MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1348, 27 January 1912, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Bi Theble Clet.)

Novel Concert Scheme,

Mr. Philip Newbury and Madame Emily Spada, the well-known tenor and soprano, have, embarked on a novel concert-giving scheme. They propose to give popular shilling concerts in Wellington and Auckland wei'klv—here on Wednesdays and in Auckl.md on Saturdays, both .in the Town Halls of the re.-peetivn cities. It is proposed-In vary the programmes by Ihe engagement of Urn best artists available, ami to maintain a high standard of picgramme compatible with what may Ire termed the "higher popular" in mu*ic. Such an arrangement would have been impassible a few years ago, but the Main Trunk railway lias proved a boon to professional people ill many ways, as it is to the promoters of these concerts. .If t.he_ scheme proves a success,' Palinerston North may be included in the itinerary, in which case concerts would 1m given in that town on Monday evening in each week. Singers Coming. News conies simultaneously to hand concerning two contraltos who are to visit Australia this year, Mine. Kirkbv Limn find -Miss Eva Mylott. As to the former, we are reminded that she is one ot the few English-born artists who have achieved .success ill Wagner music-drama. As a matter of fact, Kirkby Lunu is one of the lew singers of tho day. Though we have heard many contralto's, and among tlieni some excellent singers, we shall find Kirkby Lunn one of tho elect. The voice is of beautiful quality. and her control and delivery of it belong to an exceptional order of vocal art. It will be a pity if we do not hear her under opi-ra conditions, for she is. essentially an opera singer. The original Delilah of the memorable first production ill England of SaintSaens's now happily familiar work, slip is also a famous exponent ot' the roles of Ortriid in "Lohengrin," Brangane in "Thistan and Isolde," Fricka in "The Valkyrie," and Kundry in "Parsifal." Miss' Eva Mylott forwards sheaves of press notices from America and Canada, disclosing her as busily employed anil very favourably regarded. With these two mid Mine, de Cisneros promised, we are entitled (says the Sydney "Herald") to anticipate this as ff contralto year. Oscar Hammerstcin's Fight. Mr. Oscar Hainmerstein, according to our cable of Thursday week,. has * announced to Londoners that unless the boxes and stalls aro subscribed for, his great opera .house, venture must come to an end. Well, that is precisely what he was told all along. No city in tho world supports regular opera without either a subscription list or a State subvention. If there were no .subscription list at Covent Garden, the annual grand season would be replaced by spasmodic— and cheap—opera. Mr. Beecham recently spent a fortune in proving that, although it was already obvious. Mr. Hainmerstein has also spent a fortune with a view to prove that to an American all things are possible—even the creation of an opera public. The result is us we see. He has had good palronago in the cheaper seats, and unsteady patronage in thn higher-priced places. That is not sufficient support for opera on a big scale. Mr. Beecham came to grief on the same rock precisely, but the breakers that engulfed him were a 'high musical ideal as to the works performer, and a poor selection of the arlists necessary to their performance. Mr. Hainmerstein has relied upon lavish production, new artists, an occasional new work, and a frank appeal to the old stock, not to say stale repertoire. He has failed to .secure continuously payable audiences. And without'tho basic safe: ' guard of a subscription list lie was bound to fail.

Enomy (at the manoeuvre;): "You aro my prisoner." Sergeant Binks: "Nonsense. How did you get here?" Enemy: "Over that bridge." Sergeant: "Then, m.v dear follow,-you;■ aro drowned. We blew lip tluit bridge yesterday."