OPERA IN THE HOME

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 236, 30 June 1920, Page 7

OPERA IN THE HOME

MR. SYDNEY HOBEN'S NEW ART! Mr. Sydney P. Hoben, the distinguished pianist, who is well known""id'-Aus-tralia and New Zealand, arrived hefre by Oie„iloana on Saturday on a visit to tus relatives in Christcliurch. Mr. Hoben has been in the United States and Canada for the past thrco years, during which time ho has developed an original form .of high-class musical entertainment quite -unknown in this part of the world. He gives, at the piano, recitals of most of the grand operas, telling the •'story in an fashion, and playing the music, if not in its entirety,, the' dominant features in the score, !>y which' means a good insight into tho spirit and character of the opera is convoyed. Mr. Hoben has not been doing this sort of thing in the theatres, but in each city': visited he secures the use of the draw-ing-rogiis of the leaders of society—and ne "lias found them only too reacW'to. assist—and issues, invitations to imcK people as aro! likely to be interested in his nTt. In this manner Mr. Hoben has'made'a niche for himself, and from one citv to the other he goes armed with letters of introduction and finds; a ready welcome .everywhere. Ho specialises .on moder.p. opera, and his'extetisivo repertoire includes such works as Massenet's "Cinderella." Hadley's "Cleopatra's Night," "The Secret of Suzanne," "Tho Lovo of Three Kings," Charpentier's "Louise," DAnssy's "Peleas and Melisande," Puccini's "II Tabarro," Leoni's "L'Oraeolo," and the Wagner and Puccini operas. Mr. Holien found the American people intensely keen on musical culture, and o§ the result of his artistic propaganda people were ablo to tako a much more intelligent interest in opera than' would otherwise have beenthe case. Mr. Fob«n is remaining in New Zealand until' September, when hfl will return to the United States by wav of Honolulu and Vancouver. •