Music Trade Review

Issue: 1899 Vol. 29 N. 1

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
out the country. The amounts apportioned
are large, and each opera-house is, of
course, rent free, but there usually is a de-
ficit, although, for the most part, the com-
pany is a troupe d'ensemble, rarely compris-
ing more than one or two expensive vocal-
ists. At Berlin, the State contributes
roughly $225,000 between the opera-house
and the Court Theatre, the deficit of about
$50,000 being paid by the Kaiser. At Vienna
the court opera and theatre receive $125,-
000, the deficit, paid by the Emperor, be-
ing about $5,000 a year. At Paris, the
Grand Opera receives $160,000, and the
Opera Comique $60,000 a year from the
state. At Munich, the opera house costs
the Regent about $9,000 a year. At Dres-
den, the King of Saxony has to contribute
about the same. At Darmstadt, the sov-
ereign gives $70,000 and at Stuttgart and
Carlsruhe, $75,000 a year. The subsidy
at Frankfort ($50,000 between opera and
drama) comes from the municipality, but
in all the larger cities the subsidy is paid
by the sovereign—a fact which, when he
became ruler of Coburg rather startled the
Duke of Edinburgh.
I T is always pleasing to say some good
* words for our contemporaries, particu-
larly when so deserving of it as they are
this month. Glancing over the many
magazines on our exchange desk we find
a high percentage of merit:
The Criterion with its timely and well-
written editorial comments, special articles
and interesting feuilletons on art, drama
and literature, is deservedly winning its
way to the front rank of weeklies.
That always interesting magazine the
Review of Reviews is a veritable encyclo-
paedia. All the important questions of
the day are touched upon tersely but com-
prehensively while the special articles and
the leading excerpts from the magazines
cover every subject of interest. This pub-
lication keeps its readers in touch with
every phase of the world's progress.
Every issue of Donahue's Magazine gives
justification anew to the claim that it is a
magazine for the whole country and not for
any section of it. Bright and liberal in
spirit it has features to interest every read-
ing American.
The more one reads The Literary Digest
the more he appreciates the good judgment
exercised in giving the opinions of the in-
fluential papers of the day on the all-absorb-
ing questions agitating the public mind at
home and abroad.
The current issue of the Ladies' Home
Journal is even more interesting than usu-
al. And this means a great deal, for this
publication surprises by the variety and
quality of its contents monthly.
The North American Review, always an
authority on the leading social, economic
and political questions of our times, aug-
ments its reputation this month. No ex-
pense has been spared to get within its
covers the thoughts of leading men from
all parts of the world.
An excellent publication is The Phila-
delphia Saturday Evening Post. It is
carefully edited and its brisk and interest-
ing literary matter has made it a force in
the world of letters.
Few magazines have made such "leaps
and bounds" in popular favor for the past
few years as Current Literature. It occu-
pies an unique place in the esteem of
readers, and is simply invaluable to the
busy man who desires to keep in touch
with the world's progress in the paths of
literature. The issue for July is of more
than ordinary interest.
The current issue of The Cosmopolitan
demonstrates that there is ' 'no halting by
the wayside" in the advancement of this
magazine. It is, as usual, bright and
interesting. The short stories, the various
articles of importance, the poems, the
artistic illustrative work, are of such a
Cincinnati, O., this week, has been one of
the most successful reunions ever known
in the history of the organization. The
citizens'committee raised over $100,000 for
the proper celebration of the event. There
was a large attendance of the different
societies from all over the country.
T H E profits of last winter's opera season
* were larger than generally supposed.
We understand the stockholders are to
receive an additional dividend. The Di-
rectors of the Grau Company met last
week, and decided to supplement the divi-
dend of 35 per cent., declared on April
nth, with a second in cash of 5 per cent,
and another in stock of 10 per cent. These
payments will not exhaust the company's
treasury—a substantial surplus will still
remain for future contingencies.
*
TTEINRICH ZOELLER, who was the
* * conductor of the Liederkranz Society,
New York, until he returned to Germany
three years ago, has composed the score to
the opera founded on Hauptmann's " The
Sunken Bell." The work is in five acts,
and will be given first in Leipsic.
*
|\TEWS reached this city a short time ago
*
that Ignace Paderewski had been un-
fortunate in some of his business specula-
tions and had lost part of the fortune
made in this country, says the Sun.
Whether or not that is true, M. Pader-
ewski still has business interests outside of
his profession that are likely to keep
him prosperous for some years to come.
SIEVEKING.
He is a partner in one of the largest piano
high order of merit that no one can wonder firms in Europe, he is interested in a hotel
why the publication continues to increase in Warsaw, and he has lately become the
its hold in public favor.
principal shareholder in a scheme to build
in
Warsaw a military panorama to be
IV/l ISS DORA VALESCA BECKER, the
painted
by a German artist. In addition to
* ^ * talented and attractive young violin-
iste, of whom we have often spoken in
these columns, is to retire from professional
life. She is about to marry Chas. Grant
Shaffer of Lake Charles, La., also an ac-
complished musician. Miss Becker's legion
of friends in this city will join with us in
ATJBUEIsr, 1ST.
wishing her an unlimited measure of hap-
piness in her new sphere.
All our instruments contain the full iron frame and
*
patent tuning pin. The greatest invention in the history
of
piano
making. Any radical changes in the climate, beat
'"THE twenty-ninth Saengerfest of the
or dampness, cannot affect the standing in tone of oar in-
* North American Saengerbund, which struments, and therefore challenge th« world that o u t
has been celebrating its golden jubilee in rill excel any other.
C0.
Caeb, jEycbanae, iRentefc, also
&lfc on fcaey payments
Grand, Square and Upright
PIANOFORTES
. These instruments have been before the pub-
lic for fifty years, and upon their excellence
alone have attained an
Unpurchased Pre-Eminence,
Which establishes them as UNEQUALED
in Tone, Touch, Workmanship and
PuraMlity.
Every Piano Fully Warranted for Five Yean
No. 21&East 14th Street,
NEW YORK.
WM. KNABE & CO.
WAREROOMS
48 5th Ave., near 20th St., New Tort
83 A 24 E. Baltimore St., Baltimore
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
n
THE MUSIC TRADE
his business experiments, he owns a
chateau in Switzerland and large estates
in Poland. So he is altogether in a situa-
tion which makes it possible for him to
take a wife without risk and meet some
misfortune in his investments without
complete discouragement. His marriage
at Warsaw is said to have been conducted
with the greatest secrecy. H e arrived incog-
nito at Warsaw, only a few intimate friends
witnessed the ceremony, and the newly-
married couple left immediately afterward
for Lucerne. It remains to be seen whether
Mme. Paderewski will come to this country
with her famous husband, and whether or
not she will have any effect on his popu-
larity with women.
*
'"THE Paris representative of The Tribune,
* in a recent letter to that paper, says
that the rush to Paris of American students,
both men and women, to perfect them-
selves in the art of singing, has this year
exceeded all previous limits. Although
many musical students have undoubted
FRANCES SAV1LLE.
talent, it is nevertheless a fact which causes
many bitter heart-burnings that at least
half of the newcomers have not sufficient
talent to compensate for the sacrifices in-
volved by going to Paris to study, and
they had much better put themselves under
the care of teachers at home. He also
touches upon a much-discussed but highly
pertinent subject, one which should come
home to the parents of young American
girls alone in the French capital when he
says: " It cannot be too strongly urged
upon American fathers and mothers not to
send their daughters over here without
proper protection. The evil results of this
carelessness on the part of American par-
ents are familiar to all residents here, and
painful instances of the consequences of
this oversight are frequently brought to
light. American girls should be accom-
panied by one of their parents or relatives,
and ought never to be left to the protection
of the families with whom they may be
boarding.''
*
Sarasate, the famous violinist, a
pleasant story was told the other
evening at a reception in Washington.
The great master enjoys nothing better
than giving or receiving a joke. Some-
times his bon mots are a trifle savage. One
evening at a social function a young vio-
linist, who had a much higher opinion of
his own musical ability than any one else,
had the bad taste to play one of Sarasate's
compositions with variations of his own
creation. The latter were inappropriate
and inartistic, and jarred upon the ears
of all.
The performer ended his work and made
his way to Sarasate, doubtless expecting a
word of recognition or praise. Sarasate
said nothing, and the player finally asked,
" I hope you recognize that piece? "
Sarasate promptly replied, "Certainly.
It was a piece of impudence."
*
** |\A Y musical critic," writes the editor
' * * of the London Truth, "referring
last week to the fact of Lieut. Dan God-
frey's band being announced in America
as the ' British Guards' Band,' remarked it
was not likely that Dan Godfrey himself
was in any way a party to this misrepre-
sentation. I have since received from Mr.
Dan Godfrey, junior, a letter entirely con-
firming this view. He states that the de-
scription of the band has caused his father
great annoyance, and that in the first in-
stance it was distinctly described as ' Dan
Godfrey's British Band.' When, prior to
leaving England, Lieut. Godfrey heard
that the word ' Guards' had been inter-
polated, he protested by cable against this
alteration, but on arrival in America he
found that his protest had been disre-
garded. He was, of course, powerless
then to do anything more, and no one will
dream of imputing to him any responsibil-
ity in the matter."
*
C R E D E R I C H. COWEN, the composer,
A
has been appointed this year the
Principal Examiner for Canada for the
Associated Board of the Royal Academy
of Music and the Royal College of Music.
He will conduct the examination for
teachers at Toronto and then complete the
examinations in Ontario, Quebec, and the
Eastern provinces.
A CCORDING to a London paper Maurice
**• Grau's opera company will leave for
America on or about September 15, a month
earlier than usual, as the tour opens in Cal-
ifornia in October. M. Jean de Reszke
will not join the troupe this year.
** ^ A R M E N " is an opera which has
^- > suffered from successive conduc-
tors and stage managers. The fact is not
generally known that two of Carmen's airs
are struck out, and have, indeed, never yet
been sung in this country. One is a fully
developed song for the heroine, after she
has consulted the fatal cards in the bandit's
cave, and the other an elaborate scena of
remorse in the final act, in the place where
the ballad from "The Fair Maid of Perth"
is now absurdly interpolated. The last
tableaux, too, might, with advantage, be
restored to the place designed by the com-
poser. To allow the fatal quarrel to take
place outside of the bull-ring is ridiculous,
for it must certainly have been observed and
stopped by the passers-by. At the new
Opera Comique, Paris, the fight, we believe,
takes place in the space under the wooden
erection of the amphitheatre seats, and in
the dark. In the original the finale to the
opera was a tableau in which the victorious
Escamillo, sword in hand, was seen lean-
ing over the dead bull, while the chorus of
spectators triumphantly sang the song of
the Toreador.
*
A N English physician claims to have
* * discovered a new cure for persons
afflicted with nervous or mental maladies.
He attaches a phonograph to the patient's
ears and soothes him with sweet music,
while with a stereopticon he delights the
eyes. In this manner a deep sleep is in-
duced and the result is very beneficial, it is
claimed.
*
A DISPATCH from Rome says that
•**• Lorenzo Perosi, the priest and com-
poser, has resolved to decline the perma-
nent directorship of the Papal choir, which
HE NEW YORK
UBLICLIBK1KY
i, LENOX AND
KLSA KUiiGGKR.
was recently offered to him. He intends
to write lyrics and operas, from which the
directorship would debar him.
*
MMA CALVE, having recovered from
a long illness, is said to be in better
voice than ever. She made her reappear-
ance this week at Covent Garden, London,
in "Carmen."
C R E D E R I C LAMOND, the latest sensa-
*• tion in the piano world, has "electri-
fied Paris." A French paper states that
"his concerts have certainly been the most
sensational event for the past five years."
Association of Swiss com-
A CENTRAL
posers and music publishers hag just
been formed at Geneva. Among other
objects in view, the new association pro-
poses the establishment of annual musical
festivals, to be held alternately in the lead-
ing Swiss towns.
*
HE latest European musical prodigy is
Henry Kartun. He is a Russian,
aged eight years, and plays the pianoforte
with extraordinary maturity.
T
p U C C I N F S " L a Tosca" will be pro-
*• duced at Rome during the coming fall.

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