THE WORLD OF MUSIC

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 56, 8 April 1929, Page 10

THE WORLD OF MUSIC

(Bj' "B" Xatural.) Arturo Toscanini's arduous labours at La Scala for thirty years were celebrated recently in Milnn. The London Times publishes a Milan dispatch describing the gala performance wliich marked the culminating event of the festivities. "Thirty years ago the otlier night Signor Toscanini first conducted an opera, 'The Mastersingers,' at La Scala. He was tlien thirty years of age, and had already aehieved some success in Ttaly as a oonductor. The audience of La Scala 011 the night of Deoember 16, 1^98. was inipressed by tlie fact tliat tlie maestro conducted the opera without a seove. "Toscanini's many admirers tried to devise some means nf cclebrating the thirtietlr anniversary of Tiis connection witli La Scala witliout outvaging his characteristic reserve. A committce was formed and succeedecl in ohtaining the maestro's permission to collect funds for a fonndation to ne named after liim and to be devoted to the henefit of the children of the musicians of the Scala orchestra. The collection reached the sum of 600,000 ljre (approximately £6500). Toscanini asked that 110 ceremnuy should take place that night. The performance of 'Tlie Mastersingers' had been eagerly awaitcd ; tliere was a hrilliant audience. several princes of the royal family were present, Signor Mussolini was representecl by the IMinister _ of Puhlic Tnstruction. and renrcsentatives liad been sent bv all the musical academies of Ttaly and by those of Berlin and Zurich. "At the end of tTie seeoncl act the maestro appcared with the singers iti response to the eheers of La Scala, the members of the chovus and tlie memhers of the nrchestra, nearly 500 rltogether, rusliecl on to the stage, surroundecl the maestra and gave hira an ovation, the spontaniety of which seemed to move the famous conductor deeply." « * * Friends and admirers of "Dame Etbel Smyth have colleeted a Jubilee Fnncl of more than £600 to defray the cost of a concert of her works in Borlin by the Berlin Philharmonie Orchestra and the Ivittel Choir. • * • With preparationss in progress for tlie opening in Bvussels of the "Grande Salle de Concerts," the concert hall of the new "Palais des Beaux-Arts" was inaugurated recently in the presence of the sovereign. it will he dedicated mainly to chamber music, with a seating capacity of 600. "During the Schuhert festival German songs were lieard in Belgium For the first time since the war. * * * Tlio counci! of tlie Musical Association of New South Wales has. during the past few years, devoted considerable time and thought to the matter of assuring music students efficient instruction, and _a schome most likelv to he evolved in the near future is that of compiling a list of accredited teachers in all branches of musical art. This problem has proved difficult of adjustment in other countries, and in England efforts have been made during the last S0 or 90 years _ to bring ahout a satisfactory solution. In some of the United States of America proniiscuons settling therein as a music teacher is no longer possible. as persons wishing to practise the ru'ofession must first- satisfy - a board of examiners as to their capabi'ities. Twelve attempts were made in England since 1848 to establish a statutory register of teachers, until in 1907 Parliament nuthorised the estahh'shment of a Teachers' Registrntion Council. whose duty is to keeri a register of approved teachers. The principles of qualification. drawn up bv a special committee of urominent music teachers. inclnde: "A reasonably good eduention that may rank above the ibit.erate." "good mnsicianship as distinet from tcchnieal proficiencv." and "svstematic emisideration of the priimiples of teaching, espeeially as nuplied to the teaching of their art."