Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ber of representations indicates that qual-
ity, was sung- at Weimar for the first time
on Aug. 28, 1850, under the direction of
Franz Liszt. Richard Wagner occupied a
place in the orchestra stalls. It was some
time before Liszt could persuade himself
to produce the work which Wagner had
brought to completion in the month of
August, 1847. When it was decided to
produce the work, in response to an im-
perative demand from Wagner, the pre-
parations were very thorough and careful.
Liszt conducted at all the rehearsals, and
spared himself no labor to make the per-
formance as complete in every detail as
possible. The directors of the opera con-
tributed $1,500 for the expenses of the
production, which was at that time re-
garded as a most liberal allowance. Now-
adays one singer in the performances at
the Metropolitan receives a third more
than that sum. The opera was successful,
and Liszt had accomplished a wonderful
service for the composer at a time when
there was little confidence in his work.
The event will be celebrated early in
September, as the theatre at Weimar will
not be open on the actual date of the an-
niversary. Memorial performances will
be given in most of the German cities.
Ferrucio Busoni's summer school at Wei-
mar was opened with a concert given in
memory of Franz Liszt on the anniversary
of his death.
unprofitable. That opinion is still enter-
tained by many managers, and the early
openings this fall mean rather the desire for
the patronage in the weeks before election
than any belief that the first nights of Sep-
tember are likely to yield large profits.
These early productions are patronized
chiefly by the residents of other towns
passing through New York on their way
homeward from the Eastern watering
places or those here on business. But the
paying local theatre-going public is not
seen in the city until the first of October.
•J*
M E W ORLEANS, always a musical city,
* ^ is giving further proof of its love for
the divine art. E. A. Coutourier, formerly
of Gilmore's band, is arranging to organ-
ize and maintain an orchestra of sixty-five
members for that city similar to Theodore
Thomas's orchestra in Chicago. His idea
is to give two grand subscription concerts
each week, with popular concerts on Sun-
days during the season, at the French
Opera House in conjunction with the
French opera, and to visit neighboring
cities. More than twenty-five wealthy
men approve the plan and promise sup-
port.
J*
T^HE theatrical season in New York be-
gins this year earlier than usual, pre-
sumably that the managers may get the
benefit of the few weeks that precede the
exciting period of election interest. Last
spring theatricals came to a sudden stop
here much in advance of the usual time,
and the summer was less fully supplied
with indoor amusements than any preced-
ing term had ever been. The conclusion
that New York is not a city for summer the-
atres has impressed itself decidedly on local
managers, and futile efforts to make sum-
mer profits have finally been abandoned.
But it took some time to make this clear,
says a writer in the Sun. It is usually pos-
sible for one to succeed. The desire to be
that particular one frequently led to a num-
ber of summer productions which usually re-
sulted in loss to their managers. Satisfied
that the reward is not worth the struggle,
managers close their theatres, which at least
insures them against loss. It was thought
to be a growing belief among managers
that the early fall weeks were likely to be
MRS. ADELAIDE JORDAN.
OUSA'S Band ended its triumphal tour
of Europe with a grand concert in the
Palace of Industry, Amsterdam, last Sun-
day night at which more than five thousand
people were present. The citizens of Ams-
terdam presented Mr. Sousa with a flag of
the Netherlands similar to the ones he
received from the cities of Frankfort and
Cologne. The famous bandmaster was
repeatedly called to the director's stand to
receive wreaths and flowers and the oc-
casion was marked by demonstrations of
the greatest enthusiasm and appreciation
not only of the director but of each of the
soloists. Sousa's tour has been a great
social and financial success. His reception
in every city on the Continent has been
cordial and his concerts have been attended
by the cities' most representative people.
The organization leaves England for New
York to-day.
daily press, will occupy a foremost posi-
tion in the coming musical season, judg-
ing from the important engagements closed
for her by her manager, Henry Wolfsohn.
Her voice is of great strength, remarkable
for its clearness, and rich and full in dra-
matic power. Her work at all times is
truly artistic and her popularity is easily
accounted for.
T H E fund of $10,000 established in 1896
1
by the Polish pianist, Ignace Jan
Paderewski, as a basis for prizes to be
awarded to American
composers, has been
transferred by the ex-
ecutors of the late
William Steinway t o
Henry L. Higginson
and William P. Blake
of Boston. It is a deed
of trust by which the
trustees s h a l l invest
the sum, and with the
interest on hand offer a
prize for the best music-
al composition submit-
ted by American com-
posers. E v e r y three
years, beginning next
fall, is the time speci-
fied for the distribution
of said prizes. A board
of j u d g e s has been
selected, and later the
donor is to decide the
forms of composition
with the various other
c o n d i t i o n s of the
scheme. M. Paderewski
appointed the follow-
ing Board of Judges
for the current year:
Wilhelm Gericke, B. J.
Lang, Carl Zerrahn
a n d William F. Ap-
horp, Boston; H. E.
Krehbiel, W. J. Hen-
derson, Henry T. Finck
and James Huneker, New York, and Prof.
Samuel Sandford of New Haven. About
$1,500 is to be distributed this year. Mr.
Higginson has offered the services of the
Boston Symphony Orchestra and its con-
ductor to insure the best performances of
the music submitted. Boston is to be the
place of contest.
T H E complaint that Americans are cotn-
* pelled to pay the great singers more
than they receive for their services in
any of the European countries is heard
frequently and there is some ground for it.
Some artists receive here in one night
more than they could earn in a week
abroad. It is the French artists who have
most reason to be grateful for the liberal-
ity of the New York public. Salaries in
France are said to be lower than in any
other European country. Even Italy, im-
poverished as it is, pays better salaries to
JU\ RS. ADELAIDE JORDAN, the cel- its singers than Paris can, except in two
* ' * ebrated contralto whose appearance in or three cases. The majority of the per-
concert and oratorio last year evoked such formers receive such miserably small com-
high commendation from the critics of the pensation in France as to make it in-