IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20510, 28 May 1938, Page 19 (Supplement)

IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC

“I AM VERY HAPPY”

YEHUDI MENUHIN’S ROMANCE BRIDE’S GIFT FOR MUSIC *‘l am very happy and so, I hope. Is N'ola,” said the violinist, Yehudi Menuhin, to the London representative of Sydney Sun recently over the telephone from Geneva* This week he was married to Miss Nola Nicholas, of Melbourne. “We are eagerly anticipating visiting Australia again in 19i0,” lie went on. “I won’t play again till November, except to please myself.” “And Mrs Menuhin?” he was asked. "Yes, I trust so,” was the reply. "She loves music and used to play the violin, hut she didn’t keep it up. I’ll certainly he first violin in the home. “We are Just about to start for Sorrento. It will be lovely by th<a Bay of Naples.” Bride a Musician Mrs Nicholas has pointed out to the London newspapers that her daughter not only loves music, hut has a decided gift for it. Nola took a second grade for piano playing two years ago. She had also played the violin but preferred the piano. Nola celebrated her 19th birthday on March 31, and Menuhin is 21. "Nola is a very simple and unsophisticated outdoor girl,” said Mrs Nicholas. “She rides well and loves it, skis and plays tennis well, golfs a little and plays squash. “She has spent the last year and ahalf mainly, in Austria and Switzer-r land, largely ski-ing. Unspoiled by Fame “She has simple tastes, so has Yehudi Menuhin. He is singularly unspoiled by fame and has a most delightful character. “Nola lias always loved America and Americans and is very eagerly anticipaling country life in California, also world taurs with her husband.” Menuhin’s Sisters Engaged Love has forged a double link between the families of Yehudi Menuhin and Miss Nola Nicholas, of Melbourne. The. announcement of Yehudi’s engagement to Nola was followed by the disclosure that Yehudi’s sister, Hephzibah is to marry Nola's brother Lindsay. Hephzibah will live with her husband on a station in the western district of Victoria. She will assist Yehudi in his Australian concert tour. Hephzibah'-s sister Yalta lias become engaged to a St. Louis (U.S.) lawyer, who is taking a Government post in Washington.

“The Bohemian Girl” at Auckland “ The Bohemian Girl ” will be sung by the Auckland Choral Society in July. The principals will be: — Arlene June Barson Queen of Gipsies . * Sybil Phillips Thaddeus . . * * Leslie Russell Florestein . * . • Roger Errington Count Arnheim . - Robert Simmers The chief bass role, that of the Captain of the Guard, has not yet been decided. The society this season has an increase of about 50 new members. The society will go to Wellington on December 10, when the combined performance of “ The Messiah,” with Colin Muston as guest conductor, will

be given in conjunction with the Royal Wellington Choral Union. Tlbbett and Accompanist Puzzled There was an amusing incident at one of Lawrence Tibbett's recitals in the Sydney Town Hall when the singer announced one song and the pianist, Stewart Wille, began the accompaniment to another. The audience was prepared to hear Handel's “Hear Me, Ye Winds and Waves,” but the first measures were those of "W here er You Walk.’ Mr Tibbett looked puzzled, and then conferred with Mr Wille. The accompanist, in turn, looked puzzled, having apparently misunderstood the announcement. Then he left the platform to find the right music. "I thought I was hearing things,” said Mr Tibbett genially to the audience. Violinist and Harpist Coming Eileen O’Carroll and her brother, Robert Emmett O’Carroll, of Balmain, will leave Sydney at tlie end of this month to tour New Zealand. Miss O’Carroll is a harpist, and her brother is a violinist.

Australia Goes Musical The Melbourne Town Hall was booked out by subscribers 24 hours after the box plans opened for the series of orchestral concerts arranged by the Broadcasting Commission. In Bydney half the Town Hall was Immediately booked out for the season. Tibbett—l3 Concerts In Sydney Lawrence Tibbett was originally announced to give five concerts In Sydney. So successful was the American baritone that the season was extended fn right concerts, then to eleven, and finally In Ihirteen. To-night he will open in Melbourne. Grand Opera Contest In N.Z. The outstanding musical feature of the Wellington Competitions, which open in August, will be the Grand Contest, the first prize for which is £45. covering return fare and expenses allowed to Ballarat and Melbourne to compete' as the New Zealand representative in the big Australian contest in October. Floating Opera for Australia? A floating opera-house on an old ship that could he moved from port to port., around the Australian coast, was suggested by Professor Georg Szell, the Czech conductor, at a luncheon with Alexander Kipnis, the Russian basso, and other friends in Melbourne. A permanent opera was always said to be too expensive for Australia. A really good architect should be able to do wonders in reconstructing an old vessel to seat at least 1000 people with, perhaps, a restaurant for patrons. “House Full” for Lawrence Tibbett The high favour in which Lawrence Tibbett is held by Sydney rmisiclovers was again demonstrated at his fifth concert at the Town Hall. The hall, as at each of the previous concerts, was crowded, the “house full” sign being displayed long before 8 o'clock. From his opening number, the stirring “Song of Momus to Mars,” to his final encore, “The White Dove,” two hours and a-half later, the singer held his audience entranced, and the wide variety of his offerings—dramatic, tender, grave and gay—demonstrated his versatility and ability, as well aj> the wide range of his repertoire. The singer was at his best in the “Rigoletto” excerpt, but his interpretations of Moussorgsky’s "Death's Lullaby” and what he described as “the most dramatic ballad ever written," “Edward” were particularly moving. As usual, his inimitable interpretation of “Largo Factotum” “Barber of Seville”) and “De Glory Road,” both encore items, proved immensely popular.

N.Z. Singer’s Success In London Special recordings having been made in London to illustrate the considerable progress made by Oscar Natzke, the Auckland bass-baritone, who, over three years ago. was given a free scholarship at Trinity College of Music, London, an opportunity was afforded several interested musicians and friends of hearing these at a private audition in Auckland. The numbers chosen for the recordings were “L’Ebreo” and the “Pilgrim's Song.”

These demonstrate convincingly that the singer has made considerable strides in his chosen art. As the three years have now elapsed, it has been arranged for the singer to proceed to Italy for study and experience.