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THE 7V£VSIC TRHDE
TIMELY TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS.
hers. It is too bad that she was hurried
onto the public, and no one knows this bet-
ter than her father, else he were not the
judge of what the public wants that he is
regarded. How Miss Henschel in her pres-
ent state can be anything but a detriment
to his interests as a teacher is hardly to be
understood, for she has not been and is not
now ready to stop study and sing in public.
There are too many demi-artists as it is and
we hardly expect Georg Henschel to con-
tribute to the collection.
I S it possible that man is totally unable to
* measure himself? It must be so, else
why should we get such pitiful examples of
what people cannot do, and why should a
pig-my be jealous of a giant? If people had
the power to measure themselves correctly
there would be fewer disappointments and
art would not be overrun with those who
can in no way add anything to its lustre.
Every one has limitations. He who knows
his limitations is to be congratulated. Yet
we are all at the mercy of those who seem
to feel that nothing is impossible, and in
truth the impossibility is to take these people
seriously.
The question is asked often—how do these
people get on the concert stage? The an-
swer is not difficult. If people have money
there is nothing to prevent an appearance in
New York. Mendelssohn Hall can be en-
gaged without the necessity of passing an
examination as to ability, and the advertis-
ing columns of the papers are open to every-
thing, if the bills are paid. To this, then, we
must attribute the cause of so many con-
certs that mean nothing, result in nothing,
and afford nothing but unhappiness for those
interested and derision from those who are
asked to hear art.
It must be admitted that those in the vocal
field are worse than those who pose as in-
strumentalists. Indeed, it is not an exag-
geration to say that some of the exhibitions
of vocalism are nothing short of startling.
Apropos of this we learn that Whitney Tew
is bringing suit against Henry Wolfsohn
because while acting in the capacity of man-
ager, he failed to get him engagements. If it
ever goes to court it will bring forth several
interesting points.
Nordica was the soloist with the Wetzler
Symphony concert on the occasion of the last
of this series fcr the season. This great singer
is an unique figure in the musical history of
America. We can afford to be proud of her,
but we cannot afford to be deaf. Wagner is
making ravages on that exquisite voice. She
has worked too hard this season and it shows
—it shows very much indeed.
What a wonderful voice is Nordica's! In
quality she far outstrips the others in her
class. Why the voice becomes strident at
times is something which probably not even
she could answer; but—she is also radiantly
beautiful.
It would be more agreeable to write of
the success of the American singer than to
chronicle the weaknesses. But sometimes this
is not a matter of choice, but of truth. The
subject is worn threadbare. Since the oc-
currence is so frequent, however, what can
a chronicler do but face it? Still it happens
once in a while that we have good results
and among those who give delight must be
mentioned Miss Susan Metcalfe, who enter-
tained two large houses this season in song
recital. Miss Metcalfe is a fine example of
what may be accomplished with a small voice
that is well trained and which is, furthermore,
in the possession of one who is thoroughly
musical. Miss Metcalfe gave more satisfac-
tion than those who came with loud herald-
ing and much flutter. She is very tiny, very
dainty, and she can sing. She shows the
French influence upon her voice.
Matters are in a state of upheaval and sub-
Suzanne Adams is the American that is merging. When they settle down we shall
making strides. She is worth watching. I get at the facts of everything, The new
have never in my experience seen anyone opera direction is furnishing endless topics
who keeps on so steadily and so faithfully to of debate, and yet what is there to say?
the highest ideals. She is back in the ranks Nothing that will not have to be contradicted
at the opera house, and she has covered her- the next day.
self with new glories. She has sung ora-
Anent the Philharmonic Society people are
torio, and she has done it in a way that also busy but what is the use of talking?
proved her a consummate artist of versatil- The fact is that if Walter Damrosch cares
ity and ability.
to remain he will have the opportunity, and
There is much to be said about the voice as he has some other irons in the fire, he
with which she is endowed, and here again may not care to have the musical direction
is Mme. Adams to be complimented, for again. Under his administration the con-
she had some disagreeable failings; she had certs have been interesting and for the great-
a decided nasal quality, and there were many er part they have been given with every care
obstacles to overcome. That she has over- and every musical thought. Of course Mr.
come them is not giving her the proper Damrosch has those who are working against
credit, for the work upon the voice has been him, but who has not? The more arrows
phenomenal and it is among the most beau- that are aimed at him the more he may real-
tiful that America can claim. Physically ize that it is at his power and at his popu-
she is as beautiful as she is charming, and the larity they are being aimed. Mr. Damrosch
time will be when she will be reckoned among is a serious musician, an earnest student, and
the greatest living; in fact, there is no rea- a thorough gentleman. No man need be
son why she should not enjoy this distinction anything more.
right now.
Why does not Mr. Conried engage Patti
Why did Mr. Henschel permit his young for his opera season? Then Fritzi Scheff
daughter to sing in such a trying place as would have to add ten years to the time in
the Metropolitan Opera House? Helen Hen- which it takes a person to gain the right to
schel has been accorded all that she could be called great, according to her version.
hope for with those limitations which are
Emilie Frances Bauer.
Another, less happy, was Miss Golden
Tracey, who sang a recital in Mendelssohn
Hall last week. Miss Tracy is musical as
far as taste is concerned, but alas! she has
been in G e r ^ P ^ i t seems hardly necessary
to say more. The German method always
has and always will put a hard metallic glint
in the voice. It is impossible to conceive
why this should be so, but it cannot be de-
nied. Of course there are exceptions, but
the exceptions go to prove the rule.
As yet Sembrich is the queen of song, and
as a musician she is quite on a par with any
musician. This may sound paradoxical, but
it is not—not, at least, when one is talking
of singers. Sembrich plays the violin as well
as she sings, that is why she sings as well as
she does. She is good for as many farewells
as Patti, and there is no reason why she
should not be for the next twenty years.
Have you never heard some young singer
say at her debut, "Why does not Sembrich
get out of the way for the new ones coming
up ?" Why not ? Indeed ! Well, perhaps
she will when they come along—when they
do.
And another beautiful countrywoman had
to yield under the strenuousness of it all. It
is said—but people always talk about things
whether they know anything about them or
not—that between society and Tosca it did
not take long to cut Emma Eames' career for
the season. Yet she was a veritable picture
as Tosca, a perfect joy to look upon and al-
ways a joy to hear.
This is one time when it was not the un-
expected that happened. That Patti is to
make another tour is not surprising to any
one who knew the condition of her voice
and of her general health. She is only sixty
years young, and that is not so bad. At sixty
Nordica will not be able to do it, but
Patti has never sung Wagner. It will be
remembered that Melba tried Wagner at one
time and she sailed the next steamer that
went to Europe. At least, we will have to
be thankful that we will hear nothing about
Patti's method, etc. Patti has no method,
she just sings.
At a concert last week a young man played,
and painful though it is to say it, he was
not burdened with good looks. There are
those who talk while the music is occurring,
and that happened upon this occasion. One
young lady stooped over and said to the
other, "Oh, he makes me think of an Apollo."
"Why, what a notion," said her friend, "I
think he is very homely." And she did not
wait until the end of his number to make
her understand that she meant the mechan-
ical player by that name, which was a mean
thing on her part because the humor of the
situation dawned before she could get control
of her laughter valve.