MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 918, 10 September 1910, Page 9

MUSIC.

'.fcx TKSBLE' CLE?.), .:- .. From comic to Crand Opera. .! / When;tho, J:; C,Williamson; Grand Opera < Company, now in Melbourne, pays its.return visit to .Sydney, which will begin on September 24,.! both "Cavalleria Pvisticaua" .. and "Pagli-' acci": will, bo produced. -Another /feature of .interest will bo the appearance of Mr.- Reginald Roberts m grand opera/ after a long experience of niusi-; cal comedy. 'The change, however, will merely mark his return .to a Bold. of. work in which.ho has,already .won success,, for before he came to Australia lib,wa3.ono of the; principals of tho Castle Square' Opera Company in America, and acquired a repertory • of. 65 parts. . It'was in I'JOO that he made a-hit .in Chicago ias Rudolph in Puccini's . opera "La Boheme," ; and amongst his other _ roles - are .Turiddu, Caiiio, Enzo ("La Giaconda"), and Jose ("Carmen"). ■-.'■'. . '/

Both tenors with the Grand' Opera Company , were weak—Mr. - Frank Blarney lamentably so. Mr. Roberta should not have a difficult' task in excelling the standard,they set in ,lNe>». Zealand. •'..'■■.

Dolores's Pianist., '. • Mr. Selwyn Slirimplin, who joined the. Dolores concert party in Queensland, is an American pianist.:oFnote. Ho has been recently'settled in California, but has travelled, a good deal. He was a pupil of Mr. G. Ormay, who in turn studied under tlio renowned Moszkowski, Mr. Slirimplin, has waroned musical affairs in his native land with shrewd observation, and lias naturally a Rood opinion of the facile ties-that exist for ;study in' America';': and tlio progress 'musical art has made' in that country. Every city, lie says, has its own fine symphony orchestra, except, regrettably, San Francisco,-unii that only since the. earthquake. In that city he has heard Melba, Caruso, and Scotti in the one cast in opera— a fact which shows how essential grand opera in American cities is as part of the season's music. -Mr. Slirimplin has been much impressed with the siw ; cess of Mile. Dolores's recital concerts, as-, he did not expect to find Australia accepting a form of musical entertainment which- Americans pride themselves on. popularising.

Hiss' Lillian Delanoy, a talented' Sydney pianist, is to bo given a big farewell concert there on Tuesday next. 'Tlio pianist, who is leaving for England, is,to play tho famous Tsdiaikovsky. Concerto, with a full orchestra, conducted by Heir Slapoffski, and will bo assisted by Madame Slapoffski, Mr. Andrew Black, Maurice .Cliciioweth. and Harold Whittle.