MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2433, 12 April 1915, Page 9

MUSIC.

IBx' Treble Clb?.'! London Doings. An effort is being made in London to establish a closer intimacy with the French and Belgian composers of the day, and at, a concert*,- given at the Aeolian Hall at the end of January a programme of almost entirely unknown composers delighted the audience.' Considering that Paris.is only 8J hours distant from the metropolis this statement sounds somewhat weird here, but. English people in. the mass travel abroad but little, and accept foreign composers only when it has been proved that "there is money in them." There was a beautiful sonata by Victor Vreuls (Belgian), and fine classio pieces by Jongen, Duparc, Chausson, and others. At the London Music- Club, Mr Beecham in the isame way introduced Mehul's little-known overture, "Le Tresor Suppose," and music by Stravinsky, whose" style is compared with that of Debussy in its tendency to a miniature form. Revivals being the order of the day in London, "The Chinese Honeymoon" has been put up at the Prince of Wales's Theatre, and "Tales of Hoffman" is announced at the Shaftesbury. . In Offenbach's opera the cast largely consists of artists who played the same characters in Australia. Mr. John Coates, the original Hoffman on tin's side, could not be secured, owing to his military duties, but Mr. John Harrison was engaged, also Edith Clegg as Nicklaus, Arthur Wynn as Schlemil, William Samuel as Dappertutto, and Gladys Ancrum as Giuhetta. Two former. Sydney artists, Nora d'Argel (Nora Long) as Olympia and Antonia, and Uosina Buckman as Antonia in the al-ternative-cast, are engaged. Mr. Hubert Bath will again conduct on the one night, Mr. Hamish M'Cunn on the other. At the Lyceum "The Three Musketeers" is to be revived, with Ethel Warwick (here last year'in "Sealed Orders") as Miladi. Clfted Violinist Dead. i Mr. Raimund Pechotsch, of Sydney, has received by cablegram the sad-news of the death of his eldest son, a violinist widely known as "Jan Rudenyi." This event occurred at a private nursing hospital in London, from pneumonia. Young Raimund will be remembered as a prodigy violinist in Sydney in the middle 'nineties, when he was a sturdy, fair-haired, and handsome little boy, with a remarkable technical facility. He studied exclusively under his father, who took: him to London in 1897, when he made a brilliant debut at the Portman Rooms with the Royal Mozart Society. Amongst other important appearances he played the Max Bruch concerto with the Crystal Palace Orchestra, under August Manns. In 1901 he toured Australasia with the Belle' Colle party, supported the American contralto at her song recitals in the United. States, and continued.his career in England. New Concert Company. J. and N. Tait have been fortunate in engaging the brilliant Madame Carmen Harris to support the renowned baritone, Robert Parker on his forthcoming tour of Australasia. Madame Harris, whose reputation is not only Victorian, but Australian, is a distinguished young mezzo-soprano who has recently won several successes on the Continent. At the bcsiinning of the war she was singing in Grand Opera in Vienna, but had to give up her engagement and leave the city owing to the hostile feeling that was prevailing. Another artist who has been invited to join Mr. Parker's concert party is Mies Florence Scapeni, a rising young London violinist for whom the critics have demonstrated the utmost goodwill in many a complimentary press notice. Miss Scapeni, it is stated, will undoubtedly make a ercat impression, for she has individuality and produces a rare, sweet tone from her instrument. The clever young Victorian musician, Mr. William Burrell. is to join the Robert Parker Company, and will_ appear as both pianist and accompanist.