MUSIC & DRAMA

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1919, Page 9

MUSIC & DRAMA

(By "Pasticcio") As ,the sky-brightening south wird clears the day, And makes the mass'd clouds roll, The music of the lyre blows away The cloud 9 that wrap the soul. —Matthew Arnold. ••. * • Advice has been received that Florence Scapini, the young Christchurcli violin - iat, has arrived in Kew York, and has been accepted as pupil by Professor Auer, the well-known virtuoso. I » ♦ # • Mrs Johnston-Toplis received warm praise in the Auckland Star for her contributions in a recent concert at Auckland Town Hall. Said the critic: "Mrs Johnston-Toplis, whoso soprano has greatly strengthened and improved in every way since her last apeparance, made a marked success in Mascagni's romanza e scena, 'Vio la Sapete.' She threw dramatic intensity and effect into the performance, and her high notes rang with telling resonance and power. She also gave with vocal fluency and lightness Owen's 'Waltz Song.' » • • • Some of the most ambitious efforts of the cinematograph have come from Italy; their number is added to by the new film "Fabiola," which was exhibited recently at Home. , The Palatino-Oines Company, of Rome, has established a unique reputation in reviving for posterity the glories and the sorrows of early Rome, for a whole scries of films have dealt with the sufferings of the Christian martyrs. "Fabiola," of course, is based on Cardinal Wiseman's story, which Father Vaughan describes as a blend of realism and idealism which will appeal to a large section of the community. The original story is treated with the utmost reverence, and is adhered to with considerable fidelity—not always the ease where one lias films adapted from other sources- The result is an amazing succession of stage pictures of Roman life at the opening of the fourth century, when Christianity was steadily making its way, despite the oppression of a military autocracy. ' • » • »

"I am convinced that grand opera can bo successfully established in Australia," stated Mr Frank Rigo, of the Rigo Grand Opera Company, in a recent interview in Sydney. Despite his questionable success in Melbourne, Mr Rigo declared that, even if he encountered further misfortunes in Sydney, he would not abandon his venture. His opera company consists of 2Q artists, a chorus of 58, and an orchestra of 38 performers under the control of Gustavo Slapoffski. Tho Italian principals are Balboni, Vittono, Lois, Caccialli, and Fillipini, all of whom were with the Gonzalez Company. Leah Myers, the Sydney mezzo, and other Australian singers have been included in the company, with the result that the opera* are sometimes sung in two languages. "Faust" was, however, [Tendered entirely in English in Melbourne. • * • «

While the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre, Paris, was being filled on May 13 with people coming to see Alexandre Duroas's famous play "La Dame aux Camelias,' a pathetic tragedy was taking place behind the curtain. Some time between the opening of the doors and the rise of the curtain Mme. Blanche Dufrene, the well-known Parisian actress, who was to play the leading part of Marguerite Gautim, the consumptive Dame aux Camelias, had committed suicide in her dressing room. Mme. Dufrenc had come to the theatre early in the afternoon for the rehearsing of a new play. Towards B o'clock she retired to her room, saying to her dresser she wanted to take a rest and did not want to be disturbed. The woman went to have her dinner, and returned towards 8 o'clock for the evening performance. She wint to her mistress's room and knocked at the door, but there was no answer. She looked through a small pane of glass at the top of the door, and to her horror saw the actress hanging at the window handle. A police inquiry showed there was no doubt .that the actress had committed suicide. Mme Dnfrene, who was a small, nervous: woman, was said to have been suffering from neurasthenia during the last few months, resulting from overwork. She left no letter, either at her flat or in the theatre, to explain her,terrible decision. She was 44 years old, and the best pupil of Sarah Bernhardt. For many years past she had been appearing in ail the parts in which Sarah Bernhardt made her reputation, including that of .the Duke of Reiohstadt in 'L'Aiglon.' She leaves two daughters, 18 and 20, who were at the Opera Theatre when their mother was found dead. Mme. Sarah Bernhardt is much affected by the tragic j death of her best pupil, but it does not 'surprise her. The great tragedienne, in, an interview, said that she had known Mme. Dufrene to bs neurasthenic. **■ ■ * In a lengthy and commendatory notice of the production of Verdi's opera, "II Trovatore," by the Wellington Choral Union, the Dominion says: In a way the singing of "II Trovatore" by the Choral Union was an experiment, as this class Of opera has never hitherto been attempted in concert style. It is not flattering the union, its conductor, and thos.e who assisted as principals to say that not only was the experiment a success, but the performance, judged as a whole, was one of the most artistic and satisfying that the union (or its predecessor, the Royal Choral Society) has ever given. Mr H. Temple White is to be highly congratulated on his success with the baton. He held chorus and orchestra in indisputable control, gave the leads clearly, and used a beat that could not be misunderstood. The degree ol finish in chorus (ill-balanced though it was) and principals must be due to his control in n very large measure, and if his authority has such power of achievement the union is fortunate in its new conductor. Mr White is an old New Plymouth boy, and a brother of Mr'fl. 11 White uf this town. "II Trovatore" was his first work as conductor of the union, a position he was appointed to on the resignation of Mr Robert Parker early in the present year. * • * *

_A recent issue of Sydney Sunday! News traces tho interesting career of Hugh J. Ward, from his first appearance i in Australia with Hoyt's Comedy Com-1 pany 20 years ago to" his sterling work as managing director of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and leadership of war fund campaigns in Australia. Mr Ward played eccentric comedy characters with tho Hoyt Company, and the chronicler is wrong in giving him the role of Wellaud Strong in 'A Trip to Chinatown.' Tlmt part was played by tho "starred" player Harry Conor. Ward was later retained by Mr J. O. Williamson and in the palmy days of such comic opera favorites eg George Lauri, W*"ace BrowaN -

low, Chas. Kenningham, Plorrie Young, Grace Palotta, and Carrie Moore created many important Gilbert and Sullivan roles, as well as Cyrus Qilfain in, 'Floradora' and the Emperor and Sir Bingo in 'San Toy.' In 1003 he left Australia and played in London and Paris, coming out again with his own comedy company, headed by himself and Grace Palotta. During Jus Beverat tours of New Zealand he interested'himself to some purpose in local movements for charitable purposes. It will be remembered, for instance, that he raised an enormous sum in an incredibly shor.t time for an addition to Dunedi'n Hospital. The Sydney writer justly sums up his achievements in this direction as under: "A general estima.te of Mr Ward's untiring efforts in the interests of charities and hospitals prior to the war shows that, dircc.tly and indirectly, he was responsible for (roughly) £50,000. Since the war the estimate for charities, hospitals, and war funds reaches £1,250,000. Nor is that all. His own personal donations, ever ready and liberal, rep'resent 50 per cent of his salary during the whole of the war period. He has been selected by the Federal Government as Commonwealth chairman of the Peace Celebrations Committee, and is also on the State executive controlling the NeMr South Wales celebration." • ft ft » _ Under the heading "The Most Striking Episode in My Life," Miss Irene Franklyn, who appeared in New Zealand vaudeville some years ago as the young singer of "Keep Those Golden Ga,tes I Wide Open" and other chorus songs, [gives in the New York Theatre Maga- ! zine an account of her wedding day, on May 15th, in a year -unnamed. The day, or rather night, had been irrevocably fixed, but the bride, bridegroom, bridesmaid, and best man had only 1 dollar 84 cents between .them. A bridal bouquet was borrowed from the artificial violets and orchids in the carnival scene of "The Orchids," in which all were appearing. Evening dress was also "borrowed from the show" without the manager's knowledge. After ,tho performance of "The Orchid" they took the; ferry to Jersey City, and went to a dilapidated hotel with a stuffed alligator in the window. While they were waiting for the justice of the peace who was to conduct .the ceremony, the bridegroom became alarmed by seeing in the room an engraving of a steamer called Henry Peck—the name given to the typical henpecked husband in American comic journals—and he insisted that the wedding should take place in another room- There Irene Lucille Marguerite Franklyn became Mrs James; Eugene Burton Green Van Tassel, her husbarid's stage name being Burton Green. They returned to New York and found only one restaurant open. There was a heated argument as to whether they were to have a wedding breakfast or a wedding supper. The bridesmaid and groom said it was supper, and had lobster salad. The best man and bride said it was breakfast, and had ham and eggs. And just across the room sat Helen Green, celebrating her divorce from Burton Green, granted twelve hours earlier.