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Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 902, 20 February 1930, Page 16

(By

Andre Skalski ’

News comes from America that Mr. Andre Skalski, the young Polish pianist, who was in Sydney from 1922 until 1924, and during his visit took Mr. Verbrugghen's place as conductor of the State Orchestra, has been appointed to the staff of the Chicago Musical College. The engagement is for a period* of years. He will begin his new duties at the summer master school, which opens in June. During the six weeks that the school is in session he will give private lessons in the piano, and will hold repertoire interpretation classes, conducting and score-reading classes, and ensemble classes. Mr. Skalski is now 34 years old. He made his debut as a pianist in Poland at the age of 11, first appearing as an operatic conductor at the age of 16, and by the time he was' 20 had reached the conductor's desk of the Philharmonic Society Orchestra in Warsaw. He reached Sydney by way of the East, whither he had set out from Moscow on a recital tour. After the State Orchestra had been disbanded in 1922 he accepted an offer to tour New Zealand, and gave 60 recitals in the Dominion. An interesting feature of his recital work in Sydney was a series of lecture-concerts which surveyed the whole of musical history. After leaving Australia, he became artistic and musical director of the Carl Rosa Opera Company, and conducted 200 performances. Then he gave piano recitals in the English provinces and in the Riviera. He went to the United States in 1928, and, -ettling in Chicago, quickly established himself as one of the city’s leading musicians. He founded an orchestra, which bears his name, and which is giving a series of concerts during the current season.

POPULAR TALKIE SONGS Three fox-trots from the talkie picture, “Sunny Side Up,” now showing in Auckland, bid fair achieve the usual measure of popularity that comes to feature songs in popular talkies. Just received from the publishers, J. Albert and Son, are, “If I Had a Talkie Picture of You,” “I’m a Dreamer, Aren't We All,” and “SunnySide Up.” The latter number is of the popular soft and dreamy variety, and the other two, particularly the title song, are gay and attractive foxtrots. Also from the same publishers we have received three numbers from “Hollywood Revue,” a picture that will be shown in Auckland shortly-. “Your Mother and Mine” has the usual sentimental appeal, but “Orange Blossom Time” and “Singing in the Rain” are quite bright, and not a little attractive. The last number should have a big sale.

Violin Recital On Thursday, March 6, lovers of the violin will have an opportunity of hearing a very fine English violinist in a recital to he given at the Town Hall. Mr. John Dunn, who is at present on a visit to New Zealand, is a violinist of outstanding ability. He studied at the Royal Couservatorium in Leipzig under Henry Schradieck and, upon his return to England, made many successful appearances at the Promenade Concerts and also at the London Philharmonic Society’s (orchestral) concerts, being regarded as the premier English violinist. He plays a Stradivari violin which was formerly the property of Count de Villares.