MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 9

MUSIC.

(Br Treble Clef.) Gilbert and Sullivan Redivlvus. ■ The news that J. C. Williamson, Ltd., intends to revive the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan next year will be hailed with 'ecstatic pleasure, by -many thousands of Seople in New Zealand, who have an.un-i ying love for these classics in the domain of comic opera. -Many tnnei'ul nnd cycii brilliant light operas, such as "The Merry AVidow," "The Chocolate Soldier," "Tho Count.of Luxemburg," and "The Pink Lady" have been written to the passing joys' of tho many. Some of them created records, and immense fortunes, but at tho very best their charm is cpherincral, and time will show 1 , I feel sure, that they will not stand the acid test of itime, which, alter all, is the greatest arbiter of quality, bo it in literature, painting, drama, or tho opera. Tho brilliant light operas of the Franz Lehar school—melodious, sparkling, sensuous—havo not tbe solid lasting qualities that arc associated with tho name of that twin genius, Gilbert and Sullivan. Never has there been such a perfect affinity in,any form of art, and their works will 10n , , , outlive our day, to be a standing proof to posterity that their forbears spent, many glad hours in tho sunshine of these operas. Some five years or so ago Williamson's Tevived several of the operas, viz., "The Teoinen of the Guard," "Utopia. Limited," "Pinafore," "Patience," "The Mikado," "Tlib Gondoliers." and "Princess Ida." Though interesting, Ido not fancy that tho venture was over successful from the box-office standpoint. Tho reason was probablv not perhaps the weakness,■ but the unfitness of the cast, and that will be a real difficulty to bo ovcrcomo next year. When t.hn 'operas mentioned were last played. Mr. Howard Yemen, the once brilliant Gilbertinn. comedian, bad lost a good deal of his shod, Messrs. Chas. Kenninshani and, Frank Wilson (tenor and baritone) were fair, Mis* Dolly Ca«tlcs was , a mere, amateur, and Mr.' H. H. Wallace (comedian) was riuite over-weighted. IV one artist, who d'd rcMiep the siiirit of her roles was Miss Ce]ia Gl'il"iii. whose Lady J-aiie in "Patience ,, nnd TCatisha in "Tl , ? Mikado" were excellent. The oi)pras have been revived in New VnrV «-ith immense success lnlely by Do Wo'f Hopper as the principal wWlim. So far that eomuany has revived "TT.M.P. Pinafore," "Patience." and "Tl>n Pirates of Fenzance," with great succor.

Gluck's "Orpheus" Revived, -Madame Kirkby Limn, ftngland's Rresite~t operatic contralto, who is to visit New Zealand in November next, has sailed from London, and will arrive in Melbourne in time to inaugurate a tour of Australasia on August; 21. In March lost imidamc journeyed to Manchester and made a seii'fatioiial impression in one oi those rare revivals of Gluck's opera "Orpheus," a mighty tragedy in a musical setting. The Manchester "Herald" said of her performance: "Saturday's performance was in every way worthy of the, v.crli. The part of Orpheus could not have suited Madame Kirkby Xuiui better if ithad lx>en written far her. For intrinsic beauty of voice, Madame Lunn is not surpa.=scd by any sinsjor on tho stoge or concert platform, ana she is also a ccnsunimate artist. Her Orpheus was a delight from first to last. She played tho part with a simple dignity admirably in kflopiujT with tho Greek legend, and in joy and grief the heroic was never lost. Saturday's audience was so deeply impressed that it reserved all its applauso for tho close of the act.s, and let even 'Che Faro' pass without the customary cvation," '

A New Violinist. J[. Andre do Ribaupicrro, the brilliant young French violinist, is to accompany Madame Kirkby Lunn on her coming tour at' Australia and Now Zealand. This artist, who has come rapidly to the front of late, made an entirely successful appearance in London last year, on which occa6idn the "Daily Telegraph" eaid: A successful first appearance in London was made by M. Andre de Eibatipion-e, an accomplished violinist, at the Aeolian Hall. The artist in question, who draws a bright clear tone from his instrument, has: u iiiv'ly developed technique, and gives 110 cause for vcpiOQch in the matter of intonation. At the outset M. ile Kibanpiorrc exhibited sound execution and good iniisiciiUKhip in (he course of his perfcrniance of ■ Hiicc movements from Max BruehV. "Scottish Fantasia." lie played Hie very exacting variations on the theme <>f "Scots Wha llae" with plenty of verve and confidence, and at. the dote was warmly and deservedly npnlamted. Afterward-; Hi? violinist dealt . resourcefully with HneVs "Clwconiie." sympathetically revealin? the bwuties of the ni:i'..terpic'e<\