Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 21 December 1929, page 10


MUSIC AND DRAMA.

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CHICAGO'S NEW OPERA HOUSE.

Chicago has completed Its new opera house, a huge building which towers 45 stprles above the Chicago River, and has cost £4,000,000.

| It takes the place of the famous Auditorium,

where Adelina Pattl sang at the opening ceremonies about 40 years ago. Money has been freely spent In the decoration of the new building, so that its ludltorlum has been described by one writer as "a regal salon of Travertine marble," with fluted columns as-cending to the high vaulted celling, while another tells us that "rich simplicity is the key-note of the decorative scheme." The main floor and the two balconies will seat 3285 people, and there is accommodation for 186 in the 31 boxes. The drop curtain is adorned by a painting depleting a pageant of charac-ters from famous operas. Mr. Samuel Insull, president of the Chicago Civic Opera Com-pany, announces that half of the total cost was actually subscribed in money by 10,000 persons, subscribers to the preferred stock of the building corporation, and another section who shared In making the enterprise possible is comprised of the ' opera guarantors, now numbering about 3200. He describes the buildas a most desirable business asset as well as an opera house. "It will have a big rent roll," he says, ''and the absorption of the debt upon It will be more rapid than some of us think." There was a brilliant opening celebration on November 4, when "Aida" was performed, con-ducted by Giorgio Polacco, and with Rosa Ralsa In the title-role, fresh from recent suc-cesses In South American opera. The cast also. Included Charles Marshall as Radames, Cyrena van Gordon as Amnerls, Cesare Formichi as Amonas-o, and Virgilio Lazzari as Ramfis-a really fine group of singers. The audience, of course, included many noted people, and the displays of Jewels In the audi-torium has been estimated to be worth £20,000,000.

FOR THE CONSERVATORIUM.

Mr. Isidore Goodman, the English pianist, whose appointment to the staff of the New South Wales Conservatorium excited a protest on the part of some other members of the staff and the Musical Association, will arrive in Sydney early In the New Year. In a recent letter to Dr. Orchard, Sir Hugh Allen, Direc-tor of the Royal College of Music, writes:"I am quite sure you will find Mr. Goodman a great addition to your staff. He Is really a first-rate pianist, and has taken Mr. Lloyd Powell's classes during his absence as examiner for the Associated Board." Another tribute to Mr. Goodman's ability comes from Dr. Dyson, director of the Winchester College of Music, and a member of the staff of the Royal College. In a letter to a friend of Dr. Orchard, Dr. Dyson, mentioning the Impending depar

ture of Mr. Goodman for Sydney, writes that the pianist's friends agree that he need not have gone so far to find a suitable sphere of work. "Dr. Orchard," he adds, "Is very lucky to get him." Mr. Goodman's abilities as a pianist were the subject of review by London critics when he appeared in a recital in March last. On that occasion the "Morning Post" highly praised the "rhythmic clarity and power" of his interpretations, and the "Dally Telegraph" singled out as a distinguishing feature of his playing his "unfailingly fine singing tone," while the "Observer" wrote In similarly commendatory terms. He won warm praise later for recitals in Venice and Milan.

ANOTHER VOSPER PLAY.

Frank Vosper, who made a success of his mystery play, "Murder on the Second Floor," has now written another drama, this time of a psychological character, which he has called "People Like TJs." This was produced In Lon-don, at the Strand Theatre, last month. While the dramatist explains that "People Like Us" is "a symbolic play," and that its characters have never existed except in his own imagi-nation, the actual incidents resemble those of the Bywaters case of a few years ago. Ethel Carter, one of the three principal persons of the drama, Is unhappy In her marriage; but her husband refuses to divorce her, and she resolves to poison him, and writes to her lover, Rowlle Bateson, to tell him so. This letter forms part of the evidence at the trial. The "poison" she uses, however, Is harmless; it Is merely aspirin. There Is a quarrel, and Bate-son, returning from one of his seafaring voy-ages while this quarrel is proceeding, fatally stabs Carter. There Is a final scene in prison, where It is learned that Mrs. Carter and Bate-son are both to be hanged. The chief feature of the play, it seems, is its quality as a study in criminal psychology, and judged from the view, it Is described by the "Morning Post" as "masterly, at once searching and sympa-thetic, lightened with brightly and truly ob-served comedy, and provokingly Ingenious in its solution of the human problem." The critics write In glowing terms of Miss Marie Ney's acting in the role of Ethel Carter. The other leading characters are Impersonated by Mr. Henry Oscar as the husband, and Mr. Atholl Fleming as Bateson.

TWO AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS.

Mr. George Brooke, the Victorian baritone, who has been associated with another Aus-tralian artist, Mr. Edward Cahill, pianist, In a series of recitals In London, returned to this part of the world a week or two ago, and is now visiting Sydney. Messrs. Cahill and Brooke travelled together on three concert tours of Queensland, and In other States, before they left three years ago for London. They proceeded by way of America; and in New York were offered concert engagements by Mr. George Engels, a leading manager of that city, but were obliged to decline these, as they had already made arrangements for English appearances. Going on to London, they entered upon a series of recltal3 in pri-vate houses, a series which proved highly successful. Mr. Brooke took the opportunity to renew his vocal coaching under the direc-tion of von Muehlen, the celebrated teacher, who is now, at the age of about 80, living in Sussex. Later, in Vienna, Mr. Cahill studied with Frau Gombrlch, who was assistant to the famous Leschetzky, teacher of so many distinguished pianists. The Australian visi-tors enjoyed their long stay in Vienna, especi-ally because of their experience In hearing so much notable music. Among the operas they witnessed was Richard Strauss's new work, "The Egyptian Helen," with Marla Jerltza in the title role. "She was of very fine pre-sence," says Mr. Brooke, "and moved regally in the Imposing Eastern scenes; but, though the orchestration Is magnificent, the opera has not equalled the success of the same composer's 'Rosenkavaller.' " Mr. Cahill Is to return from Europe early In January, and the two artists will then make a concert tour of various cities of the Commonwealth, be-ginning in Queensland.

MR. COAD AT ITHACA.

Mr. William Coad, formerly of Sydney, and now of New York State, has settled comfort-ably In his new position as resident director of the violin department at the well-known Ithaca Conservatory, and made his first re-cital appearance at the Institution early last month, when, with Mr. George Hathaway as pianist, he played a Sonata by Joseph Gibbs, a movement from a Haydn Concerto, Chausson's "Poem," two of the Brahms Hungarian Dances, and other music. The "Ithaca Jour-nal," in its review of the recital, states that Mr. Coad's playing was refreshingly free irom mannerisms, and Imbued with artistic ex-pression.

DRAMATIC CLUB FORMED.

In her capacity as president of the House-wives' Association of New South Wales, Mrs. Walla Goodwin has formed a new organisa-tion entitled the Mayfair Dramatic Club, which Includes a section devoted to music. Mr. J. A. Reid is president, Mr. J. Allison and Mr. A. R. Chrystal vice-presidents, and Mr. Hector Coombes and Mr. Lockwood Brown Joint secretaries. The first production will

be "The Private Secretary," by Charles Hawtrey, about Easter. Concerts will be given periodically by the Mayfair Ladles' Choir, of 100 voices. The choir will support the project for a music week to be held next year. Mrs. Goodwin, who will produce the plays and conduct the choir, has had a good deal of experience as an elocutionist and singer in Queensland and on the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. She has given 32 recitals, and within 12 months her pupils on the Northern Rivers carried off over 30 prizes at musical festivals. With the consent of Mr. Norman Lindsay 6he dramatised his "Magic Pudding," and played it with success In Brisbane and Bundaberg, She played the part ol Madame Defarge in Mr. Harry Thomas's recent season of "The Tale of Two Cities," and that of Mrs. Bumble In "Oliver

Twist."