ARABELLA GODDARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 257, 29 October 1874, Page 2

ARABELLA GODDARD.

Aa Madame , Arabella Goddard sborily commence a tour through New Zeafan^, tbe following brief sketch } of the artistic career of the greatest living pianiste (compiled from Men of the Time and other sources), may be found iuteraating:— Born at St. Servan, ia the south of. France, Arabella Goddard showed surprising aptitude for music at a very early age; and, when sis years old, was taken to Paris for the benefit of Kalkbrenner's instruction. Under tbat distinguished master, to whose admirable, ay stem ; her great , execu tive f power owes not a little, Miss Goddard made such progress tbat after two years' study she appeared in public, performing one of Hummel's concertos. The child being brought to Loodon, Mrs Anderson first and noxt Thalberg, continued tbe work, Kaikbrenner had begun; fantasias and music of alike class serving meanwhile to :■: exhibit Miss Goddard's precocious ability in public. Her first important debut took place at the «' National Concerts " conducted by Balfe, at her Majesty's Theatre, when the young artist performed, with great success, the music of Hummel and othei' popular writers for the piano. The year following Miss Goddard was placed, on Thalberg*. recommendation, under the care of Mr J. W, Davison, who at once discerned {For continuation see fourth page )

hia^ pupil's great capacity for more serious work than had before engaged ber attention. So speedily did the young piaoiste profit by the counsels of hp, master, tbat her real debut as a classical player took place some few - months later at one of the New Philharmonic Concerts then given in Exeter i Hall:, under Lindpainter's direction. . From tbis time Miss Goddard led an" active life — constantly adding new classical works to her repertory, and producing them at recitals given 1 by herself, or at public concerts, where . she was engaged. How, later, she added novelty alter novelty to the programmes of the MondsyjPopular Concerts, was the first to play .Mendelssohn's posthumous compositions, revived the name of Friedemtan, Bach, Eberlin, and many another balf-forgotten worthy, and persistently vindicated the genius of our own cojpjpj^fSir ,§terndale Bennett— all thwe /things must be fresh in the public mind. It is impossible to look back upon snch a career withont admiration, and witbout a consciousness tbfeV the retirement of such an artiste from the musical world of Europe is a losa^to music not easily overrated . JBut. 'although f Madame Goddard retlSt^: - from those brilliant artistic circles of which for so many years she bad been the bright particular star, she ftj^Wtely iid not retire altogether frogs the. profession. In the beginning of 1873 she [conceived tbe idea of making a tour through the Australian Colonies, the United States, and Canada, and ncr farewell concert given in St. James 1 Hall, on the Ilth of February of tbat year, was an event of most ex. traprdiqary interest. It bas often to be said, as'fegarae tbe mueical profession, that " superfluous lags the profession ob rthe. stage," but Madame Goddard, reversing this order of things, made hef'fiift from England while in tbe prime of life, and in the zenith of her powers. r The great ball was crowded, alltbe principal vocalists and instrunSehialists assisting at the farewell of this distinguished artiste. ,0f tbe brilliant success wbich at-tended-Madame Goddard's first Australian tour %> of the enthusiastic reception, accorded to her by her countrymen ja India, China, and by the Dutch colonists of Batavia; and of the warm welcome that she received on becYjeturn to Australia, after being sftfcrwr-Ck&d in tbe steamer Flintshire, onr readers must bave heard. i:i The'i_stjjira_d concert given in Melbourne by -H&lalme Goddard was in aid of tbe __,ospi|al Fund, when she was assisted by the Melbourne Philharmonic Society, by whose useful co-operation tbe great ; piaoiste was enabled to produce Beethoven's Choral Fantasia and Weber's Concertsliick. Of this copcert tbe Illustrated New Zealand Herald contains an excellent illustration. Tbe magnificent Town Hall was crowded, and the entertainment which was/ onder i the patronage of the Governor of Victoria, was organised nnder the management of Mr R. S. Smytbe, whose managerial tact and knowledge of tbe world, gained as a concert director io nearly every part of this hemisphere, have contributed not a little to the brilliant pecuniary success off; Madame Goddard's two Australian tours. ■' ( Ms __-oe Goddard wae to leave Melbourne for Dunedin on tbe 24th October, by the s.s. Alhambra, and may be: expected in Nelson on Saturday.