MUSIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 694, 20 June 1929, Page 16

MUSIC

(By

F.1.R.)

Sir Thomas Beecham conducted Handel’s Oratorio, “Hercules,” at the third concert of the London Philharmonic Society. Franz von Hoeslin, who conducted the “Ring” at the last two Beireuth Festivals, appeared last month in London for the first time at a concert given in Queen’s Hall. A heavy tax has been levied by the Portuguese Government on phonographs played in coffee houses. The action was taken at the request of the Lisbon Association of Musicians. * * * Friends and admirers of Dame Ethel Smyth have collected a Jubilee Fund of more than £6OO to defray the cost of a concert of her "works in Berlin by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kittle Choir.

Miss Stella Murray, the New Zealand contralto, gave a song recital at the ABolian Hall, New Bond Street, on Thursday, May 9, says the “New Zealand News" (London). Mr. Harold Craxton was at the piano and Mr. P. Mavon lbbs at the organ. An exceptionally interesting programme included “Creation’s Hymn” (Beethoven), “Twilight Fancies” (Delius), and a group of songs by Hugo Wolf. Miss Murray’s recitals are always looked forward to with the greatest pleasure, says the “News.”

Death of Mr. Fred McCrea It is with regret that we leara of the death of Mr. Fred McCrea, which took place in Perth, West Australia, recently, after an attack of peritonitis. As concert manager for E. J. Carroll, the late Mr. McCrea was last in New Zealand on the return visit of Friedman, the pianist. Before going to Australia from England, Mr. McCrea had been in concert management. Owing to ill-health he was on the point of retiring from business activities and returning to London. New Zealand Composers Two lyrics from “Maori Love Legends,” by Marieda Batten (Mrs. Laird Cooke), which were set to music by William G. James, are being sung by Miss Ruby Shepherd during the screening at the Polytechnic Theatre, Regent Street, of the excellent New Zealand film, “Under the Southern Cross,” says the “New Zealand News” (London). The piano accompaniments are being played by Miss Batten. Her poem. "Horses of {he Dawn,” set to music by Mary Brett (Mrs. Osborne), of Auckland, and recently published in London by Messrs. Augener, Ltd., has been selected by the Suffolk Festival Competitions Society as the baritone solo in the competition to be held this month at Bury St. Edmunds. Mrs. Cooke, whose latest poetic work, “The Teardrop,” in epic form, has just been published in London by Fowler Wright, Ltd., is a contributor to The Sun, Auckland, and other newspapers. DESECRATION WAGNER MODERNISED GERMAN RESENTMENT All attempts to modernise traditional art products in Germany have invariably met with the same result. Jazzing up Wagner or other classical composers, or giving “Hamlet” or the time-honoured plays of Schiller up to date settings, first evoked a widespread interest, which soon turned into disdainful criticism and frequently terminated in vindictive resentment. A typificatiou of tne latter instance was the violent attack on Otto Klemperer, one of the conductors of the State opera, who was threatened with gas bombs for bringing out Wagner’s “Flying Dutchman” in a glaringly realistic setting, in which romance, according to the tenets of the Wagnerites, played but an indifferent role. He had a red-haired Senta, sailors dressed as lonshoremen and spinning maidens wearing woolen jumpers.

This was to much for the Wagnerian societies, who promptly petitioned the Minister of Fine Arts and Public Worship to prohibit these performances as a “desecration of a German cultural product, a defamation of Wagner’s works and discrediting to the standing of the national stage.” By letter and telephone Klemperer was threatened with a theatrical demonstration and the employment of mustard gas if he dared continue his • contamination of a Wagner opera.” Only the strategical distribution of a large force of police throughout the opera house prevented a delegation of husky Wagnerites from starting a rough house, and made the performance possible. The modern “Flying Dutchman,” however, was soon taken off the repertoire. And now Berliners are conjecturing what will happen next -eason, as Klemperer is known to have his modern eye on “Lohengrin.”

NEW ORCHESTRA London to Have World’s Best 100 PLAYERS The London Symphony Orchestra is to be permanently organised with 100 players. With the co-operation of the impressario, Lionel Powell, the Gramophone Company, Ltd. (H.M.V.), and the Royal Opera House authorities at Covent Carden, it is hoped to make it the finest in the world. In its new form the orchestra will have no deputies and, to begin with, will number 75 permanent members. The best conductors in the world have already been engaged, and a tour of all the principal towns in Britain has been planned. The First Concert The “Daily Mail” is able to announce that the first concert in this tour is to be held at Queen’s Hall on October 14, when Albert Coates will conduct. Mr. Lionel Powell said: “It is our intention to strengthen the orchestra so that it can stand up against the best on the Continent or in the United States. The orchestra already plays for the Covent Carden Opera Company, and the members will now have their position guaranteed for a number of years.” The British Broadcasting Corporation will have the option of engaging this orchestra for broadcasting if it so wishes, but no plans have yet been made in this direction. There may be many developments in the future, the boom in talking films being a consideration that has not been forgotten. The co-operation of this orchestra in new British pictures may be of the utmost importance.

The University of Durham has conferred the degree of Doctor of Music on Mr. W. Arundel Orchard, Mus. Bae., in recognition of his service to the art as principal of the State Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, New South Wales.

With the object of attracting more i of the general public to its concerts, the Christchurch Orchestral Society, at its next concert on June 28, will throw open 400 seats not required bv its subscribers at Is each. Professor Oddoue Savini, lately of Italy and i India, who has come to New Zealand ! for health reasons, will make his first j appearance as conductor of the or- | chestra on this occasion. The following programme, arranged on popular I lines, will be played: Overture to “William Tell,” Rossini: “Seigfried Idyll,” Wagner; Ballet from “Sylvia,” Delibes; “Finladia,” Sibeiius. “Valse Triste.” Sibelius; “La Boutique Fantasque.” Rossini-Respighi; “Pavaua.” from "Le Maschere,” Mascagni. Wagner and the Horse

It is fortunate that the bulk of the audiences who come to hear the Wagner operas at Covent Garden are so t entranced by the music as to he uncritical of the stage effects, says the "Daily Chronicle.” But there were some sadly antediluvian moments when “Gotterdammeruug” was given the other night. Brunnhilde’s horse Crane, which is always a problem at Covent Garden, this year turned out to be a species of chestnut polo pony without harness, trappings or any- ! thing but a rope halter! It was for- | tunate that neither Siegfried nor Brunnhilde attempted to mount this very bewildered, rather resentful ani- ! mal. Surely a Shire horse would be i more in keeping with the Wagner tradition?.