MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2480, 5 June 1915, Page 14

MUSIC.

tSr Tbeblb CLK.I

New Oporattas. "Last evening (writes the Italian correspondent of tho New York "Musical Courier" on February 26) I saw the now operetta of Leoncavallo, 'La Candidate,' at tho Teatro Cines. It was announced as a 'second edition' prepared for 'Mi'sb Alkins,' who took tho principal part—and if that was t'he second : edition the first must have been very bad indeed. In tho first place, the libretto is some kind of a story about Suffragettes, laid in France instead of England, presumably so that tho 'naughty' incidents which are ill the hook could bo reasonably introduced. There are a great many characters, including suffragette wives, unutterably boresome husbands of the same, Cabinet Ministers who are more 'cabinot' than Ministers (little joko in French), tho usual princo and 'Auroro.' Somebody, who is the 'Candidata' in question and finally gives up her candidacy to marry the prince. It is apparently the champion bad libretto of all operetta, which is saying a good deal. For this muddle Leoncavallo has provided music, many of the numbers of which—as I have just remarked of Puccini's 'Fanciulla'—would be considered promising in a young and unknown operetta composer, but which are for the most part ridiculous coming from the hand that wroto 'Pagliacci'—and nothing else, as far as I can remember. "Speaking of operetta, in Florence I witnessed a performance of Lehar's very latost work, 'Endlich Allein' or 'Finalmente Soli,' whicli had not reached America- before the beginning of the war, I believe. The book is about lip to the usual Vienna standard, though the third act—most unexceptionally—is the best of the three, which goes a long wav toword making a success. Tho second act is unique in being almost 'opera ccmique.' It plays on tho very peak of a high mountain and only the two principal characters appear in it, singing practically the whole act, in which there is almost no dialoguo.. Except in this act, wliero he has 'dramatised' a bit, Lehar lias gono back almost entirely to the march, polka, and waltz numbers, the result being that the musio is prettier and more acceptable than in any of his works since tho 'Count of Luxembourg.' Properly remade for America, I am inclined to thinly it would bo a success." Ciordano's "Sans-Gene." Writing from Rome on March 6 the correspondent of the New York "Musical Courier" says: —"The most important event in. Italian musical circles during the past week was the premiere of Giordano s 'Madame Sans-Gene,' which took place on the evening of February 23 at Turin.' The principal parts were cast as follow: —Caterina, Virginia Reiter; Napoleon, Stracciari; Lefebvre, ■Grassi. The conductor was Panizza. There were seven curtain calls after tho first act, eight after the second, and six after the third. Giordano appeared before the curtain with the artist and conductor. The number of calls would seem to indicate that it was not the claque alone which applauded and that the majority of the audience was really pleased with the work, through ono of the papers in its notico half apologised for the absence of as much enthusiasm as had accompanied the New York premiere—for after that event an "inspired" telegram in all the leading Italian papers assured us that "Madame Sans-Gene" had' been an overwhelming succcss, which, from later accounts, appears to have been a gentle exaggeration. Mascheroni as a Conductor. Mascheroni is a conductor with a great reputation in Italy (writes Mr. H. 0. Osgood in the "Musical Courier"). He certainly knows the technique of commanding an orchostra, but lie just as certainly lacks temperament and never gets that last and final bit out of his men which is absolutely _ necessary to the big climaxes in Italian opera. I am afraid I am prejudiced against him by something which occurred the ■ first time I saw him conduct years ago at the San Carlo in Naples. It was a "Tosoa" matinee. Mr. Mascheroni evidently had many friends in tlio audience, for during some of the quiet parts of the first act ho turned partly around and bowed and smiled to friends in various parts of the house, calmly continuing his conducting at tho same time —not the mark of a really great conductor. In justice to him bo it said that the introduction to the third act was well done last evening and repeated by the orchestra by unanimous request of the audience." Tile same fault in taste has frequently been noticed in some of our local singers, whose thought- when awaiting the cue should be centred on the spirit of the song. Death of Franklin Holding. Many in New Zealand will regret to hear of the death of Mr. Franklin Holding the talented violinist, who visited Wellington with Madame Lillian Nordica less than two years ago, which took place in Providence, R. 1., U.S.A., on April 3. Mr. Holding was born, in Fall River, Mass., oil June 14, 1886. While he was still a small boy, his parents removed to Lewiston, Me., where his boyhood years were spent and where his father and mother still reside. He was a- youthful violin prodigy, appearing in public when he was still so small that his instrument seemed too big for him to handle. His first teacher was Dorothy Hoylo, of Fall River, and after he went to Lewiston to live he studied with Otto Clotilda de Scheda, finally becoming a pupil of Charles M. Looffler, assistant concert master of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. After a number of years spent in study in and around Boston, Mr. Holding went to Prague to become a student under Sevcik. Upon his return from Europe he opened a studio in Lewiston, and in addition to his duties as a tcachor appeared at numerous concerts and recitals. In the early years of the Maine Music Festivals, Mr. Holding attracted attention as the youngest member of the Maine Symphony Orchestra. Later ho was a soloist at the Maine Festival. He next studied under Anton Witek, concert master of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, following that teacher to Europe in tho summer to pursue his studies uninterrupted. Again returning to America ho filled numerous concert engagements, finally attracting the attention of Lillian Nordiea, who engaged him to accompany her on' the ill-fated trip round the world. The shipwreck and its attendant horrors, as well as the sad ending of this trip which opened so brightly, had its effect upon Mr. Holding, and ho spent the summer of 1914 in Lewiston recuperating. This past winter he spent in Providence; where he has been teaching and filling an occasional concert engagement. News has been received from Moscow of the death there of Alex. Nicholaovitcli Scribiane, tho celebrated Russian composer, who is reported to have died as the result of blood-poisoning. Scribiane has been ono of the Russian modems whoso works have been commanding increasing attention all over tho world during the last five years. One of his great sympliouio works is "Prometheus," which has been perfotned both in America and England during the past year. "Extaso" is another example of 'his somewhat involved style. They all show deep thought and a complete mastorv of the technique of orchestration. He' also wrote numerous pieces for the voice and piano, and many of his scuatas and etudes are well known to mnro advanced students of tho pianoScribiano was only 43 years of aco.