MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1491, 13 July 1912, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Bi Treble Clef.) Oversea News. America is frequently ahead of Covent Garden in the production of new operas, flowing upon the success last-vear of Wolf Ferrari's "The Jewels of the Madonna in New York and Chicago, that work-has been staged in London (May 30). Iho love story is sordid. Maliella (soprano), a wild, passionate girl, falls under the sway of Hafaele (baritone), tho leader of tho Camorrists, who talks' of robbing the figure of tho Virgin to win her favour. She then taunts her honest blacksmith admirer, Gennaro (tenor),- with this idle- boast, and the infatuated man replies by laying- the jewels at her feet. Unfortunately, the girl loves only Rataele, who, upon hearing her admission;?, spurns her in disdain. She drowns herself in, her despair, and at'daybreak Geiinaro redeems his sacrilege by suicide before the. statue of the Madonna he had robbed. The music, with its Neapolitan tolk-tuuos, vivacious yet dramatic ensembles, made quite a sensation. Mine. Edvina; the new. tenor, Martinelli, big both nr voiceand in the style of his forcefulacting;.and Sammarco, who gave a clever study of the .Camorrist, played the central characters. Favourable notices are accorded the new musical comedy at the Adelphi Theatre, "Autumn Manoeuvres," which replaced "The Quaker Girl" on May. 25. The "Pall Mall Gazette" of May 29 confirms the news that Miss Amy Castles will open at the Imperial Opera House, Vienna, next September, under a fivo years' contract as lyric soprano.

A Kinfl Concert. The Titanic Band Memorial Concert at the Royal Albert Hall on May 2J (Empire Day) drew an immense audience, and proved the most thrillihgly solemn function ever presented outside .a. chthodrnl. Jhe proceeds were in aid of the families ot the eight musicians who went down in the ill-fatei vessel on April 15 plaving "Nearer, My God, to Thee." The melody by Dykes, orchestrated by Sir Henry J. "wood,-.closed the concert. There was only one vocal item on the programme, "0 Rest in the Lord," suny by flic Australian contralto, Mme. Ada Crossley. The following orchestras took part:—Philharmonic, Queen's Hall, London Symphony, New Symphon.Vj Bescham. Symphony, Royal Opera (Covent 'Garden),' Londo'n Opera House. The massed forces were conducted .in turn by Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Henry Wood, Mr. Landon Ronald, Mr. Thomas Beocham, Mr. Percy Pitt, Mr. Fritz Ernaldy, and Herr Mengelberg. The programme opened with Chopin's "Funeral''March," the whole " audience standing.' The overtures to "Tannhauser," "Die .Meistersingtr/" "Lohengrin," as well as "The Hide of the Valkyries," and other pieces, were : performed. Bach's "Air for G. String," b.v the massed violins, had an indescribable effect. Mr. W. Arundel Orchard (conductor' Royal ..Sydney Liedertafel and. Sydney ..Madrigal Society) received a letter from his brother, an enthusiastic amateur violinist, who was present, in which he-mentions that during ,tho, interval Mr. Betcham remarked l'o him that the whole affair was "a conductor's' dream," and that his own feelings were those'of rapture; that he could only quote the words of Lady Jane in "Patience/' .which she referred to "a transcendentality, of delirium, an acute accentuation of supremest ecstacy." All the,finest orchestral players in London assisted, the figures furnished being 84 first violins, 75 second; 51 violas, 51 'cellos, 19 double-basses, 17 flutes, , 12 oboes, 6 corsanglais, 11 clarionets, 4 bass clarionets, 13 bassoons, 5 ooutra-bassoons, 24 horns, 20 trumpets, 36 trombones. 6 tubas, G timpani, 12 percussion, and G harps (led bv V. . C.Barker, who was for long years fettled in Melbourne), making in all 31G strings, GB'wood, 10.1 brass; total, 488. Such an assemblage of skilled players can rarely be heard,-and then only in a few privileged capitals of the world. At tho end, during the final hymn, many in the vast audience were moved to tears.

Another Caruso, , Signor. Martiuelli, the new. tenor at Covent Garden, whom all London will be going to hear soon, is making many friends because' of his modesty and geniality. 7n his frank, boyish way. he is delighted at l.is success at Covent Garden. "I was terribly nervous." he confessed, "because every singer knows that:Covent Garden audiences are said to be the most critical in the world. And I will tell you something that made mo even more nervous. I was singing the part of Cavaradossi for the first time in my life. Six days before I left Italy for London the Covent Garden management asked me.-to take the part. In those six , days I learnt the music, and, after a few rehearsals here,. I took the performance. Fortunately, I can learn music very quickly, and am now studying a number of now parts. I ani looking forward to singing Rhadames in 'Aida,' for that is the. part which will give me greater opportunities." -...-. Signor Martinelli said that as a result of'his successful' appearance several , important offer?, of engagements were received by him, Eome from American opera-managers. ' Covent Garden has secured him for three ■years. ■ Some particulars of liis life were then given by him. Ho was born 25 years ago near Venice, and, being always fond of music, he (aught himself to play and sing. Then he found employment in.various ways, in ouo or two small operatic and theatrical companies, and later as a clarionet player in an Italian regimental band.';At this tiiuo he attracted' the attention of Signor Poli, a well-known Milan impresario (who is now in Eondon withhim). Signor Poli sent him to study with a well-known professor in that city,' and later on brought him out with great success. Ho has sung in most of tho lending Italian opera houses, and is considered in his own couivtry to be the finest of the_ young Italian tenors of to-day. Puccini heard him sing in. Rome, and at once engaged him for the role of Dick Johnson in "The Girl of the Golden West."