MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 8

MUSIC.

riiy Theblb CLBT.I Colonials at the Peak. The "colonial"—a good, honest English word—is perhaps not the best natal recommendation l'or those aspiring to the heights in grand opera. 1 like tho word—it has a robust, opon-air, free-and-oasy tang that speaks of the wide gulf between the life wo lead and the usually hide-bound conditions prevalent in tho larger cities of the Old World— the treasure Houses of tradition and art, the two influences that stragglers upward to the light have to do without or put up with the veriest

makeshift in this • country and Australia. The gentle reader will, I feel sure, .not think for one moment that the foregoing is written disparagingly. Quite on tho contrary, it is my belief that .the colonials of talent have characteristics that are an advantage over others who liave grown up in the shadow of the sanctuaries of art. It gives them a freedom of action, an independence of spirit unfettered, and a capacity for work that others, who have been born and bred in the shadows of the great sanctuaries of art have not. To those qualities must he added transcendant talent, as was the case with Melba, still one of the world's greatest artists in grand opera. Those who have not seen her in opera know only the lesser Melba, the sweet singer of "Se Saran llose" and Tosti's "Goodbye." But Melba is not the only grand opera luminary who is a colonial. Madame Frances Alda, whose name frequently crops up in the American casts of grand opera, hails from Melbourne, where she was better known as Francis Adler. She is now the wife of Sigrior Gotti-Bazzoza, the director of the Metropolitan-Opera House, New York, which assembles the finest galaxy, of talent in the world. No other city can afford to hire such a glittering array of supreme talent as New York, and nc management on earth can afford, to do what the Metropolitan, does. And here Madame Alda finds a place among the best. As late as January 16, Alda appeared as Marion in "Marion Lescaut, with Caruso as Des Griaux. Another coolnial who is fighting her way >i)> ' ® Miss Rosina Buckman, who sang "Cho Cho San" in "Madame Butterfly m London last year so successfully In another field of art Mr. Percy Grainger has risen to consideration among the, first-flighters,' not only as a virtuoso of the pianoforte, but also as a composer, and diligent explorer in musical folk lore. ]n America Mr. Grainger is regarded as the exponent par excellence of the music of Greig. Another pianist of distinction from Australia is Mr. William Murdoch, a delightful interpreter of the moderns, particularly Ravel and Debussy. The eminence those artists nave gained will servo as a beaconlight to others, and now that a conservatoire of music has been established in Sydney the opportunity to soar will no doubt be eagerly accepted by many students.. These are sad days to talk of following Australia's examplo in setting up a conservatoire stalled with real teachers. Such a step would be a hard blow to the army of so-called teachers of vocalism, etc.

Blind Heroes at the Abbey. Last Saturday (writes a London cotrespondent on January 6) I was bidden to an interesting function by Clara Butt who is never weary in well doing. Already s h e has given away in hard cash upward of £30,000, which she has earned by her glorious voice since war began, to various charities, and, "besides, has, founded a fund to help musicians damaged by the war, which fund. amounts to over £20,000., In. the .'goodness of jher ' nobly - generous' heart she undertook to participate in a,function given in Westminster Abbey after ;Evensoiig",to: a .large gathering of ■ founded, soldiers// A; few friends, were invited, aijd I went. . The funotion consisted of some organ playing by Sir - 1 Bridge, the organist to the Abbey j a violin solo; an arrangement of Bridge's own original arrangement or the famous old dirge, "The Flowers of the Forest," played by his daughter, Mrs, Stainer,. daughter-in-law. 1 of . the ■fcteSir John Stainor, organist to St i auls Cathedral, and songs' by Clara

Musically the function would have been much more interesting if there had been more of Clara Butt, who sang but two songs, one from Sullivan's oratorio The Light of the Worid," and the other Liddlc's "Abide With Me." How that epoch-making voice rang through the Abbey I cannot describe. As I say, would that there had been more of it, or more opportunity for the exercising of it. It was a most touching aftair m that the audience consisted very largely of quite young soldiers Who had been blinded in this ghastly war J sh a u Mvcr forget tho pjcturo ol these mon walking into the Abbey each with his hand on the shoulder of the man in front of him, all with cheery faces and bright, even happy, smiles It cm© could only have felt a grain of their happiness! , Seusa and the Prima Donnas, The Nw York "Times" of January 10, says: "If it keeps on, Sousa will fcavo to give up appearing with his Band when prima donnas are singing oil the stage of the Hippodrome, or wear a muzzle. Not Jong ago lilmrnv Deslinn appearing with Sousa on the night that a contract for her return to the Metropolitan was signed, kissed the bandmaster in full view of the audience. For a while after 1 that Sousa was careful, but last night it happened again 'i'amaki Miura, the diminutive Japanese soprano, after she had finished singing "The Last Rose,of Summer," suddenly pounced upon tlie composer, who had momentarily rolaxed his vigilance, and imprinted a kiss, as high as she could ou_ the famous whiskers. The bandmaster is of a retiring nature, and feels that now a Bohemian and a Japanese prima donna have kissed him neutrality is vindicated, and there need be no more. Besides, his contract with the Hippodrome says nothing about osculation." ° Notes, Maggie Teyte, the American singer, who was divorced recently from M. Plumon, a Paris lawyer, announces that sho is to marry again in the spring. Her fianco (Miss Teyte withholds his name) is an English army captain who lost a leg and an arni at, Loos. Max Gladstone is tho name of a little ragged boy who was found playing a violm under a tree in Madison Square Jv'cw York, on Christmas Eve, by Mrs! Sousa, wife of the famous "March King." Ho was to appear at tho Hippodrome when the last mail left. An ancient story, but bright enough re-telling: A dramatic author, iCTro was reading a new work before a company of the C-omedie Franeaiso was disturbed, says the "Christian Register," secmg that one of the members, Monsieur Got, had gone fast asleep. The author stopped and reproved the sleeper. He was reading his play to the committee in order, lie said, fo obtain their opinion. How could a man who was asleep give his opinion? Monsieur Got rubbed his eyes, and remarked, "Monsieur forgets that sleep is also an opinion." That ended tho discussion.