December 2oth, 1880.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
INDIVIDUALITIES.
THE NEW OPERA HOUSE.
M
UCH talk has been had of late about the new opera house, which is to be
built somewhere in New York—nobody seems to know exactly where and
How SUCCESS CHANGES THE CHAK- when. When the charter was taken many mouths ngo, the opera house was
ACTER!—Mr. Rudolf Bial, the favorite to be erected immediately, although we doubted, that it were possible, to
conductor at the Concert Hall in build a magnificent opera house with all modern stage improvements for the
Twenty-third Street, told us once amount then stated ; we think $600,000 was mentioned as the capital
about a little singer, who sang in necessary for the purpose The site for the new opera house was ou Mad-
Berlin under his management at ison Avenue, opposite the Grand Central Depot. Mr. Vanderbilt, the party
Kroll's Theatre. She arrived at the who took the principal interest in the scheme, went to Europe in the spring,
German capital utterly unknown, and and of course, during his absence, nothing further was heard about the
was a modest girl, who hardly dared opera house up-town. Suddenly it leaked out, that another great scheme,
to speak a word. She appeared, and in which Mr. Vanderbilt was interested, had collapsed, we mean the Barnum
did not make a success.
At her Museum Company, which was to build an exhibition palace, concert garden,
fourth representation the Emperor opera house, menagerie, and many other sources of entertainment on the
heard her, liked her, and she became flat, where formerly the depot of the New Haven R. R. stood, better known
the rage of Berlin.
The success in after years as Gilmore's or Madison Square Garden. The Company
turned the girl's head, she became wanted a capital of three millions, and it seems, people refused to
imperious, dissatisfied with her sur- invest their money. Fact is, that P. T. Barrium, manager and president o'f
roundings, and quarelled continually the company withdrew, and the whole scheme fell through.
The mo-
.with her manager, who felt relieved ment this was known, Col. Mapleson saw a chance, to talk about a new
when the season was over.
This opera house, and readily informed some interviewers, that the stockholders
happened not quite four years ago, of the Academy of Music intended to build a new house on the ground of the
1
"
and the girl's name was Etelka Gers- Madison Square Garden. Mapleson is a man, who wants to have his finger in
ter. The lady came to New York under the guidance of her husband, Dr. Carlo everybody's pie, and even, if he has no intention at all, lie likes to talk about it
Gardini two years ago ; and not quite sure of her American reception, was in order to give himself importance. Only recently he said, that he had made
modest and amiable. She was then badly paid, and behaved exceedingly so much money this season, that now the future of the new opera house on
well. This season, however, she is in a continuoixs excitement about the Thames Embankment, in London, is assured. There may be a few
the most trifling circumstances. She feels her importance, and at the same people who believe that, but, as a rule, Col. Mapleson's rodomontades have
time may be aware that her voice is on the decline ; and to hide her true lost their weight. If really the manager made so much money in New York,
state of feeling, she begins to annoy her husband, her manager, and all who there are certain people in London, who will have more interest in this news
come in contact with her. If Mine. (.ierster would consider, that probably than New Yorkers can show. But it is queer, that the very moment Maple-
this season is her last one in America ; that next winter her voice will have son bragged in New York about his means to complete the house in London,
lost the present remainder of its former charm and splendor, she would do a London contemporary published the following significant lines: " People
well and act wisely not to play with fire. It might happen one fine morning have ceased even to mention the new opera house on the Embankment,
that her manager was not willing any more to put up with his prima donna's which some time ago was promised for the end of this year. The share-
caprices, and then—what would become of Mme. Gerster-Gardini ?
holders sometimes speak of it, but in an undertone, and with a significant
motion of buttoning their pockets." This statement does not look very en-
WHICH IS HIS NATIONALITY ?—Southern contemporaries call our friend couraging for the London opera house, and we have to expect some more re-
Ferdinand Dulcken an Englishman. Is this really true ? We always liable news, than Mr. Mapleson's words, before we can regard its completion
thought him a good-natured German. He may have been born in England, as an assured fact. However that may be, Mr. Mapleson here invented
but so was Hummel, and nevertheless this excellent pianist never claimed to some stories about the stockholders of our Academy of Music, and after-
belong under Great Britain's flag.
wards it turned out, that these gentlemen were entirely ignorant of anything,
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.—On one of those rare occasions during our the manager has stated. But there is a screw loose somewhere in the new
present opera campaign, when " Lucia" was being represented, Ravelli sang opera house scheme.
Edgnrdo. One critic told his readers the morning following the perform-
stockholders of the Academy seem to be afraid of the new comple-
ance that Signor Ravelli was so hoarse that he hardly could bring out a tion, The
should it really come into existence, and the shareholders of the new
tone, and had to force his phrases, in a manner which made the organ weak, concern
to be equally afraid of the old rival, the Academy. The site
and flattened every note. Other critics simply said : " Signor Ravelli sang opposite seem
Grand Central Depot is considered too far uptown, and the
in his accustomed admirable style." How can a singer, who is hoarse, sing ground of the
the Madison Square Garden is proposed by some, who think this
in admirable style V We do not know ; and surely Signor Ravelli does not site the more
although the more expensive. Reporters have run
know himself. Difference of opinion may exist; but to call a strained tone, from Pontio to advisable,
Pilato, and could not find anything out which looks reliable.
-caused through indisposition, admirable style, is too much for our under- The stockholders
of the Academy of Music declare themselves satisfied with
standing.
their house; the shareholders of the new opera house are sure that the
How MUCH BETTER OFF.—Bianca Lablanche (recte Blanche Davenport) house will be built, and Mr. Vanderbilt has given orders to r pair the Mad-
since her return to Italy met with success in Naples, where she appeared in ison Square Garden, that it can be used for concerts, fairs, walking matches,
" Traviata," and is to sing " Mignon," " Carmen " and " Purita ii." If Mile. etc. This latter statement is correct, and consequently we are sure, that the
Lablanche can sing these parts in Italy with success, she had better remain there new opera house is not to be built on that ground. But where it is going to be,
forever, for she is much better off there than in her own country. We have and when it is going to be, nobody seems to know, except Col. J. H. Maple-
heard her Traviata in Booth's Theatre, New York, and must come to the conclu- son, who is so clever, that he is not only aware of his own state of affairs,
sion that the Naples publ.c is very lenient in its demands. Leniency is a but entirely conversant with the plans and arrangements of other parties.
virtue which we may acquire in time, but cannot boast of just at present.
To hear Mapleson talk, one would think, that Mr. Wm. H. Vanderbilt
had taken the English manager into his confidence, and intrusted him with
GUMBERT.—Miss Thursby sang in Berlin Mozart's Aria: " Mia Speranza his business secrets. We wonder, that Mr. Mapleson never volunteered his
adorata," and Fedinand Gumbert, the writer of trashy songs and hackneyed advice in regard to the Ne >v York Central Railroad.
musical articles gushed about this Aria, which he insists upon, "should be
repeated at every concert under all circumstances." Maurice Strakosch was of
GERMAN MUSICIANS IN LONDON.—The Langham Hall, near the Langham
^course, wise enough, to follow his own counsel and the advice of old fool
Gumbert, who lives longer than his songs, was not heeded. We can imagine, Hotel, in London, which has for some time past had a struggle for existence,
how Gumbert in despair went to his bachelor's quarters, wept for five min- has been purchased by the German Athenaeum, a powerful body of German
musicians resident in London. The place will be almost entirely recon-
utes, and then took a glass of milk, to soothe his irritated feelings.
structed, and, together with the present premises of the Athenicum adjoining
LATE COMERS.—The manager and the few patrons of the Italian opera per- it, will, at a cost of over $30,000, be formed into a first-class club with a
formances, who are punctual and in their seats when the orchestra strikes the private concert hall.
first chord complain about the late comers, who destroy the effect of the first
MEYERBEER.—In all probability the contemplated erection of a statue to
act generally; these late comers blame the manager for not furnishing more
means of entrance to the house. As long as they reproach each other, noth- Rouget de l'lsle, the inspired author of the stirring melody which has played
ing is to fear. Should, however, Mapleson open three doors instead of one, such a leading part in French history for well-nigh a century past, will lead
he would find out that the same disturbance during the first act will take to the production of a hitherto unpublished musical work, composed by
Meyerbeer.
place as before. It's fashionable.
ERKEL,.—Franz Erkel is at an opera, Szl-Istvan, for the opening of the
Too ENTHUSIASTIC.—It is proposed by some enthusiasts in London to
invite Johannes Brahms to be joint conductor of the Philharmonic Concerts New Opera house, Pesth.
with Dr. Cusins. Cusins is a bad conductor, it is true, but Brahms is not
AUER.—Leopold Auer, of St. Petersburgh, will give in January two
much better. Why import another German to England, to create ill feeling Quartette Evenings at Vienna.
among the native musicians ? Nobody will object to Hans Richter, but
CHORUS SINGERS.—The directors of the Academia di Santa Cecilia and
many will have reason to find fault with Brahms.
those of the Leceo Musicale, Rome, have agreed to establish conjointly a
NOT QUITE PRECISE.—Capt. Armit, the manager pro tempore of Her singing school to train chorus-singers for the Teatro Apollo.
Majesty's theatre, London, sent the following to the leading musical critics :
EXCHANGE OF SINGERS.—Mdlle. Bianchi is engaged in February at St.
'' DEAR SIK : I shall be very pleased to see you here on Wednesday
morning at 1 o'clock, when there will be a full rehearsal of Mattei's new work, Petersburgh, and during her absence Mdme. Schuch-Proska, of Dresden,
takes her place at the Imperial Opera house, Vienna.
•* Maria di Gand.' "
The hour, of course, was meant for the afternoon, but opera managers
HAUK.—Minnie Hauk has drawn crowded houses at the Stadt theatre,
should be correct in the wording of their invitations.
Cologne.
Too HONEST.—One of the principal virtues of a piano teacher is punctu-
GKNEROUS.—The Municipality of Rome have paid the enterprising
ality and regularity in his lessons. Mr. Rafael Joseffy for several Sundays proprietor a premium of 50,000 francs on the completion of the Teatro Cos-
informs his pupils, through the advertising columns of the Herald, that they tanzi.
have to change the day of their instruction. If Mr. Joseffy's other engage-
CONSERVATORY.—At Hoch's Conservatory, Frankfort-on-the-Maine, the
ments will force him to these changes, he would act more wisely to use the
United States mail, and in this way keep these irregularities private. Of winter term began with 170 students of both sexes. There is a staff of 20
<-ourse, the present modus operand i suits Mr. Alexander best; for it brings teachers.
Joseffy in connection with the College of Music—a connection which other-
GKAMMANX.—Carl Grammann's "Melusine " will be performed in Feb-
wise seems to be verv loose.
ruary at the Teatro Reggio, Turin.