Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
July 20th, 1882.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
sured me so earnestly that he was sure he had
enough, that I consented to the engagement of
artists and the commencement of rehearsals. He
further assured me that should his own private re-
sources prove inadequato to meet the expenses, he
knew where he could certainly obtain five or six
hundred dollars more, which would infallibly make
us safe.
Eehearsals had been going on for some little time,
and the date for producing the opera was rapidly
drawing near when Mr. Ellis told me that he was at
the end of his resources, and that he had been dis-
appointed in the extra money he had expected to be
able to call upon. I was somewhat stunned at this
unwelcome and unexpected news, but my first im-
pulse was to ask whether Mr. Goodwin would not
release us from the contract with him* Mr Ellis
responded that this would not bn necessary, pro-
vided I would agree to the admission of a third
party to our agreement, as an old friend of his who
had plenty of money at command was willing lo as-
sume all the management of our business and all
pecuniary responsibilities on condition of receiving
one half of all profits accruing from the perform-
ances of the opera. After some deliberation I con-
sented, only stipulating that a certain sum of money
should be deposited by Mr. Cassidy (the name of our
proposed new partner) as,a guarantee against further
possible trouble. After some little discussion this
point was acceded to, the papers were signed, the
money was deposited, Mr. Cassidy became formally
responsible for all contracts we had previously made,
accepting them as they stood, and the company was
informed of the change of management.
Mr. Ellis and myself became simply working part-
ners in the matter, he and I putting our work—past
and future—against Mr. Cassidy's money and busi-
ness management, each having the right to draw a
small weekly sum from the treasury for necessary
living expenses, and each having a share in the di-
vision of profits—Mr. Cassidy taking one half, and
Mr. Ellis and I dividing the other half between us;
in case of losses, such losses to be made good by
Mr. Cassidy.
With the business side of the affair put upon this
Messrs. H. Wayne Ellis and Caryl Florio entered into co-part-
N th« reign of Frederick II., of Prussia, there nership
recently for tlie purpose of creating and subsequently basis, I think I can hardly be blamed for feeling
presenting
au
opera.
was at the Berlin Theatre a very great canta-
that I was warranted in continuing my part of the
The title of the work was to be "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Ellis work—i. e., the conducting of rehearsals.
•trice who devoted an unreasonable portion of her was
to write the libretto, and Florio the niusic. They did so, and
Mr. Ellis and myself did make contracts with four
time to colds and fits of hysterics. For the merest also subsequently produced the opera in Philadelphia.
of the principal singers, and we did engage the cho-
trifle she would have the performance postponed,
These two opening paragraphs give an entirely rus ; so far your paragraph io correct. Of these
and the public turned away disappointed, and one
contracts and engagements, Mr. Cassidy assumed
night, when the Great King himself was already wrong impression to any reader.
Mr. Ellis had written the libretto of "Uncle Tom" the entire responsibility whon he entered into part-
In his box, the stage-manager advanced td the
before he had ever met me. He had nership with us. The other contracts you mention
footlights and spoke thus: "Ladies and gentle- some time
with three or four musicians with regard to ("with musicians, costumers, and wig-makers"), as
men, the management is grieved to have to an- spoken
setting it before coming to me, and had, indeed, well as those with all the remaining singers and
nounce that our prima donna is hoarse, and that gone so far towards an understanding with one of dramatic people, were made by Mr. Cassidy entirely,
there will be no performance this evening."
them that he had already written his name on the neither Mr. Ellis nor myself having anything what-
Thereupon, Frederick the Great turned to his title page of the manuscript as composer. When the ever to do with them except to approve of the per-
aide-de-camp, gave him an order, and then, lean- opera was first proposed to me I refused at once to sons chosen. One of the clauses of our agreement
ing forward toward the orchestra, made a sign to have anything to do with it, saying that the subject with Mr. Cassidy was, that we were in no manner to
was not one which attracted me. I suffered myself interfere in the business management.
the musicians to remain in their places.
to be over-persuaded, but consented then only
The eurtain after a while rose and the stage- later
The speculation—for it was nothing else—did not succeed. The
upon condition of great changes being made in the reason
lor this it is not our object at present to analyze. "Uncle
manager advanced to the footlights once more and libretto.
Tom's Cabin" did not attract an audience sufficiently large to
said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to in- Your paragraphs are worded in such a way as to pay
the ncces>ary expenses, much less to allow a prolit to accu-
form you that our prima donna has suddenly re- make any reader suppose that Mr. Ellis and myself mulate iu the coffers of Messrs. Ellis and Florio.
covered from her cold, and will have the honor of had worked together from the inception of the idea.
This paragraph is sufficiently answered by what I
appearing before you." Thereupon, the prima They are also written (as is the whole article) in such
donna entered. She was very pale, but she never a tone as to suggest to any intelligent reader that have already said. I might ask, however, whether
production of a new opera ever is anything else
sang better; the King had eured her in an instant the whole affair was an intentional swindle on the the
a speculation.
and here is his Majesty's recipe for the benefit of part of both Mr. Ellis and myself; and it is to this than
Though I have already shown that Mr. Ellis and
tone of suggestion more even than to the false state-
all whom it may concern:
myself are not responsible for the amounts still
The cantatrice was exulting over the trick she ments in the article that I object.
owing to certain of the people engaged in the pro-
had played her manager, when suddenly the door Little or no capital existed; nevertheless, both Messrs Ellis and duction of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and might, conse-
of the boudoir was thrown violently open and Florio contracted with soloists, chorus singers, and musicians, as quently (so far as I personally am concerned), end
well as costumers and wig makera, for their services and materials, here, I desire to continue my criticism of your arti-
an offioer followed by four dragoons entered.
and especially their time.
cle, as the falsest statements are yet to come.
"Mademoiselle," said the offioer, "the King, my
The first five words of this paragraph are true, as The soloists received little, and in most cases nothing, for their
Koyal Master, has sent me to inquire after your
precious health." " I am very hoarse." "His I have already said ; the rest are an ingenious ming- services and time.
Majesty knows it, and has ordered me to take you ling of partial truth and absolute falsehood.
Some of the soloists have been paid in full; all
In order to clear up the matter, I must "tell a lit-
to the infirmary of the military hospital, where
have received something; and most of them the
tale," but I will be as brief as I can.
you will get well in a few days." The actress tle When
my part of the work on the opera was draw larger part of their salaries. I am also informed
grew pale. " I t is a jest!" she murmured. "An ing toward
its completion, Mr. Ellis (in whose hands that Mr. Cassidy is paying those to whom he is still
officer of the King never jests." The lieutenant I left all business arrangements of every kind) oocu indebted as rapidly as he can get the money to do
then made a sign to his men, who lifted the artist pied himself in trying to find some means of brin
so. I have seen receipts in full from three of the
with the delicate attentions that distinguish dra- ing it before the public. From the beginning I im- company who have been paid since our return to
goons, and carried her down to a coach that was pressed upon him the fact that I should consent to this city, and a partial receipt from another.
no production of the work unless there was sufficient
waiting below.
We know of one soloist who expended over $250 in costumes,
They then mounted the horses. "To the hos- pecuniary basis to guarantee all concerned against besides her time, and received nothing except a rebuff for having
into debt. Consequently, the greater part the impudence to ask for a portion of her salary.
pital!" cried the officer. And off they all went. running
his efforts were directed towards interesting some
"Wait a little!" cried the cantatrice, after a few of
The most expensive dresses worn in the opera
moneyed man in the opera. Ho had two or three
minutes. " I think I am better." "The King de- "almost" successes, but they always slipped through were those of Miss Fritch, our prima donna soprano.
sires that you should be perfectly cured, Made- just as they seemed nearly concluded. Matteri The materials for these dresses could have been
moiselle, and that you should sing this very even- went on in this way for some months, and I had be- easily procured for less than one hundred dollars;
ing." " I will try," murmured the prisoner. "To gun to look upon the work I had spent on the opera and the material was the only expense the lady had,
as so much time wasted, when Mr. Ellis came in one as the dresses wore all made by her sister. But
the Opera House!" commanded the lieutenant.
The cantatrice dressed in haste, and then as she day, and with a beaming face announced that he had Miss Fritch has received part of her salary, and
an endorsed note for the romaindor, so she
was about to appear on the stage she said to her made a contract with Mr. Goodwin, of the Chestnut holds
Opera House, Philadelphia, to bring the opera cannot be the lady referred to. The only other lady
jailer: "Sir, since the King demands it, I am go- Street
whose dresses were at all expensive was Mme.
ing to sing, but heaven only knows how." "You out there in May.
My first inquiry was as to funds for the necessary d'Arona, the prima donna contralto; but this lady
will sing like the great artist you are." " I shall
expenses. He then went on to say that had received her salary in advance, and this cannot
sing like an artist that is hoarse." " I don't think preliminary
"good luck never came alone," and through the sale allude to her.
so." "And why?" "Because I am going to place of
I need not write the word which describes this
some of his dramatic pieces, and the receipt of
a dragoon at each wing of the stage, and at the some other money which he had long been expect- paragraph; it is a substantive of three letters, and
first false note the troopers will seize you and ing, he was in a position to assume all probable it suggests itself.
carry you off to the hospital."
pecuniary responsibility. I was careful to impress
membera of the orchestra, who were taken from New Tork
The cold was then thoroughly cured, and the upon him that I was not and should not be in any to The
Philadelphia, received nothiDg, and were obliged to borrow
position to assist him upon this point; but he as- money to pay their fares back to this city.
prima donna sang divinely.—Galignani.
I begin to doubt whether homely persons ever
"UNCLE TOM'S CABIN" IN OPEEA.
are photographed; if they are, they must be on
good terms with the photographer, for I rarely see )ABY.L FLOBIO'S BEPLY TO THE STBICTUBES OP THE
MUSICAL CBITIO AND TBADE EEVIEW.
the picture of a homely artist on exhibition.
Even Sarah Bernhardt appears fat in some pho-
NEW YOKK, July 11, 1882.
tographs, and if art can accomplish that, why
cannot it make a fairly good-looking lady appear Editor of THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TBADE REVIEW :
Sir—A friend has just shown me an article in
beautiful?
issue of June 20, entitled "The 'Uncle Tom'
Photographs of musical people can now be Been your
Fiasco."
at all places where an opportunity for the display
Now, so long as the various papers simply occu-
pied themselves villifying my music and finding fault
of such articles is afforded.
with the performance, I contented myself with read-
Their names and appearance are more familiar ing such notices as came in my way, and extracting
to the general public than at any previous time, considerable quiet amusement from them; for I
and they are undoubtedly much benefited by this found myself soundly rated for not doing things
which I certainly had done, or abused for doing
new custom.
things which I had not. Moreover, the greater part
The rivalry between photographers has much to of these criticisms(?) having been written by gentle-
men who had neither seen nor heard a note of the
do with this, as their competition induces them to music,
there was a lack of agreement in their va-
display their work at the most eligible places in rious statements which became at last comical.
But now that the ground of attack has been changed,
the city.
and I find my motives and character impeached, it
Pond's and Schubert's music stores, and Bren- seems to me that the lies which I passed by in con-
tano's, are the most central and attractive places to tempt while they were directed only at my work
find a large selection of photographs of musical should meet with some notice on my part.
all the articles to which I refer at the opening
artists, and I find the space in front of the windows of In this
letter, there are but three lines and five
constantly patronized by spectators, who are ap- words of truth. They are these: " 'Uncle Tom's
parently much interested in the gallery of photo- Cabin' did not attract an audience" (which should be
"audiences") "sufficiently large to pay the necessary
graphs therein displayed.
NIOHTSNUTZ.
expenses," and "little or no capital existed." The
remainder of the sentence first quoted contains the
implication of an untruth, which will be unmasked
in connection with some other parts of the article in
question.
My simplest way of procedure will be to take
your article and expose each false statement in its
turn.
THE "UNCLE TOM" FIASCO.
"HOW THE KING CUBED THE SINGER'S COLD.
I