MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2890, 30 September 1916, Page 13

MUSIC

; __—.4 —_ Piastro Again. On Tuesday evening those gifted Russian musicians, Michael Piastro and Alfred Mirovitch, are to be heard oneo more- in Wellington. When they arrived here. from Australia , a few weeks ago .they were practically unknown and -indifferently heralded, but their abounding talent was recognised at oncti by tho' musical amongst their audienoes. Tho distinctive virtuosity of Michael Piastro made a profound impression on all who wore fortunate enough to hear him play. Ho must be accountod one of the most remarkable violinists we have heard in recent years. The dimensions of- his tone is tho most astonishing feature in tihis artist. When muted, his tone is as broad as the ordinary violinist's,/and hjs crystal clear harmonics; amafcingly clean and full-bodied, whilst behind his superb technique there is all j the witchery of the Slavonic temperament —the white flame of inspiration, 'without which a violinist is a performer to bo endured only. Massenet and the Fair sex. ! With Massenet it was "toujours la femme." Ho was a clean, honourable man, whose affairs were those of a chivalrous gentleman, but he always had somo goddess for idolatry. Women Inspired him. They played, a large part in his, life. This is ovident when one recalls that he ;wrote' "Thais" and. "Esolarmohdo" for the unfortunate Sybil Sanderson, "Don Quichotte" for' lovely Lucy Arbell, and "Sappho" for Emma Calve. He was a lover of flowers, too. Flowers, fair women, and melody. Can you imagine a more joyful life. He had prosperity and famo. Fortune loved this good, great man; ho deserved every blessing that'eame to him.—Bessie Abott, in tho "Tribune" (New York). iltalian Opera.. Tho Gonsalez Italian Opera Company is apparently rich in actors, and in "I Pagliacci" there aro'two excellent examples in, Balboni, the tenor and Scamuzzi the. baritone. The former vocally and dramatically is a sensation, and in Sydney he received an ovation, after "On With the Motley," wherein the poor clown describes how, ho must, with bursting heart, prepare -himself to bo tho public's' fool.' ■" Balboni is evidently a believer in Caruso's method of speaking rather than singing lines supposed to be .uttered under the stress of great emotion. It is with undescribable pathos that Balboni, after the tragedy of the last act renders the final words, "Tho comedy is finished." Scamuzzi, tall and slender, does excellent work, and his singing of the beautiful prologue is accompanied by gestturos that proclaim the finished actor. Li "Cavalleria Rusticana" also as tho coarso Alfio he does not stint realism. In addition to the two tenors mentioned there is Capelli, said to .be one of tho finest tenors ever heard in opera in Australia. Margaret Jewell. Margaret Jewell, the very charming and finished lyrio soprano, who is at present delighting audiences, at His Majesty's Theatre, is a dawning star of somo magnitude in the vocal world. As to whether she will continue to rise depends largely on the young lady herself.- She has all the equipment necessary for a long flight upward. Her pure soprano voice is singularly sweet in tone and rich in sympathy, crystalline clear, and perfectly produoed. Miss Jewell has the raro faculty of, being able to pronounce every word correctly, without any screwing or ,twisting of tho sound to get tone, as do- so many singers, and her training has taught her to finish out every note—giving every note its oxact value without any curtailment or unnecessary drag. Miss Jewell is a pupil really of Madame Ann Williams, of Melbourne, with whom she studied for. five years to some purpose. Then voices were needed for the Melba Opera Company's chorus, and to gain experience, Miss Jewell became an applicant. She was the first one selected by Mr. Henry Braoy, and went right through tho season in Australia with her ears and eyes open—and learned much. The New South Wales Government Conservatoire started, and Miss Jewell became a competitor for honours. .She received ,tlie highest diploma for' soprano singing, but had .to forego the threo years' tuition tliat went it l owing to being a year over tho stipujated'age.. Still, the honours remained with her, and her enterprise led to still better things. Madame Melba heard her sing at . the Conservatoire, ;md at once taking an interest in_ her, offered to. teach her interpretation, and it was under the tuition of tho-famous diva that Miss Jewell studied many of. the operatic arias in her repertoire, including "All, fors o lui" ("La Travia'ta") which; Miss Jewell has been singing this week. It is only, a few weeks ago that Miss Jewell accepted air engagement with Mr. Hugh D. M'lntosh,: after which she signed on with Mr. Ben Fuller for sixteen weeks, with tho option of another term. Later on, her" desiro is to visit America and England, and her greatest ambition is to appear in grand opera. During next week Miss Jewell will sing that beautiful aria from "Madame Butterfly," entitled "One Fine Day," and tho waltz song from "Romeo and Juliet."