MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2422, 30 March 1915, Page 9

MUSIC.

I"Br Teeble Ci/BP.I

A New Zealand Composer. Mr. Arthur Alexander, the brilliant Now Zealand pianist, who made such a deep impression at his recent recital here, is a very talented composer, Mr. Bernard Page states that Mr. Alexander's ability as 'a' composer is such that one day he will make a noiso in the world. He considers his music equal to any of the modern Russian composers, which !is the highest praise. "At present Mr, Alexander is composing a work for thfe grand organ, which Mr. Page' will glay. later on. Brodsky a Prisoner,' Adolph Brodsky, the well-known violinist sb long resident-in England, is a-t present a. prisoner of war in Austria, where he -has been interned by the authorities. As Brodsky is siity-four years old and not in robust health, it was decided by a number of- musicians to ■ send ■ a * petition to- the Austrian Government begging for the artist's release. The dooument has been oiroulating for several weeks amongst tho- best known of the tonal brethren-now in America,-and is -about ready to'be sent abroad. At one time Brodskv lived in New York, being confertmaster, of the New York Symphony •Orchestra. -

A Child .wonder., k Berlin has a new sensation (says the. Now York 'Musical Courier's" . Berlin correspondent), -this time a pianistio wonder in the form of' a tiny, cherub like, terirjear-old pianist from,Sahtiago t Chile. . Glaudio Arrau .is the name ot this Wonderful child; :who made' his' debut recently 'at the Kunstlerhaus', scoring a. great triumph before- a very •select audience. In appearance the child belies his nationality, for there is nought of the swarthy South American of Spanish extraction about him. On the contrary, he is, a beautiful blonde specimen, but with brown eyes. Ho plays on a normal keyboard and can reach an 'octave, which means, of course, extraordinary, expansion of ' a hand of his size. In fact, he .thundered out the octaves in Liszt's Rhapsody with great ease and with unerring certainty. Pepito Arriola,. the. Spanish prodigy, was a marvellous performer, but even at the age'of fourteen he still waff compelled to play on a speciallyconstructed keyboard because of his B'mall hand. No concessions of any kind were made to this new little South American- child wonder. ■ The- boy has in' hltn all the elements of the great artist.. He plays with true feeling and with remarkable intelligence, with pronounced rhythmic .precision and with a beautifully sinking legato tone. In his rapid passages and difficult filigree work ho'played with extraordinary rippling clearness, never ipissing a note. j Claudio Arrau unquestionably can look'forward to a brilliant future; he is studying here with Martin Krause, that master .pedagogue, who' has taught so ,many fine pianists.

Notes. • . Mr. Reginald Blow, who recently returned : irom the Royal A j&domy of Mi-tic' is to give two song reoitals in the Concert Chamber next month. ' ...

All , salaries .-above 6000. marks of..the members .of the Berlin Royal Opera were reduced by two-thirds because'.of the war.' However (says the New York "Musical Courier"), the . patronage of the Berlin public has been so' good at normal ■prioes for the:past four months that Count von Hulsen, the managing director, has announced that Aero will be an immediate increase of sixteen and two-thirds per -cent., so that the' singers will get. at once fifty instead of thirty-three and one-third per cent. - of their former salaries.

Max Bruch ; celebrated. his seventyseventh birthday on January 6 in good health and in as good spirits as oould bo expected, considering the fact that his two. sons/are at the front, and that he is very much agitated by this terrible war. Bruch finds consolation in composition, and now is busily'engaged iii writing a one act opera.; Max Bruch a'n.d Saint-Saens always have been'great friends and Bruch is wholly at a loss to explain his French colleague's attitude.