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6
THE MUSIC TRRDE
REM
lic showed a nice appreciation of the lieder
singing heard so plentifully, but I cannot do
so with a clear conscience. The most intol-
erably bald and unpoetic singing of songs is
enthusiastically applauded at times. Never-
theless, the fact that there is a growing pub-
lic for this sort of entertainment is a good
sign. Discrimination will follow appetite.
The time will come, no doubt, when those
who go to song recitals will understand fully
the demands of this gentle and intimate form
of art.
"Piano playing stands in public esteem
very high, but the demand of our audiences
is extortionate. Virtuosity has supplanted
sound and scholarly art. In other words,
for the playing of a good pianist who offers
a plain and intelligible interpretation of mas-
terpieces there is no fondness. The public
must have a wonder-worker of the keyboard
or nothing. This is not a healthful state of
taste, but it is the state into which taste is
likely to fall at any time in regard to any
branch of art in which the artist can claim
precedence to his interpretation. Violin
playing is regarded in the same way. The
Kubelik craze is an exhibition of this sort
of taste. No one seems to care for the mu-
sic the boy plays, but only for his extra-
ordinary displays of technic and brilliancy of
style."
terest in the opera is not actuated by a love
for music. It is rather part of a fashion-
able social function.
A VISIT to the opera house in this city,
^ ^ or in the English Capital, will reveal
to those interested that the majority of box-
ARTISTS' DEPARTMENT.
holders do not go to the opera for the mu-
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745.--EIQHTEENTH STREET
sic,
but to display themselves, and their
The Artists' Department of The Review is
published on the first Saturday of each month.
gowns, and their jewels—to participate mere-
ly in one of the many social affairs which
"PHE first month of the new year in the
people of their standing in society deem es-
*
musical world, as seen through the
sential. By their actions and conversation,
eyes of New Yorkers, has been a notable one
they
display little knowledge of music and
in every branch of the art.
their
indifference is oftentimes irritating.
Opera has been the dominating note, but
Yet, this display is necessary apparently,
it has not monopolized the attention of the
to the success of opera the world over. The
musical public by any means, judging from
majority of people, whether they wear im-
the attendance at the numberless recitals giv-
ported, or ready-made domestic clothes are,
en by many virtuosi in instrumental and vo-
at heart, worshippers at the shrine of fash-
cal fields.
ion
and social grandeur. This was in-
The wonder is that the appetites of the
stanced
very forcibly last year when the
public have not been surfeited with the over-
"masses"
who we are told "love music for
dose of musical solids and dainties on the
music's
sake"
failed to support the attempt
menus. Not only on evenings have several
made
to
provide
English Opera at the Met-
notable artists held forth in the recital field
ropolitan
at
relatively
small prices, because
apart from the operatic function, but on the
fashion
refused
to
give
it approval and coun-
Sabbath day we have had programs consist-
tenance
by
attending
the
performance.
ing of oratorio and concert at the opera house,
.*
piano recitals at Carnegie Hall, while in the
I T is a demonstrable fact that the only op-
afternoons of the same day, song recitals
era that is permanently successful, un-
attracted goodly audiences in the same hall.
less associated with fashion, is comic opera,
One pleasing evidence of the development
and here it is the humorous features and
of the public taste in music is the liberal pa-
ABOUT OPERA AND ENDOWMENTS.
scenic accessories that prove equally, if not
tronage vouchsafed chamber concerts. This ] NFORMATION comes from London that
more attractive than the music.
chaste form of the art is well deserving of
the Earl of Dysart has offered $50,000
Meanwhile, there should be, and we be-
appreciation, and while New York cannot toward a $2,500,000 National Opera House
lieve
there is, a sufficient number of people
boast of as great an organization as the to be erected in that city, provided the bal-
in
this
city who hunger after operatic music
Kneisel of Boston, yet there are several lo- ance is raised in six months. The Earl is
at
a
reasonable
price to support a good or-
cal quartets that are striving for, and merit a great lover of music—in fact, it is a pas-
ganization,
(but
not a great opera house) ir-
a large share of appreciation.
sion with him. There is scarcely a house respective of so-called society.
Orchestral music has been a tremendous on his large estates that has not a piano,
The manager who will erect a building for
factor in the month's menu, and while as that while he is owner of one of the most historic
the production of light opera—we do not
scholarly critic, W. J. Henderson, well says collections of musical instruments, including
mean comic—opera in the sense of its ac-
we still lack a permanent orchestra, are like- pianos, harpsichords, spinets, violins, harps
cepted popularity—and get together a fairly
ly to continue to lack this so long as our and many other quaint and costly creations.
clever band of artists, will find that in New
needs in orchestral music are so well supplied
It will be interesting to watch the result York he will receive a support that will pay
by the Philharmonic Society and the visits of this offer. ' In London, as, indeed, in
him a profit as a purely commercial propo-
of the Boston and Pittsburg organizations. New York, there are many people who be-
sition.
•
The total number of orchestral concerts in lieve that an endowed home for opera is one
j*
this city usually approaches seventy-five each of the necessities of the hour—the aim in
A YEAR or more ago one of our leading
season. This, of course, includes all concerts this connection being to bring good music to
conductors stated that every attempt
in which an orchestra is employed. We have the large army of people now excluded by
made to provide high-class music for the peo-
not yet reached that ideal state in which the reason of the high prices of admission ex-
ple—an orchestra of distinction, assisted by
orchestra does not require the aid of a solo- acted.
solo singers and other artists of superior
ist to get the full favor of the public, but
And yet, what are the facts?
quality—always failed.
neither has any musical centre of Europe.
Opera to-day, both in London and New
This statement is open certainly to criti-
But our condition makes it fair to count a York, is practically endowed, not by one
cism or qualification. The People's Sym-
virtuoso's appearance with orchestra as an lord or millionaire, but by a combination of
phony concerts which are being given this
orchestral concert.
them, without whose contributions its main- season at Cooper Union, are most success-
Among other evidences of a growth of tenance would be impossible.
ful in inculcating a love for the higher
public fondness for the best in music is the
The stockholders of the Metropolitan, in forms of music and they are destined to be
firm establishment of the Musical Art Society this city and Covent Garden, London, do prolific of splendid results. The same may
and of Mr. Franko's concerts of old music at not make a profit on their investment. On be said of Frank Damrosch's labors in con-,
the Lyceum Theatre.
the contrary, they are required to pay an- nection with the People's Singing Classes
The song recital has come into public favor nually a large assessment, with the usual li- and the Choral Union—two tremendous fac-
in recent years. "I wish," says Mr. Hen- ability to meet all losses. And it is safe to tors in extending a knowledge and appre-
derson, "it were possible to say that the pub- say that in a great many instances their in- ciation of vocal and choral music. The splen-
HANNAH L KEENE
SOP RANO
Exclusive Management of
CHARLES L. YOUNG
1123 BROADWAY,
NEW YORK