MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 6

MUSIC

(By "Treble-Clef.")

A Violin Prodigy.. A wonderful little violinist, Stefan Parlos, twclvo years old, is attracting notico inßorliii. He can piny the first movements of tho Moudelsßohn and Pagauini concertos, tho Bach "Air" aud a "Czardas Sceno," by Hubay. The boy is marvellously gifted. Tho technical difficulties of tho works ho plays means nothing to him. His tone is broad and voluminous and his shading and phrasing aro admirable. Tho boy undoubtedly will become a celebrity. The Russian Caruso. Last week (writes the Berlin correspondent of the New York "Musical Courier," under dato June 8) I heard 'a remarkable new Russian tenor named Josef Schugall, who has been called tho "Russian Caruso." And not without justification, for he possesses a tenor voico of rare beauty and of remarkable volumo. This Russian has an extraordinary wealth of natural vocal material/ , but it had been practically ruined by bad training. For tho past two years, however, Schugall has been studying with Louis Bachner, who has'succeeded in overcoming tho effects of tho bad method, , so that tho voico now is a glorious, one. Schugall is a born opera singer, and has tho right feeling for stage effects. Ho will undoubtedly make a great reputation. Jacques Thi baud, Jacques Tmbaiid, tho celebrated French Violinist, writes that there is 1 strong likelihood that lie will be able to tour America tho' season of 191G-1917 for tho long-planned tour which has been postponed tho last two seasons because Thibaud has been in active service in tho French army since tho war begaiu The violinist met with a severe accident whilo driving a military automobile, which, however, fortunately did not injure 'him in such a way as to prove a handicap to his playing. He ib .convalescing, and it is_ (juito probable that on account of the injury he will be excused' from further active service, and ■bo able to come to this ountry in the fall. . Singing by Wire. ■ Theo ICnrle, tho youngs American tenor,, has the honour of being tho .first singer to be engaged to fill a lorifc-distanco engagement via 'phone. On Wednesday [ evening, May 31, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce gave a banquet to its mem-' ; bers, and the features of the evening wero songs by Mr, Karle, and a longdistance after-dinner address by Senator Chauncey M. Depew., The Toll of the principal cities was callcd first. Each city of' importance over the entire area of three thousand miles responded. Then Mr. Karlo was introduced. The tenor wns in excellent voico and spirits, as it will ' be remembered that Karle is a native of Seattle, "and the atmosphero of tho West I was brought closer and closer asTio hoard each city respond almost instantaneously .to its name.

Mr. Thompson, who had charge of tha New York ond of tho tolophone, asked Soattlo if the song-was heard, and it was some moments before tho applause subsided and connoctions wore attainable. Tho Seattle chief responded that every syllable Mr. Karlo sang was heard by every member present. Tho address of Senator Dop'ow was much enjoyed at both ends of tho line. Al Freico Performances. Amcrica has developed quite a craze for musical performances 011 a very big scale in the open air. Of course ,it is mid-summer thore, and very warm, and the public will not go into a stuffy theatre or concert hall; so somo managers have gone out of their way to keep the torch, burning in tiho open air. Among recent performances ' 011 a very large scale was the singing of Vordi's "Manzoni Requiem" in tho Polo Grounds, Wew York, by the National Open-Air Festival Society. This great , work was sung on Sunday afternoon, June I; On the same day "Elijah" was sung on a baseball ground iifl Boston, under tho direction of Walter 1 Jjlimrosch,' witlij Clarenco Wliitohillj Frieda Hempol, Johannes Sembach, and Ernestine Schumann-Heinle as tho. soloists (all Germans, 'Save Mr. White-' hill).

Iu tho Yale Howl, New Haven (N.Y.), "Aida" (Verdi) has been performed, a-nd "The Valkyries" was to follow. Theatrical performances in the open are common all over America, and in some places natural -theatres are formed in a grove of trees, with just sufficient of the trees and undergrowth reujoved to form - a raised stage with a grassy clearing in front for the convenience of the spectators. There . is a splendid arboreal theatre in California tliat 13 used every summer. A very notable performance of 'As You Like It" was recently givon in tho woods near St. Louis, with Margaret Anglin as Rosalind and Jlr. Robert Mantell as Jacques, and no less than 1200 "supers." Eight' performances were given—all by artificial light in the evening. Miss Anglin considers daylight disenchanting. Letter from Mr. Dave Kenny. To the Army authorities he is 'Lieut. Kenny, to tho musical friends and Savages in Wellington, jlie is Dave IConny. Spelling, in London after a aojourn in France, he writes:—"Just a line to yet you kuow that I'm spends ing a few days' in London, after a spell in France. Saw our old friend, Rosina Buckmau in 'Madam Butterfly'- at tho' Aldwich Theatre, 011 Saturday night (June 17). She was simply great, and has improved out of sight both in singing and acting. ' I saw her again iu "I'liistan "and Isolde' last night. (June 19), and she was' really splendid, and does Ne»v Zealand prou'd. I went behind after the show and had a korero with her. She was delighted to see me again, ■and asked after all you Wellington people. Tho orchestra was gloriouH, under the baton of Sir Tlios. Beecham, who is a fine conductor. The'members are mostly Coyent Garden r.pora players.. I never heard such wood winds and horns in my life. Met Frank Foster and Borneo Gardiner yesterday. Borneo is doing well, and has just returned from a three-months' engagement in South America. Frank Foster is just about to go oil toiir with a flight opera company. Do you remember Blarney, the American tenor, who sang "Pinkertoll' in Wellington to Bel Sorel's "Butterfly"? He played the part here with Miss Buckman, and is a greatly - improved actor nnd singer. I' heard it beautiful choir (men and boys) at tho Bromptoii Oratory, on Sunday morning, under D'Evory, organist and oomposer. ■ Also tip-top choirs at St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey. Am off now to tho Waterloo Station, bound for Salisbury Plains.**