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THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
December 20th, 1881.
\iter I agreed to pay your usual price for each
sson, by which arrangement you had no pecmni-
,ry loss, I expected you to devote more time to tha
VIEW recently, that he would positively bring out
:ollege than one hour a week; but still, after you
"L'Africaine," "Fidelio," and "Taming of the
-old me that your time was being rapidly taken up
Shrew" in February. The former, according to
VIGOROUS COMMENTS ON HIS ATTACK ON
>y old pupils, I had to submit to this arrange-
the Colonel, will cost 312,000 for its production,
AMERICAN CONSERVATORIES.
ment, although I gave you twice the amount for a
and will be the finest thing in the operatic line
lesson that I received from the pupils. But that
«ver seen in this country. The Colonel added that
all the promises he had made in regard to his sea- IRRANI'S RELATIONS TO THE NBW YORK COLLEGE you should even withdraw from giving this one-
OF Music AND H I S CORRESPONDENCE WITH
hour lesson, because you may lose a pupil at home,
son would be kept.
LOUIS ALEXANDER—EMPHATIC E X -
is something which I did not expect from you.
A POSTHUMOUS OPERA.—Francesco Lucca has
PRESSIONS OP OPINION BY
The reputation of the school, which counts
purchased the manuscript of the lately-discovered
DIRECTORS.
.mong its pupils members of the best New York
posthumous opera by Donizetti," II Duca d'Alba."
'amilies, will be seriously injured if it becomes
The work itself is not entirely completed, but the
known that we advertised professors who are not
indications set by Donizetti make it quite easy for HPHE criticisms of Signor Achilla Err&ni, on connected with the school; besides, I have always
an expert to follow in the channel of the com- JL American Conservatories of Music, published made it my rule not to promise to the public more
poser's intentions. What value another opera by in the last number of THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND than I am able to fulfill. You will understand
Donizetti can have in these days, when that school TRADE REVIEW, have made a decided sensation in how embarrassing it is for me, and if you can sug-
of opera is gradually but surely disappearing, it musical circles. Signor Errani, it will be remem- est what is to be done in this matter you will
bered, made some disparaging remarks about the
is rather difficult to surmise.
New York College of Music, with which he was greatly oblige,
Most respectfully,
NILSSON.—The prima donna had great public for a time identified, and said that American
Louis ALEXANDER.
receptions wherever she visited in Sweden. The musical conservatories were simply schemes for
demonstrations assumed the form of popular dis- private speculation.
" Here is Errani's reply, short and sweet:"
plays and consisted of decorations, garlands, ad-
TALK WITH LOUIS ALEXANDER.
OCTOBER 16.
dresses, memorials, etc.
A reporter of THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE Mr. Alexander :
A GREAT PRIMA DONNA.—Materna, who is to REVIEW called recently on the directors of musical
DEAR SIR—I have given so many lessons as I
sing at the New York May Festival, under Theo. conservatories in this city to obtain an expression ould at your college. Now I cannot come there
Thomas' direction, was born in Styria. She made of their opinions on the subject. The sentiment to teach any more. I have nothing else to say.
her first public appearance in Gratz in 1864. The of all was that Signor Errani had made a serious
Respectfully,
greatest success she obtained was in Yienna, at mistake in attacking American musical conserva-
A. ERRANI.
the Imperial Opera House, in 1869, where she made tories in general, and the New York College of
" There you have the whole matter," continued
her debut as Selika in "L'Africaine." Her Brun- Music in particular. The reporter called first on
hilde in Wagner's opera has become world-renowned Mr. Louis Alexander, Director of the New York Mr. Alexander. " I would like to know how this
ever since the " Nibelungen Tetralogy" was given College of Music, and obtained from him an in- conservatory can be simply a business speculation
at Bayreuth in 1876. She sang with great success teresting statement in regard to the relations of when a professor receives six dollars an hour for
teaching here, while we receive only a dollar and »
at the Wagner Concerts, Albert Hall, London, in Signor Errani to that institution.
half. I am glad that Errani has severed his con-
1877. Her husband is Karl Friedrich, a German
" I engaged Errani," said Mr. Alexander, "for nection with the college, as I only like to deal with
actor.
this season to give lessons to pupils in the college. a man whose word is as binding as a written con-
When I offered him the position which would
A PROMISING MUSICIAN.—J. Jarvis Butler is a yield him $6.00 an hour, while we received only tract. I don't blame him for being opposed to the
talented young organist of Baltimore. He play $1.50 an hour from a student, he accepted the college, as we have lots of students who have
at the Brown Memorial Church. Although he is offer. The engagement was accepted last sum- studied in Leipsic and Stuttgart conservatories,
able to perform the many embellished compositions mer. I had been with him in the Catskills during and they are perfectly satisfied with the New York
of the modern school, he adheres to the stric the season, and often laid before him my plans in College of Music, but wouldn!t go to a man who
charges six dollars for one hour's service, as they
classical style of organ playing, and whenever
they are opportune, plays works by Bach and regard to the college. These we discussed to- think that is more than money-making,—that it
Handel. He intends to go to Boston soon, am gether. It was understood that he should be at even beats speculation."
remain there some time for the purpose of prose liberty to do as he pleased in his department of
Signor Errani thinks American conservatories
vocal instruction. This liberty I was willing to of ' music
cuting his studies.
do not compare favorably with European
accord to him, for I knew he was a perfect gentle conservatories,"
suggested the reporter.
A FRIEND IN NEED.—Joachim Raff from the ver; man; and so I left everything to him. Well, we
"
Oh
!
Errani
says so ? Well, that settles it, of
first has been a prolific composer, and many of hi parted good friends, and he promised to look out course. I might mention some names, however,
now celebrated works were written in his youth for everything. I told him at the time that my among our professors who are quite as well known
The German publishers would not even look at ambition was to have a true school of music in as Errani. In the choral department are Theo-
his productions until Mendelssohn, in 1843, wrote this country, and that we would be regardless o dore Thomas, conductor, and George F. Bristow;
to his own publisher in behalf of Raff, and hi cost in carrying out this aim. Errani decided to in the piano department, Hubert de Blanc and
give lessons in the New York College of Music, in Miss Florence Copleston; Cav. Luigi Meola, in the
popularity dates from that event.
September, at the price named. At the proper vocal department,and Carl C. Muller in the theory
FOR THE CRITICS.—Mile. Vachot desires it to b< time I advertised him in the newspapers as engaged and harmony department. Then we have ten mem-
known that she has never before sung in Italian by the college as first singing teacher. Bu bers of the New York Philharmonic Society who
and that she did not expect to be " billed" as
Errani was not satisfied with this, and his wife give instruction on the violin, violoncello, and other
star of the first magnitude.
wanted inserted in the advertisement, after Errani's instruments. The conservatory is four years old,
name, ' Teacher of Minnie Hauk, Emma Thursby and during that period we have received the con-
Marie Louise Durand, and Stella Bonheur.' I did stant patronage of the best families of the city, and
not like to do this, as I thought it would be in our pupils have shown the effect of our training
MISS EELLOGG'S FUTURE HUSBAND.
poor taste for a college of music to advertise om in a very gratifying manner. Errani says that a
piLARA LOUISA KELLOGG, while at St. Paul of its professors in that manner. Finally, I let i
\J
on Nov. 20th, invited the members of he go in the papers, as I could not help myself. pupil in one room is disturbed by the exercises in
company to seats at her table, and at the prope Errani, therefore, authorized me to advertise him the next room. Let me show you the building, and
time called upon them to congratulate her upon as teaching pupils in the New York College of you can judge for yourself."
The reporter was then conducted through tha
her engagement to Mr. T. B. Whitney of Philadel- Music, and to take students for him. I gave
phia, which has since been formally announced in Errani students, but he said that he could only spacious conservatory, and visited the pleasant
rooms in which the classes met. In the rooms in
New York.
take one. Then, hoping that he would receive
Mr. Whitney travelled with the company th more pupils as he became pleased with the work- which each pupil was receiving instruction, Mr.
first fortnight. He first met Miss Kellogg whil ings of the college, I gave him one student. Her Alexander entered with the reporter and asked the
abroad, and the courtship was carried on in Sara is a receipt, $6 an hour for one week. After giv professor in charge whether he was annoyed by
toga, last summer. The marriage will be solemn ing several lessons more, Errani sent me the fol the exercises in the adjoining room. In each
instance the professor, without knowing the drift
ized at the close of Miss Kellogg's present engage lowing letter:"
of the question, answered immediately that he
ment, in the latter part of March, in New York
OCTOBER 5.
was not.
Miss Kellogg has sold her villa on the Hudson Dear Mr. Alexander :
The rooms are well adapted for that special in-
and intends building a home in New Hartford
As my old pupils have come back to take thei; struction to the pupils which can be obtained at
Conn., but Mr. and Mrs. Whitney will live abroa
lessons, I am compelled to stop to teach at presen the conservatory, as no lessons are given there in
the greater part of the time.
classes. The room occupied by Signor Errani was
It was reported in a western paper that Mr, at your college.
With kind regards, truly yours,
separated from the adjoining room by a door
Whitney got into a disgraceful' row with a hack-
ACHILLE ERRANI.
covered by a partition. Between these is sawdust,
man in Chicago recently, in which John soundlj
" I immediately sat down and wrote a letter t( which, Mr. Alexander said, deadened effectively the
whipped the $4,000,000 lover of the fair cantatrice,
sound of the exercises in the next room.
A constable was also said to have received a hand Errani, of which the following is a copy:"
some contribution for suppressing an ' ' actionable
MR. EBERHARD'S POINTED REMARKS.
OCTOBER 6.
affair of Mr. Whitney's"
Signor A. Errani :
Ernst Eberhard, Director of the Grand Conser-
A reporter of the MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRAD]
DEAR SIR—Your kind favor came to hand, an vatory of Music, was next asked his opinion of
REVIEW called recently at the Everett House, when finds me entirely unable to comprehend its mean Signor Errani's statements in regard to American
Mr. Whitney was then stopping, to get his. versioi ing, as I considered your word and promise as conservatories of music.
of the matter. Mr. Whitney had then gone to hi binding as a written contract. You will kindly
" I think," said Mr. Eberhard, with emphasis,
club, but on returning and learning that a reporte remember that you authorized me to publish you "that, like all other music teachers of the same
had called to see him he took the first train fo: name in our circulars and the newspapers as th kind, Errani is erratic, and talks about a thing of
Philadelphia.
leading professor of the singing department for thi which he knows nothing. He can't inform himself
Mr. Whitney is said to be insignificant physically season. You furthermore told me to take pupils fo: in two weeks in regard to the workings of a conser-
and sports a red face and a black beard.
you, and now, after I did so, and after you hav vatory of music. When I was in Europe, al-
given several lessons, you can't continue them though I have spent fifteen years in this country
Anton Rubinstein is expected to visit Paris nex which places me in the most embarrassing position in conservatory work, and had the details of their
as well to your pupils as to the publio in general work at my fingers' ends, I felt that I ought to re-
February, to give a series of concerts.
WILL KEEP HIS "WORD.—Col. Mapleson told a
reporter of THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE RE-
ERRANI ANSWERED.