AMUSEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2092, 18 January 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

AMUSEMENTS.

LOCAL FIXTURES. HIS MAJESTY’S. February 5 to B—Pollard’s Opera Company. February 17, 18, and 19—J. C. Williamson's “Blue Aloou” Company. March 11-to 1-I—Brough Fleming Company. Atav 11, 12. 13—J. C. Williamson. Juno 8,9, 10—• I. C. Williamson. August 12. 13, 14—Frank Thornton.

AVriting apropos of the sudden fame of Aladtune Tetrazzini, now singing at Co vent Garden, the “Evening Standard says:—“lt m an unusual experience in these days to awako and find oneself famous. To ho almost unknown one day, to be known all the world the next day, is a triumph which now seems reserved for stars of the stage. AVo welcome these domonistrations- of the possibility of waking to find oneself famous. They remind as that in at least one sphere of -mini an ‘activity the old impulsive enthusiasm is scill strong. Still in one tDiny corner of man’s domain man may be swept oil’ bis legs by the display of quite human 'attributes. He remains capable, bore ii not oV’davlu' r o, of making a reputation with a midden clap of the hand:-:. AYe can ";«• quic'k honor to an actor or opera singer, because their talents make an instant appeal. It always has been easier for them to awake lo lame than for other people.”

J.IOW AIAIUE HALL PLAYS. A vivid description of how Miss Aliii’ie Hall, the violinist, plays is given by Air W. G. Boymikr, in -theLondon “Daily Mail.” As she crosses the stage, and comes down to the lop (lights ; through the great hush ol the packed house, you who have never before seen Alarie Hall will- leel a shook ot disappoiiitme-nt. You have come to see and to hejir one of the greatest women violinists in the world, and there- will stand- before you a simpic, unaffected child, with great, mull eyes; -a girl slender -and fragile and- ■delicate, dressed simply in while, like Vour own schoolgirl- -daughter at- your side. She is not bea util ill, only very sweet; there is about her none ol Whit compelling personal magnetism ol the great concert, performers, no ijiannerisms, no aggressive seli-iu-suranee. As she stands there swaying in -the glare of the I’ootlighls, >a lonely figure before the groat-.crowd, you who know 1 1 or stoiry si'o- in ncr tlu; J l lll o violinist of bygone days: -and perhaps she, too, secs beyond you and past tlie glare of lights and tin; gut- ’ ter of jewels, back to flu' old- lde, foi (.here is no smile in the sombre thoughtful eyes, nor on the pale girlish lace; the throbbing prelude echoes away and dies; the girl raises the violin quietly and draws the how sharply across the strings.” In an interview recently published in a Vienna newspaper, Caruso stated eh a t he has signed an engagement for America lor tour years at the mte of LOGO for every pcrlorm-aiiec, with eiglitv '-representations in each year guaranteed. The Gramophone Society pays him, in addition, ,1(8009, and he accepts evening engagements in New York at the Vanderbilts’, the Goulds’, etc., which briifg him in fully another 08000. making in all about 050,000 a year. And the .Metropolitan Opera House pays all travelling and hotel expenses. Caruso says lie is now studying ‘ll Trovatore” ami “Othello.” Thus Melbourne “Punch” : —“Some, twenty odd years ago, an old citizen tells me, there appeared on the,Melbourne' Town .Hall id-atlorm * two

young m usn-i- 1 ns, tor both of whom was 'predicted -a wonderful tutu-re. The girl. Nellie Alitehril, frerh from (•allege,' had a line voice, more .remarkable for volume than quality, ■and the youth, John Lcmmone, played the flute divinely. To-day we see those predictions fulfilled, for the grl lias achieved fame in live continents, and has the uiuld at her lent, and the youth is known -as one of the g-rea-t-est-"llaulists, lie has play, d with Patti and all the biggest musical folk alive, and his fame as manager as well as -an expert flute .player has spread throughout Australia. Melba's great triumph seems to show us that the animate- in art will, ever outstrij) the. inanimate. Al cilia’s magnetism is human- —tlie sweetnees of tlie flute vs ■ artificial. But John Lcmmone would he the- last to grudge- the. victories of the girl who .shared his first appearance and congratulations.” A coming attraction f.,vr New Zealanders will he a visit from fh-> famous Aequaviva do la Fonti Bund-, of Italy. Tlie combination is'.a- very popular one in- its own country, and it is claimed by those who are arranging for its appearance in Australasia that it will became quite, if not more popular than the Beases-o’-th’-Ba-rn Band. -The reason for this belief is that the hand is so constituted as to offer every possible musical variety which can he expected- of such a combination. There are fifty-five players in the band, and the conductor is Signon Ant-oniorio Tanni, ivho etud-ie-d----at the Conservatoire of Naples, -and who was knighted by the Italan Government for his musical attainments. The Lind has succeeded in several important- contests, the greatest triumph being in tlie international contest. held at Turin, in which 200 hands took part. The playing of the band lias been eullogised by the Press of all countries, and its programmes are so well varied as to -anpeu-1 t 6 all musical tastes.