MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1037, 28 January 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Treble Clef.)

ftntonla Dolores's Tour. Tho New Zealand tour of Madame i \htonia Dolores will be inaugurated at [nvercargill on February 6. The dates for tho tour aro as follow:—Dunedin, February 10, 11, and 13; Oamaru, Feb- ■ ruary lo; Timaru, Feruaty 17; Christmurch,, February 20, 21, and 23; Greymouth, February 28; Hokitika, March 2; Reef ton, March 3; Wcstport, March 7; Nelson, March' 13; Blenheim, March 17; Wellington, March 20, 21, and 23; Palmerston, March 2S; Wanganui; March 30; Hawera,, April. 3; Now Plymouth, April 5; Auckland, 'April S, 10, and 13; Gisborno, April 18 and 19; Napier, April 2-t; Hastings, April 20; Dannevirke, April -26; Masterton, April 2S. The tour is under the management of Mr. James Muir, of Wanganui. Miss Amy Castles. Recent successes of Miss Amy Castles in grand opera, in New Zealand, particularly in tho title roles of "Madam Butterfly" and "La Boheme," are still fresh in tho minds of Now Zealand 1 music lovers, so that, tho announcement that Messrs. J. 'and N. Tait will conduct a concert tour through tho Do--minion early in February will bo received 'with much delight. Miss Castles's concert tour of Australia duiv ing last year was terminated to permit of her appearing as leading ' prima donna with Mr. J. C. Williamson's opera company. It is confidently anticipated that tho forthcoming tour of this gifted artist through Now Zealand will.be fraught with tho same success that attended her' concerts in Australia. 'In all probability tho tour will commence at Dunedin early in February, and besides tho four principal centres most of the important smaller towns will bo visited. An Interesting Revival; Tho opera season at tho Metropolitan Opera House, Now York, opened with Gluck's "Armido" with Caruso as Ronaud, Olive Framstad as "Armido," and Amato as Hidraot. Frankly admitted (says a New York critic) Gluck's "Armido" was scarcely suited to these surroundings. It is more, than a century and a quarter old, and no stretch, of imagination can call it a brilliant opera, it had never before been presented here.; it is a classic of tho most exalted order—so it does not wait on tho approval or disapproval of New York. Its place in opera history has. long ago been fixed. Yet-it still remains a mystery why the knowing ones at tho Metropolitan Opera House should have chosen this sedato work for the. season's premiere, surrounding it with all tho tinsel of fash-' ion when it merits a more sedato and quieter setting. "Salome'! and Cold Fest. . While the English censor removed tho ban from Strauss's "Salome," with tho result that Mr. Thomas Beecham lost £40,000 on the production, Now York and Chicago drew the lino at it. Ono performance was enough at the Manhattan Opera House, and now, after two, Chicago has shut down on it. Miss Mary Garden, as the prima donna, said that tho opera - was a great work of art, and not immoral. The chief of tho Chicago police, who attended the performances, expressed . tho opinion that the opera was disgusting, but not immoral. Mr. Oscar Hammerstein, who staged "Salome," said recently that nobody expected Chicago had moro virtiio than New York; somehow ono failed to associate Chicago with Puritanism in its strictest form. "I don't know," said Mr. Hammerstein, "just what could be done to tone- down 'Salome;' especially the head-scene. You know, when Miss Garden worked for mo she had a deadly tear when singing 'Salome' of. getting cold feet—in fact, I always used to have attendants behind tho scenes armed with hot-water bottles to warm her up when she camo off. ■ Perhaps the Chicago police, in banning tho opera, wore working in connection with tho Board of Health in trying to prevent poor Mary from catching cold."

livcry voice must master the trill after a period, longer or shorter, of proper practice. Stiff, strong voices master it sooner than weak ones. I expended certainly ton years upon improving it, because, as a young girl, I had- so very little strength, although mv voice was very ilexiblo in executing all sorts of rapid passages.—Lilli Lckmauu, in "How to Sing,"