MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2582, 2 October 1915, Page 9

MUSIC.

fßs Thebli Cnf.l

Stella Carol In Amerloa. It is some time since we in New Zealand heard of Mr. Hugo Goerlitz, who resided in New Zealand for some years, was for some years in the employ of tho Bristol Piano Company, and toured Now Zealand a 6 manager for the Elwood Trio. Whilst ho. was in Now Zealand, Kubelik paid the Dominion a visit, and in l)unedin Mr. Goerlitz sued the violinist for moneys dtio in connection with some former transaction. Goerlita obtainod judgment, but not the whole of tfho money, and later it was reported that Mr. Goerlitz had seized Kubelik's treasured violin as some sort of security against tho moneys alleged to be owing. Mr. Goerlitz figures jn a full-pjge advertisement in ono of the latest, Sew York "Musical Couriers," . as the manager in charge of Miss Stella Carol, ' the youngest English soprano, who was discovered by Mdme. Amy Sherwin (Mrs. Goorlitz) when singing Christmas oarols in a Hampstead (London) street, on Christmas Eve, 1910. After a year's training she was brought out at the Queen's Hall, when the critics compared her- to Jenny. Lind' and Patti. This wonderful girl has a range of three complete octaves, ranging from G helow the stavo to G in altissimo.. She was on her way to ; Amorica on tho Arabic, when that steamer was torpedoed, and whilst the passongers were clriftiilg about in the ocean wash sho cheered everyone up by carolling "Tipperafy" and other lively songs. On the mentioned Miss Carol appears in a photograph with Caruso. Other photographs on tho page are those of May Scheider and Percy Richards, who are to tour with Miss Carol, Madame Sherwin, and Mr. Goerlitz.

An Amazing Proposal. ' Tho latest form of Gorman , "frightfulness"' is ono calculated to strike one dumb with amazement at tho preposterousness of it. Evidently tho German mind lias become accustomed to tho preposterous, for qne_ still finds such words as honour and justice figuring ill tli© speeches of Herr BcthmaiuiHollweg., • The latest actrocity is announced in the columns of the New York "Musical Courier," which records that a previous mention of the intention of four members- of tho Berlin Royal. Opera to tour Belgium, lias now been .elaborated, and these four are to be joined'by members of tho Royal Opera of Saxony, Bavaria, and Wurtemburg, "to give united concerts in Belgium for tho benefit of the wounded German soldiers lying in Belgian hospitals." The opening concert was given at Ghent on July 10, and was - attended by 50,000 people, who, at the conclusion of a long and varied concert, united in singing "Deutschland, Deutschland ■ nber Alios.' . ..Tho tune will change ere long.

Government. Cqnservatorlum of Music. ■ Tho next subject to .be settled with the Minister of Education by the new Director of tho- State Couservatorium of Music will'bo' (says the: "Sydney Morning Herala") tho actual (late of the opening' for students. - Mr. Verbrugghen -will recommend the end of February, or early' iii' March, as the most suitable 'time. The loug vacation will then be over, and the-staff organ-ised-in readiness for-the year's work. 'Another important . matter is under consideration. The Director's academic scheme is,.to embrace the--elementary stages of tuition. In this way the whole period of musical education will be systematised on the same foundation ab initio. Nothing can be worse than-, the frequent changes of masters and methods * which.-, isr- prevalent: not only -in Australia but in many -other parts of the'world; During the present week Mr. Yerbrugghen has been deeply impressed by- the much- .higher physical standard which provails at the leading State schools 'of the city as compared with similar schools in Europe. He has personally inspected choral classes in the United Kingdom and; many Con-' tinental capitals, uut nowhere, has lie observed such radiant health or such intellectual alertness. ■ He came to the conclusion, also, that music at these schools lias received a more sympathetic attention in official quarters than it has hitherto done in Europe. >This physical and mental soundness, in combination with tho absence of any asperity ill the climate, has tended to :a larger' volume of vocal tone than he has been accustomed to, and the quality also is good. ■ The director describes himself as deeply moved' by his visit to tho Blackfnars Infants' School, on tho Montessori system.. '.'I saw those little tots, doing nearly everything to a mustcsl rhythm. They- marched round so brightly and happily, changing their step to meet the changes of rhythm like dear little circus horses, and all the timo singing, singing,.singing! I said to myself, what a country this is' for voices! Why only one Melba?-Why not several! With a well-conducted State Couservatorium New South Wales should become recognised some day as one of-the world's great voice 'markets! • '. ;And now that New South Wales has her. State Consei-vatorium, who is going to take, up the cudgels for music-in' 'New Zealand? Some time Mr. Louis Coher, of Wangariui, sounded the 'loud timbrel in favour of tho establishment of such an institution, in New Zealand, and a very splendid thing itwould be, assuming -that it was shorn of all manner of ■political influence, aiid coi;!d be made the repository of art for art's sake. - Many- thousands of pounds go out of New Zealand in fees paid' tq colleges,;. who forward once a year .touring -examiners, to conduct practical examinations, : whilst the tilecry papers go to London. With a small but efficient staff such -work could be done by a National Conservatorium in New Zealand, and' without any great cost'to the State. The idoa is well worth planting if it does not germinate until that blest time "when tho war is over."

A Fake Note, C. -H. Workman, the famous English comedian with the New Musical Comedy,, ouce produced on his own account in London one of the .latest of the Gilbert pieces, "Fallen Fairies." Mr. Workman visited Gilbert with regard- to the production. He was telling some stories to Lady Gilbert, whilo tho librettist, who was writing at a desk in tlio corner of the room, sat. listening. One of the stories concerned the German trombonist who found strange symbol, on his ijvusic, and after making a weird noise said,_ "I don't know vot it was, but 1 blayed it." "As a matter of fact," said Mr. Workman, "it was a squashed fly." Gilbert quietly interjected: "Are you sure, Workman, that it wasn't a bee flat?"

Owing to the Teutonic origin of its name,' tho Auckland Liedertafel is now known as the Auckland Male Choir. The Wellington Liedertafel still retains its German cognomen, and' the Christclinrcli Liedertafel goes a step farther bv terming its last week's concert a "Horren Abend."

Miss Florence Young is returning to tho Williamson fold to play tho title role in "Paul Jones," the fine opera produced in Wellington by the Wc-ffiti]<-ton' Amateur Operatic Society last year.