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Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 222, 8 December 1927, Page 16

Josef Hofmann, famous pianist, has become director-in-chief of the Curtis Institute of Music of Philadelphia.

Entirely rewritten and brought up to date, Balfe’s “The Bohemian Girl” was given in a modern dress version recently by the Carl Rosa Opera Company in England.

At a recent Welsh Eisteddfod, Granville Bantock, English composer, spoke dolefully of the possibilities that the viola as an active instrument in music would become extinct. He called the organisers of movie bands who omitted the viola barbarians.

The “Musical Times” tells a story concerning Sir Alexander Watson, sometime principal of the Royal Academy of Music, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday. He was once conducting an orchestral rehearsal of the prologue to “Pagliacci,” with a singer whose rubato grew more and more pronounced. Mackenzie held things together as well as possible for some time, but at last he called a halt, and said to the singer, “Do try to remember that tiiis is an orchestra, not an elastic band.”

Regarding Joseph Hislop, the regrettable part of the tour is that it has been all too short. Many districts in New Zealand clamoured for a visit from this delightful singer, but in view of engagements entered into last year, which necessitated Hislop’s departure from the Dominion early in December, it was found impossible to extend the present tour. Representations have been made to Messrs. J. and X. Tait to extend the tour. At present this is impossible, but that they will give serious consideration to the immeasurable requests is a certainty, so that New Zealand may hear this worldf -.i inouM artist before he finally departs.