A MUSICAL EXPEDITION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2754, 25 April 1916, Page 3

A MUSICAL EXPEDITION

MR. BAXTER BUCKLEY IN

LONDON.

Mr. Baxter Buckley, the well-known Wellington pianist who went to England six months ago, has returned to Wellington a little sooner tlian anticipated. He states that he was practically forced to return b.v the Omrah aa tho Orient Company's officials informed him that if he did not, lie would probably not bo able to net away before May, being then doubtful if tlie Osterley would sail, owing to the prevailing circumstances—submarines, shortage of hands, etc. As a matter of fact, all tho stewards were commandeered before 6he left, and the Osterley came out with stewardesses only. Mr. Buckley journeyed through France on the way Home, and his passport is liberally scored with French Consular endorsements. In France, which is in a bad j way, everyone is subordinated to tho war, and consequently the traveller has to take things as We finds them and make the best of them. When lie readied London Mr. Buckley found that Busoni, whom he intended to study under, had returned to America, but he was fortunate cnoncli to meet the ereat Russian pianist and composer, Sapellnikoff, and studied under him during the whole of the three months he was in England. Mr. Buckley Wa&sily Sapellnikoff as one of the giant pianists of the day. He is a man of about 45 years of . age, and typifies the strength, vitality, and intellectual impressivoness of the modem school of Russian musicians—the most active and fruitful school of the day, and pregnant of tho greatest influence on tho music of the future. That is rfeally why Mr. Buckley went to Sapellnikoff, and without divulging that teacher's methods, Mr. Buckley stated that he had given him l ideas that would keep him hard at work for yeais to come, and opened up new vistas of study, particularly as regards the music of the modern Russians. Sapellnikoff had made several appoarances in London, and had created a profound impression.

' Whilst in London he had heard Mark Hambourg plav some. Chopin, but has no desire to renew the experience: bnt he had also heard Vladimir de Pachniaun, who had no neer as an exponent of Chopin. He had also had the privilege of hearing de yaolunann and Eugen Ysayo play a Beethoven Sonata'. Ysayo was_ as great as ever. >a very prince of violinists.. Anions the younger men William Murdoch h.id made remarkable progress, and was a_ very deliehtful player. He heard him in a Delius "Concerto." Delius,. by the way, is an Englishman. Mr. Buckley witnessed n performance of Debussy's opera "L'lnfant Prodigue" (the Prodigal l Son), and was greatly charmed with the work, the beauties of which cannot be defined on the piano, and must be heard with orchestra to realise the out-of-thq-way enchantment the work embodies. This little opera was produced with Dr. Villiers Stanford's opera "The Critic," based on Sheridan's comedy. He' describes this work as an extraordinary jumble which leads to no particular satisfaction, musicallv or dramatically. The overture began\ with several instruments playinfr well-known national melodies at the same time, and ilirough tho opera occurs eld English song themes. He did not think that Stanford's opera would achicvc enoueli success to make it a vogue. Mr. Buckley also saw Miss. Ethel Smyth's opera, "The Boatswain's Mate." founded ona W. W. Jacobs yarn, with Miss Rosina Buckman, formerly of AVelliugton, in the leading part. Ho was not creaily impressed with tho work, and did not think that tho music compassed tho humour of Jacobs. Miss Buckman, who was singing very well, is now in a good position in London, and with her a gaud position has meant good condition. Thoufih it was an expedition worth while, Mr. Buckley considers London a good place, to be out of at the present time. There is,a constant fear of Zeppelin attacks. Owing; to the darkened streets there are a great many taxi and motor-car accidents, and otherwise it is not very safe for anyone to depart from well-peopled thoroughfares.' He did' not actually see the German airships, .but one passed ,over Cheltenham when he was there, and the amount of damage dmi£_in the Mislicijl counties was vor.y considerable.