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Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
February 5 th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
THE HALO AGAIN.—The latest member of " The Halo " Society is Dr.
Leopold Damrosch. A New York critic censured him in the mildest terms
for some deviations from the original score, whereupon the Doctor imme-
DILUTED.—The prospectus of the Cincinnati Opera Festival promised diately rushed into print and wrote a letter " To the Editor," and—makes a
several important works, among others Rossini's opera, " Moses in Egypt " fool of himself. The Marquise de Pompadour once said to a French cabinet
and Beethoven's " Fidelio." Now, " Fidelio " is left out entirely, and from minister: "If you want to be a great man, you must give up vanity."
Rossini's opera only a few scenes are given. The original repertoire has
THEIR OWN WAY.—Mile. Torriani—who, by-the-by, has not left the
been diluted with " Sonnambula" and "Lucia," and that's what Col. Strakosch-Hess troupe, as previously reported—sang, at Memphis, the part
Nichols calls an operatic festival.
of Marguerite in Boito's opera, " Meflstofele," and, according to the Memphis
THE LUCKY MAN.—Wagner is a lucky man. If he is in want of money Avalanche, sang badly. The next day the managers—probably by special
and his supporters are not powerful enough to furnish it, his true friend, the desire of the injured singer—wrote a letter to that paper, in which they
juvenile and eccentric King of Bavaria, conies to his aid and makes up the stated that Mile. Torriani was a great artist, had won the greatest success in
difference out of his own pocket, or out of the pockets of the Bavarian Milan and Naples, and was considered a prima donna of highest rank in
people. Mr. Wagner needed an enormous sum for the production of his Europe. The editor of the Avalanche wisely reproduced the letter in full
" Parsifal " at the Bayreuth Theatre. The German nation failed to respond length, and added the following remarks: " We do not judge by what Mile.
heartily to the invitations of the composer and his followers. The whole Torriani has done in Milan and Naples; we do not care what she is considered
project was endangered. But King Ludwig—impulsive, generous, and in Europe; we never denied that she has held a high position in Italy; we
somewhat of a dreamy idiot—asked: "How much more is needed?" " Only merely said that she sang badly and carelessly on the night of the perform-
$75,000," was the answer. " There it is," he said, and drew a check for the ance here, and that statement we repeat once more." Now, Messrs. Stra-
amount. The King of the Bavarians has nothing else to do but to foster kosch k Hess, put that in your pipe and smoke it, and leave off defending
generous impulses and eccentricity. The old Kaiser cannot be fooled by artists who think themselves outraged by adverse criticism.
Herr Wagner. As reported in our last issue, the composer wished for
THE POWER OF LOVE.—Mr. Rudolph Aronson has written a new valse,
another conductor in Berlin, but Emperor William replied to that arrogance:
" If my conductors are not good enough for Herr Wagner, let him keep his " Louise," which is said to be a companion to " Sweet Sixteen." As we do
' Tetralogy.' " The result is that the Berlin Court Theatre will not perform not wish to believe Mr. Aronson a Don Giovanni, who flirts witli all the
girls he meets, we have reason to believe that the single object of his adora-
the " Nibelungen " at all.
tion inspired him to write both valses. "Louise "is evidently identical
THE OLD QUARREL AGAIN.—In New Orleans, Henry Mapleson fights with "Sweet Sixteen." But, if so, would not one single valse do just as
again with the editors of several newspapers about Bizet's "Carmen," well? It is not well when the power of love becomes too strong, especially
which, he claims, was written for Marie Roze—a statement which the other if it is ventilated in musical compositions.
parties declare incorrect. We think it is time to drop the whole matter.
NATIONALITY.—Somebody wrote, after the performance of " Martha " by
Let Mme. Roze sing the part according to her best ability; whether the role the Abbott English Opera Company, at which Brignoli sang in Italian, that
was written for her or not, is not of the least consequence.
"the fact that Italian opera loses half its charm when rendered in English,
WHAT'S IN A NAME !—A new literary and artistic journal has been started was made painfully apparent by contrast." " Martha " had a German libret-
at Florence under the name of Fra Diavolo. Will the publisher insinuate tist, Friedrich; a German composer, Flotow. Why do the critics call it an
that it will be edited by highwaymen?
Italian opera? Probably they do not know why themselves.
A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE.—From August 24th, 1880, till December 31st,
THE SEASONS.—Joachim Raff, getting old, conceived the unfortunate idea
the entire number of performances at the Royal Opera House, Berlin, was of writing four symphonies describing the seasons. " The Spring" we have
100, the number of works 41. Look how badly we have fared during this heard here, and are glad that the work was shelved soon after the first per-
season in the matter of quantity done, compared with this Berlin repertoire. formance. Nobody dared to perform the " Summer," the score of which is
FLATTERING.—A pianoforte maker in Berlin has received the Nischau long but barren and void of original ideas. Recently the " Autumn " has been
Geftikar order. Whatever that may be, we suppose it is something very published, and the '' Winter " will soon follow. We hope that after having fin-
ished this set, he will conclude that he has fulfilled his mission as a symphonic
nice.
writer, and will give up future attempts. He reached the zenith of his fame in
ENGLAND'S GOOD OPINION or AMERICA.—The musical profession in Lon- "Lenore " and " Irn Walde," and after that his star has been on the wane.
don is raising a fund in behalf of one Frank J. Amor, "to enable him to pro- Inspiration left him, and he worked like a musical joiner, who puts together
ceed to America, where he will have a much greater opportunity of exercising
musical bits, varnishes the surface, and tries to make us believe they
his talents than is possible in this country." So the prospectus says, and little
informs the public at the same time that £150 will be necessary. Mr. Amor are new.
GOOD ADVICE.—Puck, our lively, humorous contemporary, proposes a
is a pianist and accompanist. They want to get rid of him in London, and
try to send him to our country. Very thankful for the good opinion they musical Quarantine to prohibit the increasing importation of composers,
have of the elasticity of the United States, but should they repeat these pro- musicians, singers, conductors, and other musical offenders. If immigra-
ceedings very often, the members of the profession would very likely object. tion continues on the same scale as during the last five years, the profes-
If Mr. Amor amounts to anything he will be welcomed here ; if he is a nin- sional talent of New York will be doomed to starvation. Every block has
compoop, we are afraid the sum of £150 will not be large enough to make for its two singers and three players, four singing teachers, and six "pro-
his stay in America a success. According to the list of subscribers in the fessors " of instrumental music.
Musical World of Jan. 15th, the exact amount of the subscription was £54 GREAT PROJECTS.—Maurice Strakosch not only travels through Germany
12s. 6d. It will probably be a long time before we have the pleasure of as Miss Thursby's manager, but seems to have in view the most complicated
shaking hands with Mr. Amor on American soil.
projects for the future. From Prague the report came that he had engaged
WHAT A PITY.—The London Figaro publishes the following item, which several artists with whom to perform, in America, Wagner's " Nibelungen."
of course will fill the citizens of the United States with regret : " Mr. J. H. Even some names of singers were given. The latest announcement is that
Mapleson, besides his commission as Lieut.-Colonel of the Tower Hamlets he has made arrangements with the manager of the Leipsic Stadt Theatre to
Rifle Volunteers, held a commission as Captain in the Honorable Artillery take his troupe to London to give representations of the " Tetralogy." Of
Company. The captaincy was subjected to revision every few years, and the course we must wait for more reliable statements before we can give these
members of the company have taken the opportunity to treat Mr. Mapleson enterprises closer attention. Maurice Strakosch is an amiable man, but too
as an absentee, and to elect some other gentleman to the post. Indeed, the impulsive, and may destroy the next morning what he built up on the pre-
Captain of the Honorable Artillery Company has long been merged in the vious evening.
Lieut.-Colonel of Volunteers.
NOTHING NEW?—Signor Tagliapietra, who returned to this city after a
PROMISES.—Mr. Alexander, the director of what is called the New York protracted absence of several months, made his debut at one of the Sunday
College of Music, promises to add to the main building of the college a new concerts at the Metropolitan Concert Hall, and sang Faure's " Les Ram-
concert hall for chamber music. This hall is to be built in the spring, but eaux," and the " Toreador Song " from " Carmen." Would not Signor Taglia-
pietra kindly study some new songs, to bring a little variety into his reper-
we must see it first, in order to believe it.
THE DIFFERENCE OF A FLAT.—A Rive-King Concert was announced at a toire? The two songs named, and Mattel's " Non e ver," are about every-
small place in Hlinois. Said a " professor of music " to a well-bred farmer : thing the Signor has offered to the public of New York. He sings very
"Are you going to-night?" The farmer replied : " I guess not; those nicely, but toujoursperdrix is unwholesome.
opus things Mrs. King plays, I do not see much in them." Whereupon the
Professor Robert Spice delivered a lecture on " Music " on Saturday
•' professor" said : " You must go and hear good music as often as possible,
to get a musical education and enlarge your musical knowledge." The night, Jan. 22, in Cooper Union, before a large audience. He talked in a
farmer went to the concert. On the programme was Chopin's "Valse" in popular way of the various kinds of musical compositions, explained the
A flat, but as unfortunately in the artist's room there was a different pro- peculiarities of a fantasia, sonata, gavotte, etc., and illustrated his observa-
gramme, Mme, Rive"-King utterly unaware of the change, played her own tions with musical performances upon the concertina and piano, being
transcription of Strauss' " Vienna Bonbons." It happened that beside the assisted by E. L. Merriam and Mrs. Mayland. The Amphion Quartette, of
knowledge-seeking farmer sat a man who knew the Chopin "Valse," and Brooklyn, also participated in the entertainment and brought it to a close
said loudly : " Why ! That's not the waltz in A flat!" The farmer did not with a Christmas carol.
say a word. The next morning he met the " professor," and asked him with
Mr. John H. Starin has engaged Mr. M. J. Joyce and his new Seventy-
an indignant mien : " Now, tell me ,; look at this programme ; did she play first Regiment Band to give promenade concerts at Glen Island the ensuing
that Opus in A flat ?" The "professor" had to answer in the negative, season. These concerts will include several artists, among others the Bent
whereupon the farmer broke out: " Then how shall I be educated, when I brothers, cornet soloists.
go to hear A flat and do not hear it, but some other flat." Tableau !
Miss Markstein, assisted by other artists, gave a concert to the Blackwell's
COME AND LEARN.—Mr. J. C. Duff claims that his performance of Island convicts on Friday afternoon, Jan. 28th, under the auspices of the
" Olivette," at the Park Theatre, is in strict accordance with the views of the Charity Commissioners.
author and the composer. If this manager is right we ought to invite
Artists are at work on the scenery for the Cincinnati Mucic Hall for the
Messrs. Chivot Duru and Audran to come to New York and learn how to Mapleson opera season. The stage will be 60 feet deep and 110 feet wide.
effectively produce their own work. One evening at the Bijou Opera House The distance to the top of the curtain will be 45 feet. From the stage to
might indeed repay them for the trouble of a sea trip and might enlarge the ceiling it will be 64 feet. The width of the curtain will be 60 feet. The
their views in regard to their work ; but if their ideas are really carried out in stage will be the largest in the world after that of La Scala, Milan. The
the performance at the Park Theatre, they deserve failure.
curtain will be 60 feet long by 45 feet in height. The scenery and appur-
DULCKEN.—Ferdinand Dulcken, the composer and accompanist, who tenances will be permanent. They are, however, made in such condition
recently composed a " Hungarian Fantaisie" for piano and orchestra, had and shape that they can be removed and packed away. The scenery is to
become quite a celebrity among western connoisseurs. One man expressed be made fire proof. (This news evidently coming from the committee of the
his satisfaction by saying to Dulcken's manager : " That little fat man with festival, must be accepted with due reserve. ED. MUSICAL OBITIO AND TRADBI
REVIEW).
the aore finger is a ' whooper !' "
INDIVIDUALITIES.