music

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 344, 3 May 1928, Page 14

music

(By

Of Benno Moiseiwitsch, the famous pianist, who will give a series of recitals in New Zealand this month under the management of J. and N. Tait, it has been said that no other pianist has ever taken three countries —England, the United States and France—by storm as he has done. He has been styled "the twentieth century Chopin” and "The poet of the piano.” His playing indicates an almost marvellous technique, and a depth of feeling that never fails to have its effect on the audience. Moiseiwitsch commenced his artistic career at the Imperial Academy of Music, Odessa, and won the valuable Rubenstein prize at the early age of nine years. He studied under Le-schetizky at Vienna, and when he made his debut in England created a sensation. He played with the Queen’s Hall Orchestra, under the greatest conductors of the day, and his own recitals, given later, roused vast audiences to enthusiasm.

So great was the rush for seats at the St. James’s Theatre. Sydney, where the Fuller-Gonsalez Grand Opera Company was playing, that the Fuller firm engaged the Sydney Town Hall as a booking office. The season closed on April 26. It has been a phenomenally successful one, and is notable in that, despite the enormous risk attached to such ventures, the Fullers adhered to their original determination to provide grand opera at prices within reach of all. Thus for first nights, holiday nights, and Saturdays, the top price (with tax) has been 10s lid (ordinary nights 8s 9d), and the lowest price, 3s 4d (ordinary nights, 2s 7d).

A rare opera by Handel, "Rodelinda,” the 16th of his series of 40 operas, was broadcast in England last month from the National (8.C.C.) concert at Queen’s Hall. England was Handel’s home, and nowhere has he been so consistently honoured, but only a tiny fraction of his music is generally known. In Germany lately there has been a revived interest in the Handel operas which were composed between 1704 and 1740. "Rodelinda” dates from 1725, a period when all London was divided between allegianc to Handel and to his Italian rival Buononcini

“I should like to say to singers,” says Toti Hal Monte, the famous operatic artiste who is to sing with the William - son-Melba Grand Opera Company, "that three practices a day are better than one long practice, as the voice should never be fatigued or overstrained. Singers are born, not made. No one can produce a voice unless born with one. The birds sing naturally—so must humans. I sing because I love to sing. Always I am happy, and my heart goes with my art. I like always to be womanly,” she added. "All that is beautiful in life, all that is sincere, though simple, appeals to me most. There is comfort and real joy in it—that I have already proved.”

The prodigious feat of conducting without music, three great classical symphonies of Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms was accomplished by Professor Herman Abendroth, of Cologne, at his first appearance with the London Symphony Orchestra in Queen’s Hall. All three symphonies were magnificently conducted, the Haydn No. 14 in G being exceptionally well done.

According to “Le Temps” of Paris, French musicians and artists are rapidly losing ground not only on foreign stages, but also in native music schools and orchestras. The "Gazette de Cologne” recently published a statement showing how many positions have been captured in the United Stiites by German conductors. One critic explains the situation, which is a menace to French artistic prestige, as due solely to carelessness in keeping foreign publics aware of the perfection of French musicians.

Popular songs of other days are 'recalled by the death in London of Mr. Leslie Stuart (Thomas Augustine Barrett), aged 62 years. Although he could not be placed among the great British composers, his songs and musical plays were widely known. He began as Sir Arthur Sullivan did —as a church organist, writing songs to supplement his income. \mong his earlier compositions were songs written for Signor Foli, including "The Bandolero.” In 1895 he went to London, and wrote

"Louisiana Lou” for Miss Ellaline Terriss (Mrs. Seymour Hicks), which she sang in "The Shop Girl.” Afterwards he wrote several songs for Mr. George Edwardes "The Artist’s Model,” and other pieces. The wide success of "Soldiers of the Queen” (written in 1895) will be remembered by many. Stuart also won recognition as a composer of "coon” songs for the late Eugene Stratton, whose delightful soft shoe dancing has been copied many times since. Notable among these were "Little Dolly Daydream,” "Is Your Mammy Always Wid Ye?” "Sheelah Magee,” "The Dandy Fifth,” and the popular “Lily of Laguna.” The best known of his musical plays is “Floradora” (written in 1899), and others were "The Silver Slipper” (1901). and "The Belle of Mayfair” (1906). In later years he appeared on the vaudeville stage in England with his daughter, Miss May Leslie Stuart, in songs of his own composition.