THE
J Ifcrnl (Mk &
With which is incorporated THE MUSIC TRADE JOURUAL.
YOL. III.
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 5TH, 1880.
No. 5
known. It is not an easy task to create a chorus, able to sing great works,
THE MUSICAL SEASON.
at a moment's notice, and it is not unlikely that the new chorus will only
N a few days the musical season of 1880-81 will be inaugurated, and it help in the Philharmonic concerts during the first season.
looks as if it would be a very lively musical season, Preparations of
Pianists are in this country in abundance. The new comer, Mr. Con-
unusual strength are being made, and if only part of all that is promised will staatin Sternberg, is the first who enters the arena. His debut will be ex-
actually be given, we can claim for New York the title of one of the musical pected with eagerness, and his playing will be severely criticised, for our
centres on the globe.
public is not very lenient towards new-comers. Mr. Rafael Joseffy and
The Italian Opera season begins on the 18th of this month. While we Franz Rummel will make their appearance in orchestral concerts and recitals,
are writing this article no prospectus has been yet issued; consequently we and Mme Constance*Howard, Miss Florence Copleston, and Miss Anna Bock,
feel confident that not too much is to be expected. Managers do not hold are booked for a number of piano recitals.
back when great attractions are in store for their patrons, and we have not
is going to perform under Duff's management; Mme. Rive-
heard of any lady singers besides the names of Etelka Gerster and Annie King Wilhelmj
and company will appear during the season. Mr. Henschel, the ora-
Louise Cary. Both artists are very valuable members of an opera company, torio singer,
will be a welcome addition to our vocal talent, and many other
and the Hungarian prima donna will render her former triumphs in players and singers
are on the lists of Stein way and Chickering Halls.
"Lucia," " Somnambula," and "Puritani." The question is, "Will the pub-
end of the season a grand musical festival will be held at the Ar-
lic be satisfied with the old repertoire, and will not a different kind of opera be mory At of the
the Seventh Regiment. We shall speak about this festival at a later
demanded ?" Since Mr. Mapleson has manipulated in America, the public day. Even
without it the musical season could be called rich and interest-
demanded a dramatic prima donna. Minnie Hauk in this capacity was not ing.
accepted, and Mme. Swift was not recognized at all as a dramatic singer.
When Mapleson left the country in April he promised Christine Nilsson, but
RELIABLE MANAGERS.
this lady has declined with thanks, and we have not received any information
UCH has been said and written about the value of contracts among the
that she has been replaced. So we are led to believe that the whole strength
musical profession, and it is generally considered an established fact that
of the season will rest again on the shoulders of Mme. Gerster, and on the
new opera by Boito, "Mefistofele." If Mapleson would give us more we managers, if business is bad, either do not pay at all, or try to effect a comprise
should be astonished and agreeably disappointed. His ensemble will be with their artists and cancel their contracts in an amicable way. We do not
good, as far as Arditi is able, to put inferior singers in positions where they know of Mr. Mapleson's way of doing business ; there is a mystery no out-
can shine to advantage. Campanini, Del Puente and Galassi will re-appear, sider can unveil. Mr. Mapleson is right; it does not concern the public
and some representations of merit may be anticipated. How long the inter- whether his artists sing for him for love or money, so long as they do sing.
est for Italian opera can be kept alive will depend on the success of Gerster Max Strakosch, when he has a very bad season, and sees that by unforseen
and Boito's opera. There are people who will listen to Donizetti and Bellini circumstances, for instance in case of sickness of a leading prima donna, he
for awhile longer. We do not know whether the number is strong enough would lose a fortune should he continue, tries to settle with his artists, and
always knows how se tirer de Vaffaire in a gentlemanly manner. Fryer, when
to carry the longest part of the season.
undertakes an enterprise breaks up when he pleases, and nobody feels
Max Strakoschjhas given up his former vocation and has become mana- he
surprised. Singers, who sign contracts with him, know beforehand that
ger of English Opera in connection with Mr. C. D. Hess. He opens on the Fryer
no funds; consequently cannot be responsible for salaries, if the
3d of November in Providence, and will not reach New York before March. public has
does
support the enterprise. As a rule, we hardly think that
Unfortunately he has selected the Fifth Avenue theatre for his performances, managers pay not
if
business
does not warrant an outlay, and contracts virtually
a place which is not fitted at all for spectacular opera. As Mr. Strakosch in- lose their meaning. We thought
about that when we heard about the break-
tends to produce " Aida " and " Mefistofele," we do not see how his perform- up
of Jarrett and Gulick's "Musical Phalanx" about three weeks ago.
ances can be digestible on the comparatively small stage of the Fifth Avenue Messrs.
Jarrett & Gulick entered into a partnership for a musical traveling
theatre, even with the best artists in the world. The entire company has combination,
which they called " The Musical Phalanx." Jarrett is the
never been mentioned by the managers. We have heard that Marie Roze, well-known manager
of " Cinderella," formerly connected with the late Harry
Carrington, Gaylord, and many other prime donne have been engaged; that Palmer, lessee of Booth's
theatre, and the excursion boat "Plymouth Rock."
Byron, Carlton and Conly will belong to the troupe; that Behrens and De Gulick was for years in the
artists' department of Frank Leslie's publishing
Novellis will be the musical directors; but a complete list has not been given house. Jarrett is supposed
to be a man of means ; Gulick is known as a
out. We suppose that we shall hear about it soon enough.
poor devil. Those two men entered into partnership, the special terms of
The Abbott Opera Company will play some weeks at the Fifth Avenue which are not known to us. It is said that Gulick conceived the idea of this
theatre. The performances of this company do not exactly belong to the " Phalanx," proposed it to Jarrett, who was pleased with the scheme and
musical season; they are patronized by church members, who have sur- concluded to go into it. While Jarrett undertook the financial management
rounded Miss Emma Abbott with a kind of ill-fitting halo. Opera-habitues Gulick took care of the musical affairs. About the last days of May Jarrett
avoid the Abbott performances very carefully, especially on evenings when went to Europe, and Gulick engaged the company, comprising five solo sing-
the star is billed. We cannot blame them. It is very hard for us to listen ers, a chorus, orchestra ; about seventy people in all. Mr. Jarrett, returning
to the singing of Honest Emma. The bright features of the troupe are Mme. in July, heard the singers, and only then the contracts were signed for the
Rosewald, Mme. Seguin, and the new baritone, James.
whole season. Rehearsals were daily held for several weeks, and on Monday,
Many other opera troupes are in the field : the French troupe, under Sept. 13, the company opened at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and was
the management of Maurice Grau ; the Boston Ideal Opera Company ; the booked at that house for the entire week. On Wednesday morning, the 15th,
Blanche Boosevelt troupe; the Malm Comic Opera Company; the " Deseret " Jarrett sent word to the members of the troupe that the season has to be
troupe, which will perform Dudley Buck's opera, under Hart Jackson's man- considered closed, as the enterprise promised not to be successful. The
agement ; but all these troupes can hardly add to the splendor of New York's members of the troupe were not willing to believe this message, but further
musical season. They will perform here for a week each, and then run inquiries confirmed the news. Of course soloists, musicians and choristers
through the country till the end of the season or till—they break up on ac- felt indignant, and swore vengeance ; but indignation and vengeance do not
count of financial embarrassments on the part of managers, who are unable to procure salaries, and it seems the only redress is the court-room. But now
we ask, "Are the managers, Jarrett and Gulick, entitled to ignore their sig-
keep pay-days regularly.
The stronghold of our musical season is to be looked for in the concert nature without compromising with their artists ? Or were the contracts signed
enterprises. The Philharmonic Society, under the direction of Theodore on the part of the managers with the intention of defrauding these poor peo-
Thomas, and the Symphony Society, under Dr. Damrosch, have become rival ple, who thought they had found employment for the entire season ?" Mr.
institutions, at least as far as conductors are concerned. The members of the Jarrett should have considered the outlay of the enterprise and the possible
orchestras are nearly the same in both societies, with the slight difference that receipts beforehand ; he is considered an experienced manager, but in this
while being shareholders in the receipts of the Philharmonic, they are paid case he acted like a stupid boy, who never had anything to do in his life with
for their services by the Symphony Society ; consequently the financial suc- the show business. We hope that the disappointed members of the defunct
cess of the latter does not concern them one way or the other. The rivalry company will find means and ways to make Mr. Jarrett pay them part of their
between Thomas and Damrosch will do a great deal of good, and our public contract. There is a law in the United States, and managers can be forced
will derive a benefit from it, provided the competition does not take the to comply with their part of the contract, just as artists, who are inclined to
shape of personal ambition. It is useless trying to outflank a competitor by be rebellious, can be brought to reason. Mr. Jarrett has lost the reputation
little tricks, which will do harm to the performances, and it would be equally of being called a reliable manager, and will henceforth be counted among
foolish if one would attempt to outdo the other. Let both men stand on the class of fellows who sign agreements without the least scruple. We know
their individual merits ; they can be satisfied with those, and their individu- that some of the artists could have accepted other engagements, which now,
alistic qualities differ so widely that they never need to clash. We suppose of course, are lost to them. Is it unreasonable to ask that they should be
that the programmes of both societies will be very strong and bring out many indemnified in one way or the other ?
novelties.
There are a series of orchestral concerts announced to take place during
GOLDSTEIN.—A young man by the name of Max Goldstein, who form-
the winter season under the direction of Mr. Gotthold Carlberg, but par-
ticulars about this enterprise have not been mentioned yet. We have reason erly wrote here for German newspapers, and for a short time was editor of
to believe that these concerts too will have a symphonic character. The the German Musikzeitung, which he buried about a year ago, has become
Oratorio Society will give three concerts, and several other choral organiza- editor of a Berlin musical paper, to be bought out in October. In New
tions are preparing entertainments of more modest character. What the chorus, York he had become impossible; we are glad that he found a permanent
now forming under direction of Mr. Thomas, will do this winter, is not position in the capital of the German Empire.
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