Music Trade Review

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October 20th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
69
is not considered as of much moment, and the advertisers, who exclaim: "One hundred dollars Philharmonic Club, besides many other concerts
arly in the season. The parties interested in these
musical papers are not even read. With admira- for that advertisemeut in THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND nterprises anxiously awaited the arrival of the
ble aelf-consciousnes and profound self-assurance, TEADE REVIEW, and I can have it placed in any young artist, for they were fearful he might not
me.
a few words uttered by tkese self-constituted critics, other musical paper for twenty-five dollars."
Well, he has not come; and, what is of more im-
What is even more to the point, they speak the portance to the friends, landlord and creditors of
disposes of the question.
the manager, Mr. Herman has gone. But where ?
Musical criticism is based upon musical study, truth.
Some say he is in Hamburg, some in Limburg,
experience, literary accomplishment and general This cheapening the price of one's own goods is Some in Paris, and those who do not say any-
thing, wish he had never been here.
intelligence. The ability to perform upon a musi- in reality educating one's customers to become Thus the young boy's career in this country has
cal instrument, or the study of harmony, and the dead beats, and it is a custom that this paper, for been ruined by an incompetent manager, who
thought to impress his own narrow ideas upon a
opportunity of having heard certain concertos and one, will not pursue. Either its columns are valu- system
that must from the very nature of the case,
operas; all these do not make a man a critic and able for advertising purposes, or they are not; and be liberal.
enable him to say whether Wagner is a charlatan it is either a readable paper, or it is not. If
The latest news received about Herman is to
or a genius; whether Gerster can sing Elsa or not; it is valuable to the advertiser, he must pay the the effect that he has telegraphed to friends in this
ity that he is sure to come here, when, exactly, is
or whether Joseffy is a better pianist than Rummel, proper price for it, and if it is a readable paper, not
known. We will believe that he is coming
or visa versa. These are questions that can only the reader must pay for the privilege of perusing when he is safely landed. The promises of cer-
tain managers to come back to America are about
be settled by people of ripe experience and who its contents.
as good as their promises to pay.
possess the additional qualities mentioned above. It will be found that it is better and cheaper in
Amateurs should be very careful before rashly the end for all concerned to give a hearty support
expressing opinions about artists, or about com- to a good and reliable paper that is perfectly inde-
posers and their works.
pendent in all it does, and that is putting forth its
GEISTINGER IN "BOCCACCIO."
best efforts for the benefit of its supporters. Free ^HE idea seems to prevail with many managers
that a renowned "star" is sufficient attrac-
EDUCATING DEAD BEATS.
newspapers and cheap advertising help no one,
tion to draw large audiences and favorable com-
^T^HERE is an extremely annoying feature con- and that paper has the largest circulation and the ments. This principl e is gradually, but surely,
obsolete with managers of Grand Opera,
nected with the publication of an able, reli- greatest influence that is best able to fix its rates becoming
as their bank accounts have suffered too much in
and
maintain
them,
as
THE
MUSICAL
CEITIC
AND
the past for pursuing such a course. Managers of
able and independant musical and music trade
or Bouffe Opera companies, however, still
paper in this country, such as we are endeavoring TRADE REVIEW has done, and intends to do in the Comic
adhere to that idea; but before long they must also
future.
Whenever
it
becomes
impossible
for
us
to
abandon it. As much as an audience desires to
to make of THE MUSICAL CKITIC AND TEADE RE-
hear a favorite, there is nevertheless a greater de-
VIEW. It is that all classes of people interested in maintain this policy, we shall withdraw from the sire to hear an opera satisfactorily given through-
music and music trade matters are deluged with field and leave it clear for struggling, vagrant out.
Geistinger is unquestionably a competent inter-
free copies of good, bad and indifferent journals— competitors.
preter of the role of Boccaccio in the opera of that
generally the two last—eash claiming that it is
name produced at the New York Thalia Theatre,
DENGREMONT'S MANAGER.
Oct. 8, which in fact, requires no especial effort
the great musical authority; each swearing that its
AST season a youth made his appearance in on
on her part. She has been " brought up " as it
this
country
whose
violin
playing
caused
a
circulation is larger than that of most of the lead-
sensation in musical circles. Although reports had were in that school of music and acting and adds
ing daily papers—larger, per issue, if its touters reached us from Europe that Dengremont was a to her usual ability a large amount of routine.
" Routine " is a powerful lever to help one through
are to be believed, than its actual circulation for a phenomenal performer, especially taking his age almost any musical performance.
into consideration, yet we were not prepared for
whole year would be; and each gratuitously dis- the remarkable performances of the boy. Our Mme. Geistinger is undoubtedly a versatile
actress and taking her age into consideration, a
tributing its paper and its advertising so freely surprise was increased by the many disappoint- remarkable vocalist. Her support in " Boccaccio"
ments we had experienced in the past, when our
that it does not even wait to be asked for either.
faith in artists was based upon reports from was extremely meagre and indifferent. Besides
European
critics, which reports events here Geistiuger, none of the Thalia company but Miss
This is all wrong and only tends to make dead showed to be
Seebold as Fiametta, made any effort to sing, nor
false.
they capable of singing if they had made the
beats of the members of the musical profession Dengremont is, unquestionably, one of the few were
effort. Miss Seebold appears to be a painstaking
concert
attractions
entirely
independent
of
any
and the music trade. These may seem like strong
artiste whose natural vocal organ is well cultivated.
"support" and could have performed alone 111 She requires the very thing, of which Geistinger
words, but their truth cannot be gainsaid.
every city and town in America, with the excep- could spare a good deal without much loss, and
of course, of an accompanist. As an invest- that is—routine.
Now, we do not pay either of these classes so tion,
ment, we doubt if any concert manager had any- The choruses were weak, unsteady and (what is
poor a complimeat as to believe that they are thing compared to the Dengremont business last
out of tune. The singing and by-
season. Young Dengremont was taken sick dur- excruciating)
naturally dead beats. There are individuals, of ing
play were evidently done with the hope of getting
the season in New Orleans and after a pro- into
the Atlantic Garden, next door, as quick as
course, who live from choice upon the "free tracted illness he recovered sufficiently to go to
possible. Why not pay more attention to these
Europe
to
recuperate.
lunch " principle in all their walks through life ;
matters and give a truly excellent performance of
While in New York he attracted large audiences;
but the great majority of people connected with also in Boston, and iu a few other cities, but the "Boccaccio?" It could be done with the material
they have at the Thalia.
music, (those with proper self-respect), would no tour prior to his sickness was not a success. This
want of success was due to mis-management. In-
more permit themselves to be placed in the posi- stead of having a manager to introduce him to the " OLIVETTE " AT THE METROPOLITAN CASINO.
tion of dead beats by a newspaper—if the matter musical world of America, and especially of the TTNDER the new management of this establish-
United States, Dengremont had a mis manager, V_J ment, since its change from a concert hall into
was put before them in its proper light—than they whose name was Theodor Herman.
something like a theatre, "Olivette" has been
would by a grocer, a tailor, or a butcher. Just Herman was a manager from Germany, and, after given by the Comley-Barton Company. The
arrival here, it soon became apparent that he acoustic qualities of the place are so poor that a
think of Messrs. Chickering, or Hale, or Steinway, his
wanted to manage concerts in this country on the great change must be made before operettes can
or Decker, or Weber, or Pelton, Pomeroy & Cross, European plan. This was the secret of his failure. be given there with anything like a semblance of
The system on this side of the Atlantic differs in success.
or S. R. Leland, or Richard Hoffman, or William principle
entirely from that en vogue on the other The company performing at this place at pre-
Mason, or any other great manufacturer, dealer or side. No logic could persuade Mr. Herman that sent has no vocalists in it and consequently cannot
he was constantly misunderstanding the situation present operettes. A mediocre comedy company
professional permitting a grocer to supply him and
as a natural consequence, the talented boy was was not intended by Audran to interpret his little
regularly with free eatables, or a tailor to furnish doomed to comparative obscurity. He should operas. The difference between the Comley-Barton
been known everywhere as his abilities en- " Olivette " at the Metropolitan Casino and the
him the year round with clothes on the dead beat have
titled him to such a distinction. His manager Emma Abbott "Olivette" at the Grand Opera
principle, for the sake of giving these gentry an thought otherwise and the result is stated above. House is, that the former has a few comedians and
Mr. Herman had his headquarters here this Fall no singers in the cast; while the latter has a few
opportunity to " introduce " their goods.
and was making arrangements for Dengremont's singers and not one comedian in the cast. Be-
Every few days some one remarks, "Why, do I return to this country this season in what was con- tween the two performances " Olivette" has been
sidered good faith. The young artist was an- demolished as far as its existence in this city goes.
not receive THE MUSICAL CEITIC AND TEADE RE- nounced about two months ago to open the con-
When will managers become convinced that
VIEW ?" and when the reply is made, "Probably, cert season at Steinway Hall, on Saturday, Oct. singers are necessary in an operette ? We have
15th.
The
Roberts
Lyceum
had
engaged
his
ser-
because you do not pay for it," the surjjrise is vices for a concert at the Boston Music Hall, Oct. not heard a single operette yet, which did not
contain at least a few songs. It appears that
unbounded; the man smiles incredulously as he 18. He was to play at the same hall Oct. 21 and composers of music will insist upon writing all
The Brooklyn Philharmonic announced him kinds of songs in their operas or operettes, and
remarks, '' Why all the other musical papers are 22.
as soloist of the first or second concert; he was to the Comley-Barton company innocently imagine
sent me regularly, free." Then there are the participate at one of the concerts of the New York they can sing them. If Audran comes to this
PERFORMANCES
L