MUSIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 262, 26 January 1928, Page 16

MUSIC

(By

F.1.R.)

A London paper gives the joint takings at the Albert Hall on the operatic nights as £7,617. This is claimed to be a record for London. Roland Foster, of Sydney Conservatorium, has been secured in a directorial capacity for the Fuller-Gonsales grand opera season, commencing in Australia early next year. Referring to the performance of Toti dal Monte in “Lucia” at La Scala, Milan, the local “Courier” recently published the following: “Toti ial Monte has returned to us, after a long absence, with her ideal singing—those pure sounds which fall upon the air as though filtered through a balsamic atmosphere. More than ever rhe sings as though inspired/’ "No politics,** was the condition imposed by the London County Council in allowing the use of the Queen’s Hall for the fourth annual musical festival organised by the London Labour Choral Union. The audience numbered 2,000, and instead r”. political speeches they heard a massed choir of 500 Labour voices sing politics. The choir gave Socialist choruses, and ended the concert with “The Red Flag.” In distributing the awards, Mr. George Lansbury observed the council’s rule. He merely hoped that • they would be more successful in another sphere on another occasion.” « * m Wilma Berkeley continues to gain praise in London. . She sang at an entertainment following a dinner given by the Firstnighters’ Club in honour of Mrs. Patrick Campbell, and of this The Stage” wrote:—“The best applauded artist was Miss Wilma Berkeley, the young Australian soprano, of whose highly successful debut at the Colliseum we wrote the other day. Brilliant' is the only word one can upply to her Verdi and Donizetti selections, nor could one wish for a more charming rendering than hers of Arnes “The Lass With the Delicate Air.” ...

Music lovers are indebted to Mr. E. J. Carroll, the well-known theatrical and concert manager, for the privilege of hearing some of the world’s greatest artists, including the Sistine Choir, the Don Cossack Choir, Kreisler, Friedman, Stefansson, Edna Thomas, etc., and now this astute and enterprising Australian cables that he has engaged the brilliant Viennese violinist. Miss Erica Morirti, at a big figure, to give* a brief number of recitals in the capital cities of Australia and New Zealand, commencing at Sydney. Miss Morini’s rise to fame has been meteoric, her genius was recognised in the art centres of Europe before she was out of her teens, and now she has established a reputation beside that of Kreisler and Heifetz. Mr. Carroll is confident that she will justify that reputation, and his judgment in Australia and New Zealand.

On November 29, in New Tavk, by torchlight, a. bronze pluque was aet in the wall of the building at 45 East Twentieth Street, where Arthur Sullivan—this was before the great musician was knighted—lived in 1879, and where he wrote the greater part of the music for "The Pirates of Penzance.” Members of Winthrop Ames's Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire company subscribed for the tablet and took part in the ceremony of placing it on the structure, singing one of the choruses. Gilbert, Sullivan and B’Oyley Carte ■went to New York in 1379 to try to stop the pirating of their works, and while there “The Pirates' was finished and was produced at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on December 31 of that year.

The Berlin State Opera House is to be remodelled and enlarged at the expense of some £400,000. It will nave the most modern, adjustable and revolving stage in Europe—92ft wide and 75ft deep—as well as one of the most romptete lighting systems in the world. Opera for and. by the people is enjoying success at the Teatro Nazionale of Rome, where “The Barber of Seville." has had six performances by young working men and women, who rehearse and sing in their free time. All the cast, excepting Figaro, were without experience da singers, the quite capable Almaviva being a mender of elevators.

Puccini's last opera. "Turar.dot,” which will be the opening production of the forthcoming season of grand opera being organised by J. C. Williamson, L':d.. at Melbourne ilis Majesty's, will introduce two noted art sts who were associated with the jriginal production of the opera at La Scala These are Aranghi Lombardi, soprano, and Francesco Merli, tenor. They were also features of the cast when the opera was staged recently at Covent Garden. London. Lombardo is said to be the best dramatic ropiano in Italy. Merli has a voice which is powerful and of fine quality. Moreover, according to Sir George Tallis, who heard him in Italy and in London in “Turandot.” he is also a very Hue actor, with an impressive and striking personality. The complete production of "Turandot.” which is on an elaborate spectacular scale, is being brought to Australia.

« * * An important service has been done English music by the publication of a number of three, four and five-part fantasias of Henry Purcell. Originally written for the viols, they have been transcribed for modern strings by Peter Warlock from the original MSS in the British Museum. "These newly-transcribed fantasias provide unquestionable proof of the claim that Purcell is the greatest composer this country has ever owned,” says an English critic. “In numerous passages there is a modernity’ which can only be described as astonishing, and on the whole one las the impression that into the miniature masterpieces Purcell put some of his very highest gifts.” The transcriber, Mr. Warlock, claims that these fantasias will soon be recognised as one of “England's most significant contributions to the world's great music.”

Frieda Hem pel gave her first recital since the war in Berlin last month, and had a mixed reception. As for her performance: “We are poorer by one more artistic illusion,” stated a German writer. “We have to go even further and say that Frieda Hempel is ‘done* as they say across the ocean. The clarity and brilliance of her voice arc gone; her forte is shrill and disagreeable to hear; her coloratura, upon which she depended

so much, has lost its mobility and refinement. She can still sing charmingly in the more subdued passages, but that will not make up an entire programme. Frieda Hempel is stated to be very beautiful, both in face and figure, being a warm-coloured blonde, with golden bobbed hair, blue eyes, and an expression of glowing charm and sweetness. Against August Heckocher, to whom she was engaged, she recently brought an action for £2,000 a year for life, for alleged breach of promise.

Music Teachers’ Annual Conference

IMPORTANT REMIT DISCUSSED An important remit concerning the disparity existing between the fees paid to soloists and those paid to conductors will be discussed at the fifth annual conference of the New Zealand Society of Professional Teachers of Music, which commenced at Christchurch yesterday. Representing some 2,000 teachers of music, delegates attended from every part of the Dominion.

With its aims the advancement of music, and, in particular, the passing of the Music Teachers Registration Bill, the Society of Professional Teachers was formed in 1924, and has since met annually in the different 'centres, of the Dominion. The society attaches great importance to this Bill, which has not yet passed through Parliament, and much of the discussion on the first day will be devoted to it. Delegates assembled at 10 a.m. yesterday, and were welcomed by Mr. A. J. Merton, president of the Canterbury Society. After the presidential address, Professor J. Shelley gave a short address. Following the Music Teachers Registration Bill, discussion turned to the question of future summer schools. In the evening members of the Canterbury Society ex«r tended an “At Home” to the visitors. To-day various remits will be discussed and papers read. Officers for the year 1928 will be elected, and the location and date of the 1929 conference decided. In the afternoon dele-, gates will make a tour of the city by motor-car.

Following are the two remits for discussion: That the conference should take steps to draw the attention of musical societies to the disparity existing between the fees paid by such societies, to soloists and those paid to their regular conductors, it being known that the amount annually expended on the engagement of soloists usually far exceeds that paid to conductors whose duties demand at least equal skill and are far more exacting and continuous. (Wellington Society). That an endeavour be made to have a clause inserted in the Registration Bill empowering local societies to form a provident fund to assist members who may require help. (Otago Society).

Papers will be read to the conference as follows: —“The Place of Music in Education,” Dr. V. E. Galway; “Music and the New Age,” E. Douglas Tayler; “Music and Its Value to the Community,” J. Holmes Runnicles;

“Musical Appreciation in Schools,” Miss A. J. Church; “Music in Canterbury 50 Years Ago,” Robert Parker.

BRASS BANDS DOMINION CONTEST IN CHRISTCHURCH Representing ail provinces of the Dominion some 1,200 bandsmen will assemble in Christchurch for the annual Brass Band Contest, to be held from February 18 until February 25, under the auspices of the South and North Island Band Association. Entries in all classes of band and solo competitions have been unusually good, and this year’s innovation —the Pipe Band Contest —has been more than justified. Test pieces and selections will be played in the King Edward Barracks, and quickstep marches at the Showgrounds. The Boys’ Gordon Hall, Hereford Street, has been engaged for the solo competitions, which will be judged by Mr. W. S. King, of Christchurch. Mr. E. Jackson, of Brisbane, Queensland, has been engaged to judge tho band contest. Mr. Jackson, who is known throughout the Commonwealth for his active association with band contests for the past seven or eight years, is at present conductor of the Brisbane Municipal Band, winners of the First Australian Military Band Championship, 1921. Since* 1920, he has been frequently engaged at the State contests as judge, assiLtantjudge or official. In addition to his work as conductor of the Brisbane Municipal Band, Mr. Jackson holds the position of band supervisor in connection with the City Council’s scheme for the subsidising of band music in the city parks. A feature of this scheme is the high standard which bands must attain before they are granted admission to the park band stands. The total prize money amounts to over £I,OOO, in addition to many shields and trophies. There are 15 entries in the "A” grade contest, 16 in the “B” grade, five in the “C” grade and 27 for the hymn test. All the solo competitions have attracted excellent entries.