MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Treble Clef.) Clutsam's "Summar Wight." Mr. Ct. H. Clutsam's short opera entitled "A Summer Night," was produced during Mr. Beccham's season at His Majesty's Theatre, London, earlier in the year, and v."as performed once. It is well worthy of a rehearing (remarks tho musical critic of the "Morning Post"). Its story of an intrigue that is frustrated by the very parties who take part in it is loosely put together, without great dramatic instinct, hut tho music .is remarkable for its melodic oharm, its grace of utterance, and for .tho wealth of orchestral device. The score is full of ideas —many of them may be claimed as new, and the whole lias an appeal which" might very well lie extended. Mr. Clutsam's powers should onablo him to write many operas of this type as distinct from grand opera. It conies within the category of light opera of a kind peculiar to British musicians, of which,' however, no example so felicitous has been-heard before in the present day. Now and agaiii Mr. Clutsam' shows himself shy of developing his mclbdinus ideas, but he has 110 reason to be ashamed of his gift of melody, and his excursions _ into tho special form of tonality which M. Debussy has promulgated" are not nccessary. It is clear, that lie can bo sufficiently, interesting, and sufficiently, "modern" without it. At 110 \)oint does' his score become dry, and even when, as frequently, thero is little' or' 110 action upon the stage his music sntifirs the'ear by its inventivo progress. Tho plr.n, also associated witli M. Debussy, of assigning' the chief interest to tho ■ orchestra is followed occasionally, but Mr. Clutsam does well to givo tho singers distinctive passages at times. Examples of his most happy design ' are found in tho Prayer of 'Liza, tho Serenade, and the music of tho dawn and tlu* storm. Tho value of the whole of tho music is found in the fact that it carries conviction, and a further work from Mr. Clutsam's pen 011 the basis of ,n morii concise story should attract. But its production, with all its constructive faults, shows that wo have a native, composer in our midst who makes a fitting companion to Mr. Nicholas Gatty, sinco the one can givo us good grand opera and the other can provide its opposite, light opera, of an equally satisfactory kind.

Now Hallo for Syeinoy and Malboumo. Messrs. J. and N: Tait, tho wellknown entrepreneurs, have arranged for a concert hall to bo erectcd in Collins Street, . Melbourne. During Madame Calve's. visit to Victoria last year, Messrs. Tait wore compelled to pay the oxtortionato rental of £50 per night for the Melbourno Town Hall. Tho now hall, which' will accommodato 2225 people, i sto bo commenced almost immediately, find it is confidently expected that tho same will bo finished and ready for occupation in about eight .or nine A hall of this charaetor is badly needed in ' Sydney, and it is decided to crect ono in George Street, jusfc past Bathurst Street. Messrs. Tait are largely interested in a magnificent property over there, and a company has been formed to carry out the schemes. Tho Taits aro to bo congratulated- oil' their energy and enterprise, and theso halls will certainly fill long-felt waiits both in Sydney and Melbourne. The now buildings aro to bo treated on a purely business footing, and they will bo let to any public or private body requiring them for concerts, etc. Notes. Reports of the work Elgar lias put into his'new violin concerto leads us to hope that it is a masterpiece. It is to be performed by Kreisler with tlie Lou-, don Philharmonic. Miss Dorothy Kuiglit, of Auckland, who has been studying singing in London under Madame Blanche Marchesi for the past year, or two, lias docided to place herself under tho tuition of Madame Minna Fischer, through whoso, hands so many colonial singers have passed. Miss Claire Newton (Sydney), the well-known composer of successful songs, is staying'at Holland House, St. Vincent's Square, for the present. Silo lias had two songs accepted already by London publishers. Miss Newton is a (laughter of 3lrs. John Newton, of Sydney. Miss Marjorio Tempest, tlio Auckland soprano, who is suffering now such a shocking bereavement, sang at tho Beelistoin Hall recently to a very enthusiastic audience. Her jirogramnio covered ii wido range of music, including, as it did, songs by composers of styles so distinct as H:uidol, Brahms, Ambrose, Thomas, and Debussy. Her two largest songs were Handel's "Sweet Bird," from "II I'enscroso," and tlio mad scene from Thomas's "Hamlet." Besides theso she gavo two of Brahms's most beautiful songs, and several by French and English composers. Two very interesting rcciU'.ls of popular poems at the piano wore recently given in London, at the Stoinway llalj, by Mr. Sivori Levey. Tho programmo for the second recital included "Not Understood," by the Now Zealniulor, Thomas Bracken, with music by D'Auvcrgno Barnard. These recitals were crowded, and the audience was.most appreciative. Mr. Levey is shortly publishing his well-known "Sermonot-tes in Rhyme," ono for'each dayvjn tho week, and including "Tho Smile," "Lcol; I'lcasnnt,/' and "Criticise a Little Less." Early in the New Year Mr. Levey will give a programme at the Austral Club.