MUSIC
I/ . : 1 . (By "Treble-Clef.") '
1 A New Grand Opera Company. I The Australian' papers announce that Mr. Geo. Marlow is making preparations at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, for the forthcoming visit of the Gonsalez • Grand Opera Company, which is said, to bo going to appear in a repertoire of nineteen opernn, Tho Sydney "Green Boom" states that Mr. Marlow has signed a contract with' Signor Lorenzo Gonsalez, the inipressario, for a tour of Australia, commencing at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on June 18. The company num-bers-50. artists and ten leading instrumentalists. : Among the principals are the following singers Sopranos: Signorinas De Severs, Gnnsalez, Visoni; mezzo-so-pranos : Signorinas Buss and Piccolo; tenors: Signors Cappelli, Dagradi and Lois; baritones: Signors Fillippini and Scamuzzi; bassos: Signors Cacialli and Padovanix. The musical directors are Signors Giovanni Gonsalez antl Ernesto Gonsalez. ' \ .
The company is stated . to :be fully, equipped for the production of the following operas: "II Trovatore," "Traviata," "G'avalleria Busticana," "Pagliacci," "Bigoletto," "Faust," "Aida," "La Tosca," /'Madame' Butterfluy," "Un, Ballo Maschora,"; "La . Bohem'e,"' "Migubn," f'Le; Barbiere'. di. • Siviglia," "Cai'mcn," "Lucia, di"' .Lanimermoor)" "Otello," : 'Tavourita," "Ufconotti," and "Ebrea;".''.several 'of-.which''toe"'ifwC.'to" Australia: ■ ■ Mahler and the Kettledrums. When Gustav Mahler was conductor of tho Now York Philharmonic he gave a performance of Beethoven's ninth symphony which was in many' ways notable, but some of the critics found fault with him because ho allowed the kettledrum so much prominence. In this, however, lie only followed the precedent of Wagner, acknowledged the greatest of all Beethoven interpreters. Bachrich, who was ono of tho first violinists,in .the orchestra with'" which Wagner gave the ninth symphony in Bnyreuth, relates that Wagner said to tho drummer, with' reference to one place: "My dear Hen. schel! Imagino that tho combined kettle, drums of the whole world are to be heard in this passage! Play as if the devil were after you!", • A Lost Title.
It is somewhat, difficult to understand the ruling of the Minister of Internal Affairs in refusing the Royal Choral Union the right to retain tho word "royal," inherited-' from the Royal Choral Society. . When that society, amalgamated with the AVclliugton Musical Union it was considered to be only a matter of form to pass on the title to the enlarged and strengthened union—a union, of forces duo entirely to tho exigencies of the war, and. probably stronger now than 'ever before in the history of either of the two bodies concerned. That it was considered to bo merely a matter of form njay be gathered'from the simple deduction that if the/Choral Soeiety had "absorbed" tho union instead of "amalgamating" with it, the Royal Choral Socicty .would still flourish under that title, but it was considered tho right, and proper thing to do to ineludo an indication of the name of tlie Wellington Musical Union, in the new title, and so it was called a . union (wliich it actually is), and the title "royal" has perforco to be dropped. One of the Minister's rulings' on..the.point was. to the effect that 110 body should bo recommended for "royalty" without it is; a Dominion body, yet when .the union takes at least, a step in that direction, it is deprived of assuming the\ dignity that half its membership enjoyed up to the date of tho amalgamation. Exactly what rights the Minister really has in the matter would be interesting to determine. Seeing that the honour was bestowed by the Imperial Government, the union might bo well advised to submit the matter direct to the Home authorities. Miss Florence Scapini. Miss Florence Scapini; who is the vio. linist of the Dufault" Concert Company, is not new to touring. She toured Australia with Sir.. Robert Parker over a year ago, and.liked the experience so much tnat elm at once accepted an offer to join the Dufault party. .Miss Scapini has two good qualitios— there is a sympathetic appeal in her tone, and technically is well equipped. At present she is a violinist© .111 the bud, so to speak. She is not one would style, a graceful bowist—she iis at an awkward age, wears dresses of an awkward length (for tho concert platform), , and forgets stylo in getting her effects. She,has a trick of swaying lier body to the tempo of her music, and, Hpeakiug of tempo, she is quite tho pedant, in that regard. As fai> as I could detect she has not tho desire or "sense" to use tho tempo rubato—she is always, strict in time, and absolutely ill tune. That she iis an.able technician one has only. to note tho absolute case with which sho makes the biggest jumps, 'the even suavity of her double-stopping, and the sweotuess, clearness, and truth of hor harmonics. Hiss Scapini never' raises her eyes from tho bridge of her fiddle whilst, she is. playing, which is a pity, because her eyes speak volumes.
'J'lie New; York "Dramatic Mirror's." Honolulu 'eorrrapondent slates, that' Madatne Melba took with, her from that town a young singer named Margaret Center, with the intention of giving her a year's training. Apparently' the prima donna was astonished at tho power* puritv, ami quality of her voice. She says that it is the first grand opera voice sho lias heard in a younc' girl iu years, and sho predicts a great future' for her. These famous singers seem to bo able to make' the same valuable finds to which they can.give'the same future,'in every town.
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 6
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901MUSIC Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 6
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