MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1443, 18 May 1912, Page 9

MUSIC.

(By Tredle CljfJ

A 10,000 Dollar Opera,

At the Metropolitan Opera House, New lorji, on March M last was given the penormance of the prize opera, Mono, music by Horatio W. Parker, libictto by Jh'ian Hooker. Ths of tho opera is laid m England during tho }ioma.i invasion. Gwynn, son of' the Roman governor and a British captive is in Jove with the British princess Mona. She loves him, and yet hates liini because lie is a Roman. The tragedy ends with the death of Gwynn at Mona's hands, and her subsequent remorse. Hie genesis of this competition for an American opera is interesting. Somewhat over two years ago, as the result of a suggestion lo the Board of Directors bv tue general manager, Mr. Giuiio Gatti-Cas-azza, the _Metropolitan Opera Company of New York announced a competition for a prize of 10,000 dollars for the best grand opera, to bo written in English, and composed by an American. Tho competition was to be closed September 15, 1910. "no operas submitted were to bo passed upon by a jury of musicians appointed by the Metropolitan Opera Company, and the successful opera was to bo produced at the Metropolitan Opera .House. Twenty-four operas were submitted. Tho jury selected to decide the competition was composed of Mr. Alfred Hertz, conductor of the Metropolitan; Mr. Walter Damrosdi, conductor of the New York Symphony Orchestra; Mr. George W. Chaawick, of Boston, Director of the New England Conservatory of Music; and Mr. Charles Martin Loeft'ler, concert-master of 'tja Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was tiie work of several months to examine and consider the twenty-four scores. Two of them were at one time lost while being sent by express from one of the judges to another, but -were soon recovered. Finally, on Mhy 2, 1911, the jury decided unanimously in. favour of an opera entitled "Mona.' 1 Tho envelope corresponding to the winning opera was opened, and it proved to be tiie work of Professor Horatio Parker (composer), of New Haven, Conn., and Mr. Brian Hooker (author), of Farmington, Conn. To them the prize was accordingly awarded.

Marshall-Hall's "Stella." ■Mr. Marshall-Hall's new opera, "Stella," lias been produced, by the directors of tho Lady Northcote Permanent-Orchestra, at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne. A rhapsody of praise in one morning paper states that the composer has apparently deserted Wagner and Brahms in order to yield to tha influence of Verdi and Puccini; that tho opera is brimming over with melody from start to finish; that the harmonies are rich and sensuous, the rhythms simple and natural, and that the third' act opens with an unabashed, straightforward waltz, which will doubtless soon bo heard in every ballroom in Melbourne. At the same time it is admitted that in tho musical scheme tho orchestra is first, and tho rest comparatively nowhere. Miss Rosina Buckman did well in the name part, Signor Itebottaro trained the largo chorus, and Mmc. Elise Wiedemann and Mr. Harry Hill jointly managed the stage. There seems to bo a concensus of opinion that the music is clever and .'itiractive, but opinions differ as to Mr. Hall's own libretto, and the critic is probably right who detects a lack of living character in it, pointing out that figures which can pipe fine airs and strike attitudes are nut enough. The scenario is'described as resembling too closely tho modern domestic, or social, drama, "In real life people don't sing their remarks about medicine bottles, charfs, and temperatures, for which reason composers almost invariably liavo taken up subjects which lie so far away from mundane existence that the seeming incongruity of the characters singing everything they say and feel disappears." The plot shows how Stella Wilson, a hospital nurse, now betrothed to Dr. Koi-S ICirko (tenor), suddenly encounters in the Mayor of .the town her onc-timo lovet. (baritone), president of the local social purity society. This would not matter, only that the liev. Dr. Weldon lias learned her story without discovering her lover's name, and calls upon Chomley, of all men, to join in driving her out. Poor Stella, in a sudden lit of

despair at tho situation thus created, takes poison, and the tragedy closes. The cast consisted chielly of amateurs, and it seems probable that a few judicious alterations in the libretto, and more experienced acting, would bring the work as a whole up to tho level of the music, tile .emotional character of which an enthusiastic reception was due. America's Deficiency, Mr. William Shakespeare, the wellknown English voico teacher, whom, it will be remembered, lias had an exceedingly broad and comprehensive and general musical education, recently gave the following opinion to the representative of a Los Angeles paper:— I would not say there were 110 groat American composers, except that it is true, but it is true of England also. And there are few great composers anywhere, lour M'Dowell had his great side'. Noiiotiy could deny that he had genius. Romo ot his compositions are indeed beautiful.

TJie Italian composers arc amateurs for i.ie most part. They are not devoted tc the art, but to the idea of pleasing the taste rather than cultivating it. Some of the great performers are the same. Joachim appreciated the truth. He wa> an artist. When called before the curtain after a splendid porfor niauco. lio would say ; 1(J f| le audience: 'V\~liy, lam Duly an interpreter.' That shows 1 Jie art and the soul o; the nsiisioinn. Pader-ov.-s.ii is a groat player, as all the world Knows, but lip lucks somewhat this delicate ,tense. He is a wonderful performer, .yet tlie professional gvniiKi-t does marvellous feats.

"Kvcn ragtime has its merits. Tt may lead to bettor things. Of cnur?o, it is iionsense, written by people who do not know, and played by who do not cnro. but vol it may awaken tlie dr«ire— touch the chord, and evoke intelligent response, Tho j»rtat art: i.i to move poopie, not merely to astonish tliem. Tt is jr. the ability to make the most of the instrument.

This country needs institutions devoted to art for the sake of art. Tho lmreIv commercial element must be eliminated. America has been too busy for this. Notes. Madame di Ci.-ucros, tho grand operatic artist who is to appear oil the cu'cert stage under the direction of AU»rs. Pcrtus ami J "IIk:(. left Vancouver for Sydney . v "• ol ' first concert will be given 1 ') '\vdnoy on .Tune She wiil not visit Aow toiand until August. I-eli x Weingartnor has coinnieted his task of rewriting Weber's "(iheron." so as to impro.-e the libretto and re-cove ihe opera. The new version will be heard ahortJy in Hmnburij.