MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 834, 4 June 1910, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Bγ Treble Clef.) Calve's Company. Of tho artists supporting Madame Caivo in her. concert tour, Signor Galileo Gaspnm, tile tenor, lias been before the- public for only six years, yet in that time lie has learned twenty operas, so thai !ig sings the tenor roles in "La Tosca," "La Boheme," "Madam Butterfly," "Pagliaeci," "Carmen," "Carnlleria Rusticaiia," "Faust," etc. Although quite unknown in London, ho lias sung in Italy for several seasons, and ho has found time to tour in Austria and Russia, as well as South America. Apropos of his engagement for Australia, Mr. J. Neyin Tait relates that he tried in vain to get a tenor in London capable of supporting Madam Calve in the duets which such a feature of her concerts. Finding the task impossible, lie wrote to an Italian impresario, who recommended certain artists. Mr. Tait went to Milan, nml listened to half a dozen voices, and although several were suitable vocally, artistically they were not great enough. Then Signers Carlotti and Ricordi, of Milan, mentioned that Galileo Gasparri would return in a few days from a tour, and Mr. Tait decided to wait and hear him and ono other tenor. Signor Gasparri sang an operatic aria so magnificently that Mr. Tait engaged him then and there. Mr. Jaques Pintel, the pianist of the purl,.", has gained' the much-coveted Premie: , Prix at the Paris Conservatoire. Consequently his gifts must be' of a very liigh order, seeing that this prize is onlj' won after a series of artistic ordoals. In tho first instance every student at the Conservatoire of a certain grade may offer, himself as a candidate for the Premier Prix, and it frequestly happens that twenty-four enter their names. They play a given programme, and by a system of elimination are reduced to a select few. Those remaining in have to play before some distinguished judges, who finally award the prize to-tho most brilliant and gifted of the students. In the oaso of M. Pintel, he was accorded the prize at the instance of Massenet, Saint-Saens, Dubois, and other famous musicians. M. Pintel was born at Odessa, and his earliest years were spent amongst the turbulent Russian'students residing at that far distant port. He has given concerts in London at the Queen's Hall with Henry J. Wood's orchestra. Miss Rene Qusree. In a recent letter from Professor Marshall-Hall, principal of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, to Mrs. Ernest Querce, of this city, in reference to Miss Reno Queree, ner daughter, who has just returned to' New Zealand after completing her four years' courso of studies, ho says:—"l must congratulate you, madamo, on the very brilliant way in which vour daughter has passed her examinations for our diploma. I think very highly of lior talent and character, and have rarely come across so earnest and gifted a student. Wo .arc all, madamo, very fond of your charming daughter. She has attached to herself life-long friends, both among the teachers and followstudents. I am sure she will have very great success as a concert soloist.' . Miss Querce has come to settle here, and on Monday will give an invitation recital at the Town Hall. Notes. ' Two earnest students of music at its best, in the person of Mr. Horace Hunt (pianist) and Mr. Herbert Bloy (violinist), are to give a recital in the Concert Chamber on Thursday, June 16. In taking the initiative in arranging this recital, SJr. Hunt's object is to introduco to tho Wellington public Mr.. Bloy, who is, probably, one of the best ,executants in the Dominion, wlio plays with power and feeling, • and whose keen musical intelligence has already been recognised by the Orchestral Society, of which body he has been appointed conductor. Among other numbers, Mr. Bloy will play Tartini's difficult and brilliant "Devil's Trill." Mr. Hunt will play a Chopin ballade and probably Beethoven's "Sonata Pathetiquo." Goldmark's "Queen nf Sheba," which was the sensation of the Xcw York opera season a quarter of a century ago, ia to have its lirst performance in ' tho United Kingdom soon at Manchester by the Carl Rosa Company. Goldmark* who attained the age of eighty on May IS, spent a decade of his life writing and revising this opera. Madame Clara Butt and Mr. Kennerley Ri'imford, who will be touring South Africa and Australia during 1911, are said to be the most popular figures in the English metropolis at tho present time. On Good Friday nftcrnucii they sang before an audience of 30,000 people at'.the Crystal Palace, London, and enjoyed a reception marked by altogether unusual enthusiasm. On the si)mo evening, the celebrated pair appeared a l , the sacred ballad concert in the Queen's Hall, where Madame's rendering of "Ombra mm' fu" and "Tho Shepherd's Cradle Song" were rt-wnrilod with ovations. The friends 'of -Madame Ksta d'Argo, by the way, w ; ll be glad In learn that that gifted s'v.'SssUcss was also ;\ roiispiunous sucevss at the concerts mentioned above.