THE WORLD OF MUSIC

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 73, 29 April 1930, Page 10

THE WORLD OF MUSIC

(By "B Natural.")

Mascagni's well-knowir opera, "Cavallea-ia Rusticana," wliich is being reliearsed by tlie Napier Choral Society 3 will be performed ahout tlie end of June. * * * Kubelik, the great violinist, will fcour Australia and New Zealand. giving 110 fewer than 150 recitals — the largest number ever undertaken by a great artist in this part of the world. • 4 « A short while ago tbe New York Symphonv Orcliestra, seeking guidance as to its ensuing year's pi'ogramme, instituted a vote on the most popular symphonv. To tlie surprise of the critics, tlie first place fell to Cesar Fraucik s one and only symphony. Beethoven's "Fiftli" came second. Tlie critics' surprise may be imagined, for the work is full of almost glaring faults ; hut its virtues — its originality of tliought its sincerity, and its clever massing of tone — easily outbalanced them in public favour. * * * Sir Thomas Beecliam has conducted the famous Berlin Pliilhannonic Orcliestra in its own concert liall in Berlin, and has been crowned with a laurel wreath. A programme of works by Elgar, Delius, Ivrozart and Strauss gained for him tliis signal honour. That an Englisli conductor should beard the German lion in its own den and dare that which only tlie most exceptionally gifted German conductors have dared — an orchestral programme bristling with technical difficulties direct from memory — did really surprise the Berliners. The Berlin newspapers were exceptionally en'msiastic ahout Sir Thomas Beecham's gifts. * + * Among the organ recitalists who are due to play at the Alexandra Palace, London, is M. Marcel Oupre, tlie eminent French virtuoso, whose improvisations excite admiration wherever tliey are heard.