MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1812, 26 July 1913, Page 11

MUSIC.

_• $ TBr Treble Cief.i New Orchestral Conductor. To-morrow evening, at iTis Majesty's Theatre, Mr. Christian Hellemaini is to mako his debut in Wellington as a conductor of orchestra. ]t is a somewhat trite statement to mention that a man may be an excellent musician, a pood chonw master, a skilled instrumentalist, yet may not have the orchestral "sense." Having many qualifications indispensable in Hie complete equipment of a musician, he uiiiy lack that intuitive gift which is able to detect the slightest .error made by a singla instrument when' tho band is blazing away at its fullest ensemble; but more important still, he must be possessed of the interpretative faculty anil have sufficient control over his orchestra to induce every shade of tlis composer's meaning as he (the conductor) understands it. Mr. Hellcmaim has made an excellent impression on those who have already played under him, and his appearance with tho baton to-morrow evening (vice Mr. Bloy, whoso illness many will regret) will bo pleasurably anticipated. On Tuesday, August 5, Mr. Bloy is to be tendered a complimentary concert in the Town Hall, when the Professional Orchestri will play Tschaikorsky's great "1812" overture, assisted by tho Wellington City Iland. For this occasion all tho picture theatre inanacements hare ncreexl to re-

lease for the evening all the instrumentalists who may be needed by the orchestra. ■

"The Creation." It is many years since Haydn's great oratorio "The Creation" has ■ been heard in Wellington, and there are many lovers of music who will bo deeply grateful to lhe Wellington Royal Choral Society for having made so wise a selection for its concert on Friday evening next. "Tho Creation" was written by "Pnpa" Haydn, in the full maturity of his powers—in the final epoch of hi.s life as a composer. It was written to a German translation of Hilton's "Paradise Lost," and consequently has the distinction of being partly English in its foundation. It was first performed in. public on March 19, 1799, when its success was ns immediate ns it las proved permanent.- It is of interest to note, too, that it was at a performance of "The Creation" Haydn was last seen in public, when his own music made such an impression on the feeble ■ old man that ho hod to bo carried out of the hall. Ho died on May 31, 1809, in Vienna, during the occupation of that city by Nn- , poJcons army, and many of the French, army attended the last rites.

The performance to bo given on Friday next has a special interest, in that the soprano music will bo sung by that distinguished artist Madnme Mary Conly, who is just as well known and admired as an oratorio artist in Great Britain as she is in her native Australia. Madame. Conly has never been heard More in Wellington, so that hex appearance nt the Town Hall will have all tho charm of a new voice and personality. Mr. Jolui Prouse (baritone) and Mr. Sidney Butler (tenor) will also assist. Mr. Christian Hellemann will mako his first public appearance as conductor of the society on this occasion.

A Dainty Russian Sinner. Quito one of tho best turns seen for many long days at tho Tivoli Theatre (says the latest "Sunday Times") is that of Mdlle. Lola Krasavina, billed as "tho beautiful Russian operatic singer" on the programme. For a wonder, the programme speaks only the truth.-. Mdlle. Krasavina is most decidedly beautiful, but her appeal in this direction lies more in her exquisite daintiness, perfection in the technique of acting, and superb grace of movement, than in the lines of her features, however good they may be.- Brimming with, personality and passionate, impulsive temperament that is usually the heritage of the Latin races, this young Russian actress—we prefer to jfive her this title rather than that of singershows the most consummate art in her methods, and displays to ono's gaze in no uncertain fashion an exhibition of a woman wonderfully trained in the eeorets of her art. There were other numbers on tho bill, but beside tho work of Mdlle. Krasavina, with its sweet attractiveness, it would bo almost sacrilege to mention them.

The Art of Debussy, ■ ' Debussy recently performed his new Pre--1 tides at a concert in Paris. Fanny Davics, the English pianist,' was in the audience and gave the- following account of his playing to the London "Daily Telegraph" :—"He played three of his new L'reludes deliriously, all perfectly simple, in strict but never stiff rhythm, always flowing but never forced. His touch 'is beautiful, very., sonorous in pianissimo passages—it creates an atmosphere of calm serenity and absence of all fuss—his tempi are most moderate; in fact, he strictly followed his own directions in each case. He has that 'hineinlegen' in ' the soft chords that Frau Schumann always wanted, which carries the chords into the nir."

Hans Richter Memoirs. Hans Richtcr, tho veteran Wagnerian conductor, who was for many years conductor of tho Hallo Orchestra in Manchester, England, conductor of Covent Garden Opera, and of the Bavrcuth Festivals, etc., must be a- very modest man. Ho was said to be writing his memoirs, but has now decided not to publish them, but will'leave copious notes of his experiences' in. the ; possession o{.his;,fnmily after his death. At one'time .he did considerable composing, but eventually gave it up. He tells us of this circumstance in the following, words: "I havo conscientiously as-a musician examined 'my works, and by tho side of Richard Wagner I came to the conclusion that, though I might become a distinguished director, I should never become a distinguished composer. On the day when I recognised this fact, I burned all I had hitherto composed, and solemnly vowed never to recommence. This vow I have strictly kept."

A Choir of 20,000 Voices. The plans for music at the PanamaPacific International Exposition in San Francisco are certainly very compreheneive. One of the gorgeous courts that connect the exhibit buildings in the main section of the exposition will bo devoted to musical productions. It will ho known as the Court of Festival, and will be tspocinlly equipped with a view to choral singing and dramatic productions on .an elaborate scale. lii the huge tower of the court there will l>9 a. great organ with echo organs in the smaller towers. Not far from the inner Festival Court will be Festival Hall, with a seating capacity of three thourand. One of the principal features of the musical department of the exposition will bo international singing contests in which choirs from all countries will compete for valuable prizes. It is proposed to have a massed chorus of 20,000 voices, selected from tho world's best singors. Conventions, congresses relating to music teaching, exhibitions of musical art treasure—in fact everything musical will be found in this wonderful exposition. The musical director will be M. George W. Stewart.

Notes. A prize of 10,000 dollars has been offered by' the Italian Philharmonic Society of New York for the best symphonic work to ]>e composed by an Italion resident of tho United States. The successful work will bo performed at San Francisco during tho Panama Exposition. Tt is rumoured that Puccini has accepted a proposal that he should write an opera to be produced at tho Panama Exposition at San Francisco. It will be remembered that Verdi composed "Aida" for tho opening of the Suez Canal, and it. is hoped that the Panama Canal will inspire tho foremost modern Italian composer to a similarly noble- effort. The well-known singer, pianist, composer, and teacher, Francis Alexander Korbay, died recently in London. He was the sou of distinguished parents, and was born at Budapest, 1816. He studied singing and piano under various distinguished teachers, among whom was his godfather, Franz Liszt. A temporary failure of his voice caused him to take up the piano with some success. Ho spent some years as a singer, teacher, pianist and lecturer in his country, but oventually went to London, where for many years ho had been teacher of singing at the Royal Academy of Music. His arrangements of some Hungarian songs in English have been very popular in England.—"Etude." Tho New Zealand tour of tho Concert Company, headed by the famous tenor, Mr. John M'Cormack will take place during December next. Mr. M'Cormack will bo supported by Miss May Huxley (soprano), Mr. Vincent O'Brien (pianist, conductor of the Dublin Oratoria Society), and Mr. Donald M'Beath (a clover young Australian violinist). Tho revival of "Tho Geisha" (save the latest "Etude") at Weber and Field's Theatre, New York, has proved exceedingly attractive. . Madame Melba inaugurates a concert tour of the world in Canada in October. Her Canadian tour alono embraces 100 concerts and ensures the receipt for half a million dollars. After the Sydney season Madame Clara Butt and Mr. Keunerley Rumford go to Brisbane, :and they will visit some of the Northern Queensland towne for the first time, as they are anxious to see all parts of tlie Commonwealth. The New Zealand tour, which commences at Auckland at the beginning of October, will consist of about twenty concerts in all, and -in addition to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, concerts will bo given in Invercargill, Timaru, Wanganui, and Napier.

. A Berlin street musician, assisted by his six children, cave a performance of vocal and instrumental music in Court, to prove his claim to immunity from the ÜBual tax by virtue of tho superiority of his art.