MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1557, 28 September 1912, Page 9

MUSIC.

TBl' Treble Clef.7 Madame Kirkby Lunn's Success, Melbourno papers to hand chronicle the peat success which Madame Kirkby Lunn lias achieved in that city. Every concert has been attended by very largo audiences, and tho enthusiasm for the visiting artist grows with her every appearance. Writing of her second concert in Melbourne, the "Argus" said: "As before, the artist gripped her hearers most with efforts in which her characteristic methods of reserve and restrain were in evidence. JUy this is meant thoso numbers where the artist touched things with a tone of moderate power, suggesting, as it were, the normal diapason of life. Many aro great at tho 'thunder,' aud many -moro at the 'whisper,' but to bo able to take the midway course and make it artistic, is possibly ono of the hardest tasks the interpretative artist can e.ssay. It brings to mind the remark of a modern essayist, who says that there are scores of second-rate poets who can describe with conviction ten minutes of agony, but hardly ono can give even a decent impressioit of 20 years of satisfaction.

"Madam© Lunn is not, of course, wholly reserved in style. In her first item, (tounod's 'O, 111 a Lyre Immortelle,' she finished wit hp a high note, which was literally terrific in its power-and intensity. They wero also splendidly sonorous, passages, made still more striking by the intensity of the passion' infused into them. The whole item was superb in atmosphere, and extremely moving. "As at her first concert, however, the second selection of what might be termed tho reserved items wero the gems of tho evening. They wero Lalo's 'L'Esclave,' tho old French chanson, 'Mamau Dites iloi!' arranged by Wickerlin. They wero given with just sufficient tr«ne to set tho audience listening with the keenest attention. Tho two resultant encores were treated in much tho same fashion, the second being tapered off to an exquisite pianissimo."

Herr Balling Succeeds Richter. Very little, if any, prominence was given in the London papers to the fact that Herr Michael Balling has succeeded Dr. Richter, of Manchester, but the news is confirmed by Madame Kirkby Luiui. Tho distinguished contralto, when she mentioned this tact, was greatly interested to hear that Herr Balling was well known in Australasia. .A fine 'cellist and pianist, as well as a prominent conductor of orchestral music, he settled for three years in Now Zealand in 1693, for tho benefit of his health. Then ho returned to Europo to resumo his Bayrcuth associations, becoming one of tho conductors at that famous theatre, whero ho had at ono time played under the direction or Wagner himself. When studying, at the Wursburg Conservatorium, Herr Balling received from Humperdinck a letter of introduction to Wagner, and presented this letter to tho great composer at Mayence.

Madame Kirkby Lunn met Herr Balling first at Karlsruhe, where he conducted a performance in which slio was ono of the singers. Big Money for Singers, It is announced that Caruso has just signed a contract to appear at tho National Opera House in Buenos Ayrcs at 12 performances, for which he is to rcceivo JJIJOO each. If the figure be correct, it must surely constitute a record in tho way of operatic fees, 'so far, at any rate, as any. male singer is concerned. It is the prima donna, as a rule, who receives sums usually spoken of as fabulous. Probably tho record in this matter is held by I'atti. From tlio late Mr. Henry Abbey she often received JJIOOO for each appearance, and during one season at New Orleans in tho 'eighties the diva was paid .£I2OO a night, plus a percentage of the receipts above a certain amount, all her travelling expenses, moreover, being defrayed by tho impresario, For her farewell American tour in 11)01-5, Mr. Robert Grau gavo Madame I'atti .CIUOO a concert—tile contract: being for 50 concertsplus 25 per cent of the receipts whenever they exceeded .CISOO. Furthermore, he paid tho entire cost of tho journey to and from America for tho diva and her staff, besides providing a private palace car for her use throughout the itinerary. It is rumoured that Caruso might come to Australia next yeai—that it is merely a matter of terms. That is tho difficulty. Frederic Shipman Again, Tho American concert manager, who acted as pilot in Australia for Jessie Maclaehlan and Mario Narclle, had tho direction of Madame Melba's last concert; tour in the United .States, Mr. Shipman is now touring America with Madame Lilian Nordicn, who had a distinguished operatic career. In private lift the prima doiina is Mrs. G. W. Young. She was Miss Lilian Norton before she took Nordicn as a stage nam;'. In the course of a talk last month, Madame Nordicn said:—"Mv manager, .Mr. Frcderitj Sliiimian, will have lour artists under his direction next season—David Bispliam, Mndiimc Mary Halloek (the pianist). Madame, Francis Aida, and mysell'. Mr. .Romanic Simmons is my accompanist ami secretary." Frederic Shipnian, it will be remembered. ran a number of side-shows at the New Zealand Exhibition nt <'liristi-litiri-li iu inn,i.n. including tUc "Whito Way" uml ,tb« MuriQuctiss,