CARLISLE.-The second Symphony Concert took place on November 7, under the conductorship of the Cathedral organist, Mr. F. W. Wadely. The programme included Mozart's E flat Symphony, Mendelssohn's Hebrides' Overture, Stanford's Last post,' Hail, bright abode,' from Wagner's 'Tannhäuser,' and the Preislied' from 'Die Meistersinger,' sung by Mr. Gwynne Davies. Orchestra and choir numbered about 170.

on

CHATHAM.-A 'Matinée musicale' was given at Chatham November 4 by the band of the First Division Royal Marines, under the direction of Mr. Charles Hoby. The programme was of exceptional interest. Besides Mozart's Figaro' Overture and Balfour Gardiner's 'Shepherd Fennel's Dance,' it included movements from Svendsen's Symphony in D (Op. 4), a Menuet by Aléxéyeff, Grieg's Suite, 'Sigurd Jorsalfar,' and a Suite from a Russian ballet by Luigini (Op. 23).

DUNEDIN (N.Z.).-The ninety-ninth concert of the Liedertafel took place on September 18, under the direction of the hon. conductor, Mr. Jesse Timson. The feature of the concert was a performance of 'The fallen heroes' (Jenkins), with Mr. E. H. Eagar as tenor soloist. The other soloists were Miss Sadie Broad and Mr. F. H. Taylor (vocalists), Mr. Frank Drake (violoncello), and Mr. G. Dick (flautist). For the hundredth concert, on December 3, Félicien David's The Desert' is in preparation.

EBBW VALE (SOUTH WALES).-The musical Festival, under the auspices of the Monmouth English Musical Festival Association, was held at the Congregational Church on October 28. The choir of 450 voices, trained by Mr. Tom Davies, gave excellent performances, especially of How lovely are the messengers' (Mendelssohn) and the 'Hallelujah' chorus (Handel). The organists were Miss Hannah Jones and Madame Tuck, and the conductor was Dr. Caradog Roberts, who also in the afternoon and evening meetings contributed solos on the organ.

HANLEY. A quite exceptional performance of Elgar's 'King Olaf' was given by the Hanley Glee and Madrigal Society, under the direction of Mr. John James, at the Victoria Hall, on October 31. In its choral aspects the performance could hardly have been bettered, and the orchestral forces brought together for the occasion gave adequate support. The soloists of the concert were Madame Annie Walker, Mr. Joseph Cheetham, and Mr. Charles Tree. Mr. Ernest Hammond was at the organ. It was a slur upon the musical reputation of the neighbourhood that the audience was comparatively small.

HEBDEN BRIDGE.-The Hebden Bridge Choral and Harmonic Society opened its season on November 12 with an excellent performance of Coleridge-Taylor's Hiawatha,' Parts I. and III. The choir, directed by Dr. W. Williams, sang with good quality of tone and abundant spirit, and their work aroused considerable enthusiasm. The solo singers were Miss Dorothy Silk, Mr. John Booth, and Mr. George Parker, all of whom also contributed to the miscellaneous section of the programme.

KIMBERLEY (S.A.).-Coleridge-Taylor's 'A tale of Old Japan' was performed on October 15 for the first time in South Africa, by the Diamond Fields Musical Society. The choir answered the technical and expressive demands of the work without fail under the guidance of Mr. A. H. Ashworth. The soloists were Madame Mazery, Mrs. Ashworth, Mr. W. Everard, and Mr. A. Milden. The choir was also heard in the funeral chorus from The death of Minnehaha,' Faning's Moonlight' and in 'The march triumphal thunders,' from 'Caractacus.' The orchestra was assisted at the organ by Mr. M. G. Hart.

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LEAMINGTON.-A 'Concert for young people of school was given at Queen's Hall on November 1, with the Misses Salter (vocal duettists) and Mr. Peter McGregor (pianist) as artists. The programme was well devised, and explanatory remarks were supplied by Professor Niecks. LINCOLN.-A popular concert was given by the Orchestral Society, at the Central Hall, on November 6, under the direction of the Rev. C. H. Scott. Sibelius's Finlandia,' Coleridge-Taylor's 'Four characteristic waltzes,' and Grieg's Pianoforte concerto, with Miss Lucy Polgreen as soloist, were the chief features. Songs were given by Miss Phyllis Lett.

PENZANCE.-Mr. S. W. Alfred Moyle, one of the leading English 'cellists, gave a recital in St. John's Hall. His playing revealed his mastery of the instrument. He was selected to represent England as soloist at the Empire Concerts, Crystal Palace.

PERTH (W.A.).—The concert-version of German's 'Merrie England' was performed by the Philharmonic Society on September 14, at His Majesty's Theatre, and on September 28, at the Government House Ball-room, in aid of the Herbert C. Goff conducted, and the principal parts were Charity Organization Society. On both occasions Mr. Gertie Ottaway, Mr. P. Bindley, and Mr. S. F. Pick. taken by Miss Minnie Waugh, Mrs. A. Flight Smith, Miss Unbounded pleasure was given to the listeners, among whom on the second occasion was the Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland.

SOUTHAMPTON.-Coleridge-Taylor's 'A tale of Old Japan' was the principal feature of an excellent programme presented by the Test Valley Musical Society. The choral singing, under Mr. E. H. Moberly's direction, maintained a high standard in every respect, and admirable work was done by the four soloists, Miss Margaret Layton, Miss Hilda Cragg-James, Mr. Frank Mullings, and Mr. Harold Dupre. An orchestra accompanied efficiently, and gave separate contributions that included a Symphony in B flat by Haydn and Mozart's Figaro' Overture. The choir was also heard separately in part-songs.

SOUTHSEA.-A concert in aid of the funds of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Victoria Road, was given at the schoolroom on November 6, by the choir, which has been brought to a high state of efficiency by Mr. W. J. Groves, the choirmaster. Bennett's 'The May Queen' was excellently performed, and an entertaining miscellaneous programme was provided in addition. The principal artists were Mrs. G. Howlett, Mrs. H. Watts, Mr. Gordon Bailey, and Mr. Walford Lovatt.

SPILSBY.-Hiawatha's Wedding-feast' and 'Blest Pair of Sirens' were the chief works in the programme of a concert given at the Drill Hall, on October 29. The former was conducted by Miss Lushington and the latter by Mr. Massingberd. The choral singing was in both cases distinguished by its spirit and good tone. The separate contributions of the orchestra included Hérold's 'Zampa' Overture (conducted by Dr. Burgess), and the Peer Gynt Suite. The soloists were Miss Talbot and Mr. Geoffrey Stephenson (vocalists) and Miss Lushington (violinist).

STOKE-ON-TRENT.-The principal feature of a concert given at King's Hall, on October 24, by the North Staffordshire Orchestra, under Mr. John Cope, was the performance of the March,' Hymn' and 'Carnival' from Mr. Havergal Brian's English Suite.' Its clever and vivid music description of a Wakes was well portrayed by the orchestra. Other numbers in the programme were Beethoven's third Leonora' Overture, the Tannhäuser' Overture, Grieg's Pianoforte concerto (with Miss Tina Lerner as soloist), and vocal contributions by Mr. J. Campbell McInnes.

admirable performance of Gade's 'The Crusaders' was given STOURBRIDGE.-A finely considered and technically by the Stourbridge Concert Society on November 4, under the direction of Mr. George Halford. The singing of the choir was worthy of the choral prestige of Stourbridge, and the work of the soloists-Miss Alice Hare, Mr. Frederick Thomas and Mr. Farrington-reached an appropriate standard. Dvorák's 'New World' Symphony made an excellent companion work to Gade's melodious cantata.

SWANSEA.-The Swansea and District Male-Voice Choir, victors at the recent National Eisteddfod, gave a complimentary concert to their conductor, Mr. L. R. Bowen, on October 24. The programme included Cyril Jenkins's Deep Jordan's banks, Bantock's 'The glories of our blood and State,' Dr. Vaughan Thomas's 'The lost love,' Saint-Saëns's To aviators, and Cook's 'Strike the lyre.' Solos were given by Miss Lottie Thomas, Mr. D. Bodycombe, and Mr. John Thomas (vocalists), and Mr. T. Ivor Owen (pianist).

On October 31 a new opera, Lorenzo Murano,' composed by Edouard Potjès to the libretto by Gustave Toudouze, was succcessfully produced at the Flemish Theatre. Other interesting features of the season have been the first performance of the opera Les Templiers' by the oncefamous composer and pianist Henry Litolff, and the revival

-The

of M. Oscar Roel's 'Pinksternacht. On the latter occasion the dramatic legend La mort du roi Reynaud,' by Louis Delune, was produced, and proved of considerable interest. -The programme of the first Concert Populaire included the Flemish dances by Jan Blockx and an orchestral piece, Hommage à Conscience,' by H. Willems.Société de Zoologie inaugurated the season with a concert devoted to less familiar works by Saint-Saëns, the programme including the March héroïque,' 'La Nuit,' for soprano solo, female chorus, and orchestra, Chanson d'Ancêtre,' for baritone solo, male chorus, and orchestra, and the ode La lyre et le la harpe,' for solo voices, mixed chorus, and orchestra.At the Theatre Royal, Saint-Saëns's opera 'L'Ancêtre' and Debussy's 'L'enfant prodigue' have been given for the first time with great success. Dr. Saint-Saëns, who witnessed the performance, was accorded a great The Flemish Opera recently revived Jan Blockx's 'La fiancée de la mer.'

ovation.

AUGSBURG.

Gabriel Pierné's oratorio François d'Assises' has been given for the first time in Germany. It is an interesting work, and was well received.

BERLIN.

Gustav Mahler's Symphony Das Lied von der Erde' has been given for the first time in Berlin at a concert conducted by Herr Oscar Fried. The work is not a symphony in the traditional sense of the word, but a cycle of six songs to old Chinese words, with orchestra. Though it is not a conspicuous example of Mahler's best work, it contains pages of great interest and originality.Haydn's symphony La Reine' and Mozart's rarely-heard Pianoforte concerto in D major (Krönungs-Concert'), excellently played by Herr Waldemar Litschg, were performed at the first concert of the Königliche-Kapelle (conductor, Dr. Richard Strauss).--Bantock's Sappho Prologue was recently played at a concert of the Neue Berliner Tonkünstlerinnen Orchester.'--Richard Strauss's rarelyheard Violin concerto figured in the programme of a concert given by Fräulein Schuster-Woldau.--The Berliner Mozart Gemeinde gave a fine performance of Mozart's great Mass in C minor.--Handel's oratorio 'Deborah' was given at a concert of the Singakademie (conductor, Professor Georg Schumann).--An interesting orchestral Suite by

Dohnányi was played at a concert conducted by Herr Theodore Spiering.--Cyril Scott's 'Aubade' for orchestra was performed for the first time at the second Symphony Concert of the Blüthner Orchestra (conductor, Herr Siegmund von Hausegger). — -An interesting String quartet by Felix Draeseke and a Divertimento by Joseph Haas were recently brought forward by the Petri Quartet.- -The Sevcik Quartet revived Saint-Saëns's rarely-heard (and only) String quartet at their first concert.- -Sibelius's 'Der Ursprung des Feuers,' for baritone solo, chorus, and orchestra, Bruckner's 'Mitternacht,' and Hugo Kaun's Zigeunertreiben,' were performed for the first time at a concert given by the Berliner Liedertafel. -Auber's opera Masaniello has been revived at the Royal Opera.-Richard Mandl's overture 'Zu einem Gascognischen Ritterspiel' and Smetana's symphonic-poem 'Vysehrad' were included in the programme of the second Philharmonic Concert (conductor, Herr Arthur Nikisch).

BREMEN.

Wolf-Ferrari's opera 'Der Schmuck der Madonna' was recently given for the first time at the Municipal Theatre.'

BRESLAU.

Paul von Klenau's ballad Ebbe Skammelsen,' for baritone and orchestra (soloist, Herr Anton von Rooy), and 'In a summer garden,' by Frederic Delius, were performed for the first time at the first concert of the Breslauer Chor Verein (conductor, Professor Dohrn).

BRUNSWICK.

The feature of the first Symphony Concert of the Court Orchestra was a fine performance of Liszt's symphonicpoem 'Ce q'on entend sur la montagne,' given under the conductorship of Herr Richard Hagel.

BRUSSELS.

Lalo's charming opera Le Roi d'Ys' and Beethoven's Fidelio' were lately revived with great success at the Théâtre Royale de la Monnaie.--On October 25 the first performance in French of Humperdinck's 'Die Königskinder' (Les Enfants-Rois) took place at the same_theatre under the direction of Herr Otto Lohse.--César Franck's Symphony in D minor, Paul Dukas's Scherzo ⚫L'Apprenti Sorcier,' and Rimsky-Korsakoff's 'Schéhérazade' included in the programme of the first Concert Populaire, conducted by M. Sechiari.--The first Concert Ysaye was devoted to works by Mozart, including the sublime 'Requiem.'

BUENOS AYRES.

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The novelties and revivals promised at the Metropolitan Opera House include Walter Damrosch's Cyrano de Bergerac,' Boito's 'Mefistofele,' 'Le Chemineau,' by Xavier Leroux, Mascagni's 'Iris,' and Wolf-Ferrari's 'Il segreto di Susanna.'

PARIS.

HAMBURG.

Max Reger's 'Concerto in the olden style' was performed for the first time (under the composer's direction) at the second concert of the Philharmonische Gesellschaft. The programme of the third concert contained the Marsch der heiligen drei Könige,' from the oratorio 'Christus' by Liszt, Glazounoff's Violin concerto in A minor, and Alexander Ritter's symphonic-poem 'Kaiser Rudolf's Ritt zum Grabe.' At his first orchestral concert Professor Francesco Paolo Neglia produced his Sinfonia Italo-Tedesca.'--Caruso appeared at the Opera House with great success in Carmen,' 'Aïda,' and 'La Traviata.'

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Under the direction of Herr Otto Lohse, Hans Pfitzner's interesting opera 'Die Rose vom Liebesgarten' was given for the first time at the Neues Theater with considerable success. Mahler's fourth Symphony, Walter Braunfels's Overture to E. J. A. Hoffmann's Prinzessin Brambilla,' and Reinecke's beautiful Prelude to the fifth Act of König Manfred' (perhaps his best composition) were performed at the third Gewandhaus concert, under the direction of Herr Nikisch.--French music figured largely in the programme of the first Philharmonic Concert. Homage was done to the memory of Massenet with performances of his Overture to Racine's 'Phèdre' and the Ballet suite 'Le Cid.'Ignaz Brüll's opera 'Das goldene Kreuz' has been revived at the Neues Theater. It was preceded by the first performances of the ballet Les petits riens,' with music by Mozart (written in 1778 for the Paris Grand Opéra).

--Gabriel

On the

Concert. -On October 30 a ballet, 'La Bacchantes,' with interesting music by M. Alfred Bruneau, was produced at the Grand Opéra.La Danseuse de Pompéi,' the new opera-ballet by Jean Nougues, was produced on October 29 at the Opéra-Comique, with great success.— Fauré's Ballade for pianoforte and orchestra, a symphonic piece, Vers la Princesse lointaine,' by Canteloube, and César Franck's symphonic-poem, 'Le chasseur maudit,' were performed at the Colonne Concert on October 27. La Mer,' same day Glazounoff's fantasy for orchestra, and Prélude and Danses from Mariottes's 'Salomé,' were given at the Lamoureux Concert.-M. Gustave Charpentier has been elected for the seat in the Academy left vacant by the death of M. Massenet. In celebration of this event, M. Gabriel Pierné (who was himself a candidate for this honour) performed his beautiful Suite, 'Impressions d'Italie,' at the Colonne Concert on November 3.--Paul Dukas's Symphony in C major was played at the Lamoureux Concert given on the same date. The programme also included Bach's Sinfonia' for the Easter celebrations, Handel's Concerto for two oboes and string orchestra, and Mozart's rarely-heard Linzer Symphony (No. 36).- -Chabrier's 'Gwendoline' and Saint-Saëns's Déjanire' have been revived at the Grand Opéra.

PHILADELPHIA.

Massenet's Cendrillon,' with Miss Maggie Teyte in the principal part, was recently given at the Opera House.

VIENNA.

A new Violin concerto by Weingartner has been produced under the composer's direction at a Philharmonic Concert. Herr Fritz Kreisler, to whom the work is dedicated, played the solo part in masterly style. The work obtained a great success, and both composer and soloist were accorded enthusiastic ovations.

Miscellaneous.

The London Sunday School Choir (founded in 1871) will hold its Spring Musical Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, on Saturday, February 22, 1913, and its next Great Crystal Palace Festival on Wednesday, June 18, 1913. Miss Ruth Vincent and Mr. Robert Radford have been engaged as soloists at the Royal Albert Hall Festival; there will be a full orchestra, and Mr. H. L. Balfour will give organ solos on the great organ.

The Loughton Choral Society and Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Henry Riding, have chosen Mendelssohn's 'St. Paul,' Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on Christmas Carols,' and the concert-version of Planquette's 'Les Cloches de Corneville' as their programme for the season.

The Enniscorthy Choral Union has commenced its Winter session under the conductorship of Mr. E. Challans, organist and choirmaster of St. Mary's. The works selected for practice are T. Mee Pattison's 'The shepherd's holiday' and Percy Fletcher's Choral Fantasia on Lohengrin.'

Mr. Percy A. Scholes, editor of The Music Student, has been appointed a University Extension Lecturer of Oxford University.

During the year that ended on September 30, the Hallé Orchestra Pension Fund was increased by £554 4s. 5d. to £8,577 11s. od.