Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/549

 1899.] AET, DEAMA AND MUSIC. 125

At the Richter Concerts several Russian works were performed, and a first hearing was given in this country to the overture to Siegfried Wagner's opera, " Barenhauter." Two other works deserving special mention were Elgar's "Variations on an Original Theme" (op. 36), —the theme being a beautiful melody, entitled " Enigma,"— played at the concert (June 19) ; and Herr von Dohnanyi's " Pianoforte Concerto in E Minor,*' played by the composer (Oct. 23).

Orchestral concerts were given by Mr. W. H. Thorley in April and December for the purpose of producing his own compositions — instru- mental and vocal — which proved to be of very considerable merit ; one by Mr. Fritz Delius, at which were performed symphonic poems and songs of his own composition ; by Miss Adela Verne, at which Sir Hubert Parry conducted a performance of Wm. Yates Huristone's orchestral "Variations on a Hungarian Air"; by Miss Ada Wright, pianist ; and by Miss Norah Clench, violinist, an accomplished pupil of Joachim ; the concert givers in the last three cases playing con- certos. Excellent orchestral concerts have also been given by Mr. Newlandsmith ; while Mr. Albert Fransella's orchestra has introduced chiefly light foreign music, and Messrs. Chappell's have occasionally had a band under the direction of Ivan Caryl 1 for the performance of light overtures, etc., at the St. James's Hall Ballad Concerts.

In chamber music much good work was done by various concert combinations, by whom many interesting novelties were produced. Of these mention may be made of the Elderhorst, Walenn, Clinton, Fran- sella, Newlandsmith, Herbert Sharpe, Curtius Club, British Chamber and Cecilia Gates chamber music combinations. The Saturday Popular Concerts were continued on familiar lines, Lady Halle and Herr Erase being the leaders. The Monday Populars were resumed on Dr. Joac- him's arrival, and on March 18 the Joachim Quartet made their rentrSe. During the autumn season the only novelty produced was Mme. Liza Lehmann'8 new song-cycle, " In Memoriam," sung by Mr. Eennerley Rumford, and accompanied by the composer.

Numerous excellent instrumental recitals were given. Of the vocal recitals mention need be made only of those given by Mr. Bispham and Herr Gura, M. van Rooy, and Miss Marie Brema ; Mr. Ben Davies revived Sullivan's setting of Tennyson's song-cycle, " The Window " ; and Mr. Lawrence Rea sang Mr. Somervell's setting of the lyrics from Tennyson's " Maud."

The grand opera season (May 8 to July 24) comprised seventy per- formances. The only real novelty was Mr. de Lara's " Messaline," which was performed three times. The performance of Puccini's " La Boh6me " was its first rendering in England in the original Italian version. The new stage lighting by electricity was an improvement, but the chorus singing, mounting and stage management were fre- quently very faulty, and the raising of the prices of the seats 60 per cent, for the Wagnerian operas aroused much criticism, and was scarcely justified by the quality of the performances, although Dr. Muck, of the Imperial Opera House, Berlin, conducted the Wagner operas with pronounced ability. The other operas were, conducted by Signor Man- cinelli and M. Flon. Among the new singers Frau Mottl made her