MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1945, 31 December 1913, Page 3

MUSIC.

A NOTABLE Yi:AK. ''"'.'.'ji'.'.',• y' l '.-v' IKi laibii Oiefl Witlun tho' : -:s.'twolv<3 : moniiis Wt'lliiigtoiiSluisilscphAsbmcjii!!-:-teresting iuvisic;\' | and those 1 :;lfas:iiaclj the good ■ foi-t 11 }io:initvl.:in:tifits:l----ol world-iami'..' 'Ihe chriii.-jes'vrhichhave j taken place are -. j!o\v. .oi c-ttii !'so,:>:V; ll;. knou'ii to the; public;at}.largo;!but-asShe} • public usually.take things as they'coihe,' they have liotjperh'aps graspod'jiowi'tom? pletnly the old'cidc-r slias'chr,nuied";with--in the past year or Three?years ago, if anyone 1 were- asked: who;yvoreithe,l leaders of musi:: in ! would have replied \vithout:;;-:liyhc-yi t::'-: tion 'Messrs. Maughna•Bhiuetjt? Robert I'aricr.' Tl'i* SIISTI-;; (jUL'Siion i eculd not so easily ..bevdisposed -oi'lat'-.i pi'esent. Mr.' Barnett.' ; l)"as^b'ooiiV estali-'j lishef] in AurkliiuH fo];Snin(i.ijri<)nt!is;\aiHV Mr. I'arker lias' i>hwtid;i]l>%rroUml-.from.'| tho public eye, though still in'.charge atSt. Paul's,' ami yet baion-bt'nrer to'Hhcv Lieclertalel.'/. Out-^.iti.i.tho''. wrld of musie we'liaT'e J \securcdfa 'h'ery | fineaiiist- and enltnred musician "hi Mr,:] Bernard Page., as city. orpauistT:j;Noiio Avith an ear .'for ti;o bcai;tifiiK.in 'in.usiey even though they..,may uot....be!;iiii!siciaii«j-; cammt fail "to' be impressed.'witii .. iinof Mr.\iyge>^H4'^'tHßK l f?r.H.V among musicians—hir organist-iwitjiji' a temperament, and gifted nvith" tho.' i skill to mako it palpitate through his work,' Ho has a. hue command .ot tne lnstralnent, and t'no'sraco ofj" perfect ..understanding is in him.'- a conductor, and I marvel that.liis;serviccs. have not been snapped ,<ii|)'-l\v one-; or. other of tho 'musical b.adics. of -"tho ■"city. It has been stated that lie li'a'y conduct'' tho .WolHiifika; Musical .Union, ill sue-, ressioli to.Herr Carl Saiier,': ! . think it doubtful,:-as I know that Miv'Papse holds that there is only..room for "one. choral society in Wellington; . Mr. Pago miS'it. lioffever, endeavour,io revive tiio Jlum-, cioal Orchestra- that.was established oy Mr, Barnett, with the assistance of the citizens and the Citv Council, and whiclr. many enioyable concerts during its brief life.' Tho oonduefbrshin .of- tho Royal Choral Society, fell to Mr, Christian Rollenuni,v*',of Sydney, =■ who has •men bis committco»,cvery^atis»acti.on. ... ■ ■ ■■ -V-'- r- - : Loeal Endeavour. During tho year the, society has bieii; 'heard in "Tho Creation,' ''Elijah'.' * (in both of which oratorios Madame- Mary Conly sanß-delightfully),. ."Carmen,' suuee early in tho year (under tho baton of Mr. Barnett). ".Tudas MaccalaoJis,-. and "Tho ; Messiah." , performed only a few nights 'ago... As '.all tho 1 performances'■ reached .a fajriy standard, the year's-record.is a-.pood, one, and once more a financially ,snc : , ressfnl one. It wns that Jfr. Paul Dufault did not fulfil.hia enfraEemfiiit with the society to ..sing in the '"Messiah.". More ol tins will pro.Jably bo heard in the future. "' Still, referriiiE to local : endeavour, there was Itossini's opera "William Tell," by the Wollinttton Musical ITnion. This performance—but, no-rat this season of tho year let us have charity and drayc tile veil.. Herr Saner has denartod for Australia, - mid it is difficult to ascertain whether he intends to return or not, His encasement as conductor of the union has been terminated. Oivins tj illness Mr. Herbert Ploy was forced to rcsian the of the Professional Orchestra early in ihe voar, and the baton was handed to 3lr. Hellemann, undov whose mmlins; hand the orohestni. nave ~i succession of excellent Sunday nipht coucerts at- His Majesty's Theatro. "This has dono a (Treat deal for music in Wollinstou. Mr. Bloy was c;iven a coniiilinsentary concert, the proceeds of which , enabled him to taka a rest and recruit, his health, but he is still missing and missed from the concert .platform.' ■ Mr. Baxter Buckley save "several afternoon pianoforte recitals during, tho winter, and Messrs. Hodcjes (vocal) and Frank Johnstone (Velio) .i-ave .recitals during the year. Miss Mina Caldow returned from" a live, years'., stay,;in England a. few months ago, aiid lias plenty of evidence of the improvement she has mndo in the vocal art. Sue the title role in "Carmen" most successfully in'Christcbnrch. ami wan tho feature of "The Messiah" performances both in Wellington awl_ Auckland. Mr. lToraco Hunt, tho brilliant pianist, departed these shores in Juno last, and is now struggling up the cras«y P-ith of artistic endeavour in Germany. Mr. Bernard Pace's organ recitals liavo been a sheer, delight during the year.

Soma Fin? Singers. The bill-boards of the City have been emblazoned with some remarkable names during the year; '-? In January last we had a return season from Madame Kirlcbv Limn, probably tho most cultured contralto.that we have heard in New Zealand. There may bo some hoaitiiv difference of opinion as to tin's, but it is ray opinion that wo have heard no-, tinner apnroachiii!* tho deep intuitive beauty of Madame Lunn's art in the interpretation of German licder. It is inevitable that, she must be. compared to Madame Clara Butt, who, fortunately for comparison's sake., we have heard durine; the same year. Tins prolmHJuity only serves to strengthen my ooinioii. The massivity 31adanio Hiitt's tones will always command for her audiences and admsratioii. Her voice is-almost unearthly ill its capaciousness, and there are reaj thrills in her upper and lower retristers. Madame Butt has improved, woiiclerfnlly dnrina tho last five years. . Her voice control is admirable and-she kuiss with much more 'refinement'.than formerly, but ;-ii mv judsment siie can never be the artist that Madame Lunn.is naturally ■■ Tiien wc. hod sladame Marv Conlv about the middle'of tho year, thanks to the' 'Royal Choral Society.' Madame Conly has.the real bel canto production, and her.'sin Kins is genuine music all tho time.. Later came another famous name,' Madame Lillian Nordica, at one time the finest- dramatic soprano on the si'ancl opera stago. '- It v;ns Madnmo Nordica with '"'tho bloom off that we heard, but there were still the . traces of a former greatness apparent in her wonderful technical ■■ equipment. She brought, along with her two star artists, Mr. Pan! Dufault,., the finest concert tenor we have heard dmim: this generation, and Mr. Itoiiia.yno Simmons, who stands at .tho •highest pinnacle of excellence as %i J.occom'panist.'. Madamo Nordica. ■ without . Romayno Simmons would have been-..muci! less conviiicmg than sh.e was.'. His work was simply ■brilliant from first to last.-: {■. Anions tbo returnedfrom ..the Oid World was tho; Elhvood Trio'! of. Christchurch, who showed ureatjaclyi'iiccs in their art. These clever children aro now on a funds-ra'isinn concert itour, to enablo them, to; get Ilome'agaiu'i-W.

. ;;V'. That Wst Opera Season. . Many of the.keenly musical liad_'onp very bitter disappointment—too bitter to speak about almost. . Hopes wore held out early .'in She year that ,th<; Quintan Opera Company mipht come in New Zealand, ami iiii'b hopes were builton the prospect of at.-last, seeing grand or.ora produced:- by-'-.a good '. 'company. Hitherto—with'sthe,.German Opera Co. excepted, : r the i. poi'fonna ncns ]r4VO' boon tliOt't' oN v IpFS UiHHll.SiK 4 '.}, out such' as llioy weso v.-e have lvolconicd them as manna. in the, desert, but hero was a chani'b:.of.; : hcaring' some ol the operas not previously-"hoard in New Zeal'ind and bv artists quite good enough for Cov'n't C.ardcu—eomplote, too,' in chorus and 'orchestra.. llut.it was not (o »• '((.earsM Tho first aimounecmeiii,made was tiiat' the company .'could only api,oai' in 'Auckland ; then eatue the strike, and the Auckland dates wore cancelled, nrd so wo never evmi b»d tJieescuwtor H 'trip \o Aucklaui '. ,«r. ,ltos. .Qum-.

laif.yWlioyis a great sport as a- speculaUn : .;u\ :,fl opera. holds ort :x s.c-rt of Jjifn'miso that- Now Zealand may sco liis company next- year —\mt opera ;rf : riiiji;?ii!;y- ;>ro 1 nl' air. 1 shall decline id-hop? mitil tlio ftiblo message Ihas-becirreeeived that the company liasNew- Zealand. . The Roys! Artillery Band. ;;;.y iSi'i'heilSand of.the i'oyal Artillery,"or ratiic'r s: 'i{",moiiiboi's' of itj under the pre'.ei'sOj and 'liorvoiisi'hatoii .of Mr. Stratum, !wss one,,of- the p,emiino 'music treats of. i.il-Hv'..year'.;" Wellington ..was Riven.;two '(•oii'ceri:-;.;,as the - band passed.'..,through fromStlm' smith to : - Auckland, when- < it is'-'fulliiliiig an' engagement ai:tho-*Jix-' Viibit.iou, and both attracted very largo andieiioe-s.'-indeeil, which showed- a .full measure ■of appreciation for, tho''. fine "pJayinjj of .the band.- - fly the way, the.'poster. announcingthe<presence.ofVt hoKxhi'b'ilion mako .tlio point' thai- tliisUs thp.lirst.'occasimv on 1 which a ; ..regimental' Irandi" has visited' Nc.w .Kealand^Shades.of ■'So Kooti! ■ What jaboiitUhe'-ljan'ds'ofjtho 65th, 40th,- 14t-h, ; «rid/18th Regiments that were hero during'!-.- the troublous clays of tho Maori wars:; ; All these, regiments had bands/ Our mothersusedto tell us t!mt,.thnbands.;«f the regiments stationed_ in used to play orcry. evening 'diirihg'ths officers'.mess, just- »s if they were -in.; a garrison town in tho.- 1 Old Couv.trv; 'and ;■ they ■ frcciuently were, granted permission .to play at .'cater* 'ta-inments. Jiv 1 ' ■'■..-;i ■•'■■■■V 1 ;. Our orchestral * Weakness. The year lias emphasised, if anythin;;. that no really great- work 'can 'ever. be. accomplished _by local musical societies without- a higher standard of orchestral-plajjing.' Tliis has been only .too apparent ih all tlio performances Hind. more recently in tho ainateur.'opera. season. -. One of thty.iHOSfc expensive ;and least 'satisfactory /. de-, partinents - hi: connection' with ■ tlio production ,or "The Geisha" was the, or-chestra?-who scarcely cv-er seemed ■ to be an fail with their work. These wet* professionals .to ■ a man—be they first, second, :or third-class players, they ranged lip for tho standard award wage and. got-it.;. The senii-amateur orr-hes-traii,;. tlmt play for the choral bodies are'.'also r generally unsatisfactory. At th? best--their work is a "get through, and the conductor and a .section of tlifc iuulienco' is kept on ,-tcnterhooKS hall tho. time- fearing a break-down. It is time... that. this".department of music was moro seriously attended to. Ail orchestra''' cannot. ba expected, to play through an oratorio on three or four rehearsals without- being kept "to tho collar 1 * between performances. . I-or tiieir own credit's sake- one would imagine that the players would get together ' themselves,, awxmii a conductor, and rehearse steadily all tho year round, so as to bo ready for uny engagement tuat offered for an orchestra of any size. Something bettor than a scraiie-tlirougli 'is required if our performances are to improve, aiul one assures that \\c all desire' to witness some advance. '- ' : In Memorlam. -. lii conclusion, I would like to express my deep regret- at dsath or two sinaers well known in Wellington. I refer to Mr. H. 1 K. Fletcher, tlio second tenor of tho Orplicns Male Quartet, and Mrs.' Leo Mnnoy (nee Miss May Newman, of Motueka), who died only a few weeks ago much to the surprise and poignant regret of a largo circlc of friends.