MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Tkeble Clef.)

A Choir of 4000 Voices. To Dr. Charles Harriss, who is to bring the renowned Sheffield Choir to New Now Zealand, has fallen tho honour of conducting tho. Imperial Choir of 4000 voices (selected from all tho best choirs in and about Loudon/ which is to bo heard in connection with tho Festival of Empire, in London. It will be tho largest .and best body of trained voices ever heard in the world.

"Of course, I should have been' powerless had it not been for the hearty co-operation of tho forty conductors, who have not oidy lout their forces, but have indefatigably rehearsed them in the various itcni3 of tho festival programme," said Dr. Harriss, when interviewed bv tho "Standard."

"All that I have to do now is to take thorn in sections, say a thousand oach, for a few rehearsals, then to run the music through once or twice with the whole choir en masse.

"But I never imagined," continued Dr. Harriss, "when 1 conducted a few hundred singers at my first Empire Concert in London botoro an . overflowing Queen's Hall, that I should have an Imperial Choir before me in a year or two outnumbering that chorus and crowd by a thousand voices. "But the 'musical reciprocity' between those choirs is just art illustration of what I am working for, year in and year out, to bring about between tho various countries of the British Dominions. Now I know it will como about. "I .havo just been round the great red lino of tho world, and everywhere my proposed tour of tho Empire next year with the Sheffield Choir and Dr. Henry Coward was enthusiastically taken up. In tho great oversea centres wo shall have tho Imperial Choir over again, for the local choristers will join forces with tho visiting 'choir, for which purpose they aro now rehearsing special works. You would bo surprised et tho present high standard of choral singing in Australia and Now Zealand.

"What part the Imperial Choir will play in future plans, for 'musical reciprocity' I cannot at present tell. Suffice it to say, that patriotism—yes, musical patriotism—is a power . possessing and . controlling which onemight attempt anything."

Opera House Pests. While opera house managers in Paris and New York are successfully lighting tho claquo, or paid applauders, tho parasites still make their power felt in Italy. A little whilo back a lady who had refused to pay for applause at Livonia was struck on the head with an onion during a performance of "Un Balld in Mascbera." Two "claquers" were- prosecuted, and fho prima donna cave evidence to' prove tho assault. The accused in court did not deny oxercising the profession of "elaquers," adding that their work was often much appreciated by artists. They said that ono celebrated tenor had distributed from 70 to 80 tickets at Livorna for the claque. : Pietro Mascagni, the composer of "Cavalleria llusticann," who was called as » witness, said the artists themselves gave life to the claquo by employing it elsewhere.

flic Public Prosecutor asked'that a sentence of 14 months' imprisonment should be imposed, but the Court discharged the accused with a caution. A leading paper, "Corricro della Sera,"' had these comments: — "The tribunal was not only more lenient, but also more logical, and Angiolo Sorbi and Simonti (the accused) 'can return to their occupation, which, if lacking in conviction, nevertheless supplies a necessity in lyric art. As long as artists aro as they are, there is really no reason to attack the claque. Barring such exaggerations as throwing vegetables on tho stage, the claque in a theatre represents a faction tliat may be found in other and varied form in all manifestations of collective public activity, from Parliamentary sittings down to popular assemblages." Tho Mediocre Concert and How it Can be Killed. Whilo New York is now the operatic centre of tho universe, there are not nearly as many minor concerts given here (says tho "New York Post") as in Berlin or London. The reason for this may bo found largely in tho fact that the New York critics cither ignore unimportant concerts altogether or tell the plain and unvarnished truth about them. In Germany they are l>ogimiiug to see that ii will soon b» uccessan to adopt a similar policy. Some week's ago, as the Berlin correspondent of the "Musical leader and Concert-Goer" relates, tho "Musikalisehos Wochenblatt," published in Leipzig, sent a circular letter to a number of prominent German musicians asking for a suggestion as to the best measures to ho taken for restraining the Hood of concerts which is continually on the increase and is a

serious menace to musical life. l'Vlix 'Woingartnor wrote in reply :—"ln my opinion, (Tie appalling del'ugo of coiicevts can lie kept within bounds niost effectively by the press. Many absolutely immature artists give concerts and sacrifice r. lot oi mmr-v in order to secure criticisms,-, which they can use for purposes of adverlis<;moiir. If the press would decide In take im notice nf mediocre artists, the purpose of such conceits would be ini:.lr,iied, and in tiiuft it wi.i.lo be politic 10 eliminate mom nltojjetlier."