Brahms. Elgar is tho founder of a new British school which is'going-to rival the German, the French, and the Italian schools in distinction and power. , "English music in the Mar future will mean Sj E]gar. In Germany he.'has already bail tremendous success. 'The Dream of Gertontius' took the •Teutons by storm, and -it is suro to create a furore in Italy."

Clara Butt's Success. Recent ndvioes from England axo to the cffcat that Madame Clara Butt, and hor husband, Mr. Kcnnerley Riunford, havo boon very prominently before tho English public Jof. Into.' In addition to : singing in sovornl largo concerts in London; they hove bsen. touring the English provinces, appearing in such important centres as Liverpool, Brighton, Leeds, Hull, and Sheffield.' . Their- future ongagemente are also vory heavy, and are said to include another (tour of Australasia under the management;of. Messrs. J. and N. Tait. Messrs. . Tait, however, aro not yet ready to.make !any delinito announcement,-but' admit that'the reappearance of the brilliant paii?' iu Auotrolniia may. bo looked for la Xlui next oouulo of is.'