MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 11

MUSIC.

—® — < ■■ ■ fß* Terms Cixr.l John M'Cormaek, Mr. John M'Cormaek, the famous Irish-American tenor, who is touring under the direction of. J. and Jf. Tait 3 is to commence his New Zealand tour at Christehureh on Christmas night. Ho will give three concerts iii the Cathedral City—on December 20, 26, and January 2. The tenoT, who gave one concert in Wellington a year ago, will bo supported on this occasion by Miss May Huxley, an English soprano; Sir. Donald M'Bcath, violinist; and Mr. Vincent O'Brien, a gifted Irish pianist. The Adored Verdi Some amusing illustrations of the adoration of Verdi prelvalejrt in Italy are given in the London ''Telegraph"'; •Ono beautiful evening last spring in Rome a band was playing to a Surge audience in on© of the pub'ic squares. A selection from ','Ernani" was begun, whereupon a stranger with a little knowledge of Italian asked his neighbour the title of the piece. With mingled expressions of astonishment, disgust, and almost incredulity the native replied; 'Ki-nani,' but surely you know it— Verdi." The visitor defended his ignorance by explaining that in England that particular, opera wag seldom if ever performed. Whereupon tho llcman formed a very poor opinion of musical taste in this country. He delivered (justs a homily on the subject, and bogged of tho peccant Briton to take up the, question seriously on his return. 11l the cafes frequented by Romans tho episode was talked about for weeks. That anyone should visit Italy without having previously undergone a courso of Verdi savoured of disrespect. From tho highest to tho lowest in the land, tho knowledge and love of Verdi are much the same-. Some years ago a criminal, upon being sentenced to imprisonment for life, with several years' detention in a terrible dungeon, ex- ■ claimed: "Thank God, they cannot still wjv voice. I can sing Verdi's melodies in'my cell."

Those who hare crossed by -steamship from Naples to Palermo may havo noticed groups of prisoners, bound and chained together, and guarded by soldiers, on their way to some place of detention in Sicily. It is by no means uncommon for_ theso poor wretches to seek consolation in an impromptu chorus from ono of Verdi'? operas. Some of the performances elicits*! under such circumstances have been known Vu cause til© most unemotional to shed a furtive tear. Thoy wero men fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils, yet they had tlio redeeming quality of a lovo of music.

A -unique punishment for naughty children is the prohibition from hearing tho works of Verdi. Even worse, the threat- has at times gone forth, "Unless you beliave well and learn your Ifcssons, you'll be sent to Germany and niado to listen to Wagner." "Partlphar's Wife." "Le Mencstrcl" informs the world that Richard Strnuss's latest work, "Potiphar'a Wife," is almost completed! His publishers did not expect the score till next summer, but the weather at Gnraisch, where Strauss has a- villa, has been for months so exccrable that ,ho has remained in th-o houso and at work most of the time. His "Potiphar" is to be a musical pantomime or "wordless _ play," unfolding a scries of J'iblicnl pictures and incidents. Tho ideas of the piece did not tako root in Strrmss's mind or in that of his collaborator, Hoffmansthal. It originated with a German nobleman, Count Kessler, who resides mostly in France, whero ho owns a castle, and it wag while studying the picture in tho Louvre, "La Chastete do Joseph," that ho was • struck with tho possibility of turning the Biblical story to account in tho form described. To Strauss, who happened to be in Paris at tho time, and to Mr. Diaaalew. tho director of the Russian Ballet, he communicated his ideas on tho subject, and both of them approved enthusiastically of the project. WHholm Ganz at Eighty. "I am just concluding my eightieth year. I have now entered on my eightyfirst year, -and I am glad to say I feel very well," v.-as an entry recently writ, ten in his diary hy Mr, Wilhohn' Ganz, the composer and conductor, who for so many years was associated with Mine, Adelina Patti as her accompanist. Miss Georgina Ganz, the musician's daughter, informed a representative of tho "Daily Mail" that her father had kept a diary since the days of his boyhood. "Until about three years ago," she added, "when my father had a regrettable accident to his foot, ho rarely if ever went to bed before twelve o'clock. He was up regularly every morning by seven o'clock." Mr. Ganz has been working of late on his honk, "Memories f n Musician," which will he published shortly by Mr. Murray, and will contain the reminiscences of isixty-fonr years of musical life, including anecdotes of Jenny Lind. Wagner, BnSfc, SaiiitSnens, Verdi, Gomiod, Sims Reeves, and Adelina Patti. Ho is now busy 011 tho ccmposition of a now song, and ho still piays > I'rcqncntly to his friends, "All his life," said Miss Ganz, "my father lias !>cen ii rnor.fc active man, ami I think it is this that.has kept him young." ■ ..... Madame Teres.a Caneno commenced a tour of America in New York early in November, and, as usual, was raiiturously received. She is ono of the list of grout unappreciated who wer© given the frigid hand in New' Zealand.