MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1806, 19 July 1913, Page 9

MUSIC.

TEy Treble CleiM Greek Theatre in U.S.A. ' Mr. David Bispham, who made his farewell appeaitthco in Sydney last Saturday evening, will give feturii concerts in Melbourne (six) and Adelaido before visiting Tasmania and New Zealand, and will finally sail for America on August 23. This famous baritone will make an appearand) at Honolulu 011 September 5, and will continue the voyage by the same ship -to San Francisco. On this point ho remarks:—"On September 11 I shall give a song recital at the celebrated Greek Theatre, attached to the University of California, at Berkeley, across the Bay. The formation of this open-air arena was indirectly the outcome of a suggestion I made to Mrs. Hearst, the elder, a cultivated woman of enormous wealth, who subsequently joined with others in founding a classic temple of dramatic art in New. York under the title of tlie New Theatre. That was not my own idea at all, but she passed on', my little .scheme to her sou; W. B. Eearst, the millionaire nowspaper proprietor. .Ho entirely built the Greek Theatre, which is 011 the model of the Athenian Theatre at the Acropolis, being a natural amphitheatre formed in the hollow of the hill behind the woods on the University grounds. It is in the form of a semi-circle, with the stage across the diameter, and seats about 8000 people. I sang and recited before an audience of GOOO there about two years ago, when the acoustics proved perfect, And the situation romantically beautiful. No, the weather 'does not matter. In California it never rains out of season, and the weather is absolutely reliable. I shall reach New York in mid-September, and I shall at once begin rehearsing Leo Pall's new comic opera, 'The Jolly i ant." lam being starred in the title role, a character of absorbing interest, ; who always smiles, at adversity—and- I , may' add that his smile radiates in the 1 form of several captivating songs. The . new piece will ho splendidly staged .in i New York by Messrs. Werba and Lues- [ clier, a young and enterprising theatrical 1 firm. One of the two partners is mar- . ried to a daughter of Mr. Erlar.ger, of 1 'Klaw and Erlanger,' producers of 'Ben i Hur' and hundreds of other spectacular • pieces." s \ Gilbert and Sullivan Next Year Many playgoers have been eagerly look- . ing forward to the day when the opening ; data of the season of Gil- > bert and Sullivan's comic operas will be announced. When questioned in Sydney regarding the prospects of an immediate fulfilment of that promise, Mr. Hugh J. Ward ro 1 plied: "It is the intention of J. C. Wil- >' liamson, Ltd.,. togivie the theatre-going r public of Australia a season of Gilbert: 1 and Sullivan some time next year. It was • originally intended that these populat comic operas should be presented during 1 the course of the present season, but owe ing to the number of large attractions s appearing under our management, both 1 at the present time and in tte near future. it has been necessary to postpone 1 the revivals. I'or instance, at present wo t have Mr. Asche and Miss Brayton, to ba r followed at the Theatre Royal by Mrk Lewis Waller, with his repertoire ) of - romantic plays; and at. Her Majesty's a r now musical comedy, 'Autumn, Manoeu f? vres,' has just been given its initial P r «- e sentation in Australia. In Melbourne, Genee is a big attraction, and a new drama, called 'Within the Law. seems to be heading in' the direction of a record , run. On top of all this, th'o Quinlan C Grand Opera Company are due here short--1 lv and so, candidly, wo have absolutely s no room for a Gilbert and Sullivan re- ? vival for some time to come. 1 "'However, I lim firmly convinced of ; the everlasting drawing power of these 1 wonderful works, and I intend to revive I them on the earliest possible occasion. 4 with speeiallv engaged artists, new dresses r and scenery; and, in fact, to present each 0 comic opera in a way that will exceed in lavishness and perfection that • lias yot been seen in (his country. 1 e "The Geisha." The newly-formed Wellington Amateur l_ Operatic Society has pencilled in dates at " the Opera House from October 0 to 11, r for its initial production of that deliirlitful comic opera, "The Geisha." I'layII goers will be pleased to renew old ae--1 F|itniiilaiicos with sueli characters as the ll bright and breezy Molly Seaniorf, llio - tenderly sentimental 0 Mimosa Sail, tlio • comical Willi Hi, and the stately Lady 'I Constance Wynne, and her bevv of Eng--0 lish soc.icly girls. The new society is to ■ s l>e congratulated on the officers which it s has secured, and the speed at which it is working inlo being. • Kobear<aU will " commence noxt week under Mr. 1). A. • Kenny. Mrs. Quirk (nee Miss Alice MaginJ nil.vj Vdll officials, society's pianist.