Music Trade Review

Issue: 1903 Vol. 36 N. 23

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE: MUSIC TRADE
conceded by Mr. Haynes' friends to be ex-
cellent, showing the honored head of the Dit-
son house as he appears to-day.
it
COMIC OPERAS, PAST AND PRESENT.
DICHARD ALDRICH, who always
**• writes so entertainingly in the New
York Times, is rather pessimistic regard-
ing the comic opera situation. He said re-
cently: "Does the New York theatrical
public remember that there were once
comic operas? Does it ever have a pang of
regret over the disappearance of the kind
of musical entertainment that once delight-
ed it incessantly, so that it filled to the
doors night after night the theaters that
were giving Gilbert and Sullivan's operet-
tas, Strauss's, Suppe's, Jakobowski's, Mil-
loecker's, Audran's, Planquette's, Lecocq's
—or even the best of De Koven's and Vic-
tor Herbert's? Their disappearance from
the stage is to the great loss of the stage
and the music-loving public. Nor is there
any sign just at present discernible that
anything of a similar artistic value is likely
to arise. The managers and manufacturers
of the sort of thing that now, so far as may
be, takes their place in the affections of the
theatregoing public have learned wisdom,
in one way or another, and no longer pres-
ent anything under the name and style of
'comic opera' or 'operetta.' Not even the
name is popular now. There are 'musical
farces,' 'musical satires,' 'musical extrava-
ganzas,' 'musical comedies'—though this
last name is a rather conservative term for
productions to which it is applied—and
other varieties of musical stage things, ex-
cept the real thing. Who would have sup-
posed that in this season of 1902-1903 the
conservatives and the old fogies would be
lamenting the good old days of DeKoven
and Herbert?"
Mr. Aldrich covers the situation very
aptly. For the past few seasons the pre-
vailing type of entertainment has not been
in any way really musical, the plan being,
a la Wagner, to subordinate music to the
general scheme of entertainment. Instead
of writing around the story of "The Ring,"
these modern "genuises" write around a
funny man who is usually of a rich and
juicv personality, who says many funny
things, and who invariably has a "cracked"
voice. There is light ahead, however, and
this is notable in the fact that Victor Her-
bert is now writing comic opera, and
several other musicians are engaged in the
same commendable task. It is claimed
that these will not be burlesques, extrava-
ganzas, or musical comedies, but comic
operas of the old school. Let us hope so.
it
MASCAGNI'S PLANS FOR NEXT FALL.
DIETRO MASCAGNI will pay a return
* visit to the United States late next
fall and give concerts in only three cities,
outside of California, where he is to fill
an engagement. The three cities are Chi-
cago, Milwaukee and Kansas City, in each
of which he will give a single concert be-
fore proceeding to the Pacific Coast. Mas-
cagni comes to America under an en-
gagement to give twenty concerts, under
contract with Mrs. Leland Stanford, in the
Leland Stanford University in California,
REVIEW
one concert a week. She has guaranteed
him $20,000 for the concerts.
it
THE STRAUSS FESTIVAL IN LONDON.
npHERE has been so much interest in
the "Richard Strauss festival" to be
held in London early this month, that ar-
rangements have been made for an addi-
tional concert in the series. This extra
concert, it is announced, is specially in-
tended to serve for the introduction to
London of Richard Platt, an American
pianist. The only work of Strauss's to be
given at this concert is his "Till Eulen-
spiegel." The four performances orig-
inally planned will bring to a hearing "Till
Eulenspiegel," "Also Sprach Zarathus-
tra," (twice), an orchestral scene from
"Feuersnot," "Don Juan," "Don Quixote,"
"Tod and Verklarung," "Macbeth," "Ein
Heldenleben," "Aus Italien," the burleske
for piano and orchestra and four excerpts
from Guntram, besides two songs with or-
chestral accompaniment, and many with
piano. The Concertgebouw Orchestra of
Amsterdam, conducted in some perform-
ances by Strauss and in others bv its regu-
lar conductor William Mengelberg, will
play the orchestral pieces. London took
a good while to get to hear Strauss, but
makes up for its backwardness by the zeal
of a new convert.
it
THE SECRET OUT AT LAST!
HTHE subject of Patti's birthplace and
her age for years have made lots of
good "copy" for writers all over the world.
If the Madrid papers are to be believed,
they have unearthed the baptismal certifi-
cate of Adelina Patti, which has finally
settled the question of her much discussed
birthplace and birth date. It was taken
from the register of the Church of San
Luis, Madrid, and says she was born at
4 o'clock on February 19, 1843. Her
father was Salvator Patti, a professor of
music, and her mother was Catarina
Chiosa, of Rome.
it
WORK WANTED, NOT TALK.
HP H E past month has been distinguished
by many conventions of music teach-
ers which have been held in almost every
State of the union. The usual routine of
business was transacted, namely, the elec-
tion of officers, reading reports and papers
by well known teachers. Indeed the pro-
grams, year after year, continue unchang-
ed, and there is a lack of varietv and orig-
inality which hardlv does credit to Ameri-
can teachers.
Resolutions and oratory do not count for
progress unless they are backed by per-
formances. If we study the present condi-
tions we find that the teachers who talk
the most are those not disposed to come
together for the common good.
The politicians seem to be the guiding
lights for all the associations which meet
in convention nowadays, forgetting that
politicians—whether rightly or wrongly—
are accused of being insincere—of "play-
ing" the public—promising what they
never can accomplish.
Surely our conventions of music teach-
ers should do better than take the politi-
cians as an example. We want more work
and less play, more sincerity and less bun-
cumbe. There is much to be done and
much can be done for musical art in Amer-
ica if teachers and others interested get to-
gether and be sincere.
•t
SOUSA IN RUSSIA.
C O U S A and his great band continues
their triumphal tour abroad. From
latest accounts he made triumphant hits in
St. Petersburg, Russia, where he had a
four days' engagement. The concerts wero
given in the circus, the audience which
comfortably filled the immense amphithea-
ter liberally applauded the performance, es-
pecially music by Sous- and the trombon-
ist Pryor and the Misses Liebling and Pow-
ell. The concert made a hit, suiting the
Russian temperament.
•t
HENRY W. SAVAGE'S PLANS.
C P E A K I N G of his recent trip to Europe,
^ Henry W. Savage said that-the com-
pletion of Puccini's new opera, "Mme. But-
terfly," of which he owns the American
rights, has been delayed by an accident to
the composer.
For the Castle Square
Opera Company, Mr. Savage has engaged
Jennie Morelli, a coloratura soprano, in
London; Pierre Riviere, a tenor; Marsano,
now the principal baritone at Dusseldorf;
Rita Newman, a mezzo-soprano, and for
light opera, Mabel Nelma, an Australian.
Mr. Savage will produce "Otello" in Eng-
lish for the first time; a new musical play
by Henry Blossom (in Boston), and later
a comedy by George Ade.
•t
AMERICAN GIRLS FOR OPERA.
UST before leaving for Europe, Hein-
rich Conried announced the engagement
of four American girls whom he expects to
train for grand opera and to put in smalt
parts the coming season. They are Elsa
Harris of this city, Josephine Schaffer, of
475 Fifty-fifth street, Brooklyn; Lily Hei^
delbach, of New York, and Marcio Van
Dresser. These young women were en-
gaged by Mr. Conried after the strictest
trials, and were also passed upon by
several stage managers.
Other than the four Americans above
mentioned, Mr. Conried has engaged
two concert singers—Mme. Josephine
Jacoby and Mme. Selma Kronold.
J
WILL "RIGOLETTO" MARK THE OPENING?
A CCORDING to the latest reports the
opera season at the Metropolitan
Opera House next fall will be opened with
"Rigoletto" with Sembrich, Scotti and
Caruso, the new and remarkably popular
Italian tenor, in the leading roles. Mr.
Conried had been negotiating with the
great Italian conductor, Signor Tos-
canini, of Milan, but the value which that
gentleman placed upon his services was
out of all reason, even in this country of
millionaires.
it
Friends and admirers of Emil Paur will
be glad to hear that the Warner perfor-
mances given under his direction at Ma-
drid during the past season were remark-
ably successful.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
THE MUSIC TRADE
FLORIDA'S SUCCESSFUL FESTIVAL.
REVIEW
festival chorus and in addition to giving
HTHE first May Music Festival held at concerts during the year, they will rehearse
Tampa, Fla., on May 5th, 6th and 7th, some great musical work for the annual
was a brilliant success. It, marks, let us festival of next year.
hope, only the first of what should prove to
When one reads up the history of Miss
be important musical events in the history Dodge's success so far, it is safe to prog-
of Florida. The programmes were inter- nosticate that next year's event will be one
estingly diversified, and embraced vocal, of rare excellence, worthy of the State,
instrumental and operatic numbers which worthy of the city, and one that will make
were excellently rendered. There were the patrons proud of the part which they
large audiences at both afternoon and even- will take in it.
ing concerts—in fact people came from all
ft
C. T. DOLAN RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN.
parts of the State.
Considering the lack of preparation, us- p H A R L E S T. DOLAN has just been re-
ual in such affairs, the festival committee ^ elected chairman of the music commis-
worked wonders, thanks to the energetic sion of Boston.
Mr. Dolan was born in Roxbury, and
labors of Miss Louise Frances Dodge, the
general manager, who triumphed over educated in the schools of that district. Af-
every obstacle and perfected an organiza- ter singing as a boy soprano in the first
tion that represented the intelligence of sanctuary choir in Boston, connected with
the city of Tampa. She attended to every the chapel of the House of the Angel Guar-
detail and met every contingency as it dian, he studied vocal and instrumental
arose and aroused such interest in the fes- music under Falkenstein, Chelius and
tival as to make the people of Florida real- Vannini. When a young man he was lead-
ize what can be done for musical ad- ing baritone in the Balfe opera company,
vancement if they only put their shoulder which rendered the works of Balfe, Offen-
bach and other standard composers. Sub-
to the wheel.
• Among those who participated in the sequently he became organist of St.
festival were some pupils of Mrs. Ankie Thomas' Church, Jamaica Plain, and for
Green Parker, the distinguished teacher of the past 26 years has filled the same posi-
Gainesville, Fla., and of whose methods tion in St. Francis de Sales' Church, Ver-
The Review has taken pleasure in com- 11011 street, Roxbury. He is chairman of
mending on various occasions. It may be the music trustees of the city of Boston,
interesting in this connection to quote what musical director of the Charitable Irish So-
the Tampa Tribune and Tampa Times- ciety and a fourth degree member of the
Knights of Columbus.
L-nion said in this connection :
K
"Two of the little pupils of Mrs. Ankie
Green Parker, of Gainesville, Misses Ros-
WOMEN AS DOCTORS OF MUSIC.
alie Connor and Lila Ford, performed dif-
A
T
Albert Hall, London, on June 24th,
ficult compositions on the piano. They are
the
Princess of Wales will be invested
mere children, but they revealed a wonder-
ful talent.
Little Miss Lila, scarcely with the degree of Dr. of Music. This
large enough to reach the keyboard of the will be the first honorary Mus. Doc. ever
instrument, rendered a solo with the finish made by the London University. Our
and touch of a mature musician.
"Miss Mary Connor, who is famed all London namesake says: "Queen Alexan-
over the country in musical circles, as the dria is a Mus. Doc. of the Royal Univer-
phenomenon of child musicians, did not ap- sity of Ireland, and also of the University
pear in the afternoon, but was reserved for of Wales, and there is a statute of Her
last night.
Majesty in cap and robes at the Royal Col-
"Dr. Arthur Turner's violin and Miss
Mary Clayton Connor, as violinist and lege of Music. Miss Annie Patterson is a
pianist, were other important factors in Mus. Doc. of the Royal University of Ire-
land (by examination) and these are the
making a live programme.
"A feature of the day was that portion only ladies who possess the degree of Doc-
of the programme in which the young tor of Music."
pupils of Mrs. Ankie Green Parker, of
Gainesville, participaied. At the afternoon
DEMAND FOR PATTI CONCERTS.
concert the piano duet, Concert Polka, was
rendered not only with dash and brilliancy, n O B E R T GRAU quite recently cabled
but with wonderful expression, by the lit- *^ Madame Patti to Craig y nos, asking
tle Misses Rosalie Connor and Lila Ford. that her tournee of sixty concerts be ex-
They received a well-merited applause,
and responded with an encore. At night tended to seventy, in order that many
Miss Mary rendered Godard's 'Valse cities which could not be accommodated
Chromatique,' and gave as an encore,. in the first engagement can be visited.
Bachmann's Jigue Bretonne, both of which There has been no less than three thousand
difficult piano compositions were rendered eight hundred orders for seats and boxes
in a highly artistic manner. She also gave
a violin solo, arrangement of the 'Palms,' for Patti's New York appearances in No-
the piano accompaniment being by her vember already booked at the Patti offices
younger sister, Miss Rosalie Connor."
at Steinway & Sons, Windsor Arcade, and
Miss Dodge, who suggested the plan ot telegraphic orders are received daily from
the festival, has ambitious plans in mind as far as San Francisco asking that allot-
for the festival of next year. In addition ments be made. Mr. Grau has also cabled
to a series of concerts in which singers and to the diva earnestly requesting that he
instrumentalists of national fame will parti- may be permitted to give three concerts a
cipate, there will be a floral parade, a chil- week instead of ten a month. Madame
dren's day with open air fete, a State ball, Patti has written to the manager from
and a number of other features which will Venice that the Queen of Italy had pre-
sented her with a souvenir after the charity
add a social side to the musical menu.
It is also proposed to organize at once a concert in Rome, proclaiming her as fol-
lows : "Al illustra Artista Adelina Patti
Elena, 1903."
AMERICAN OPERATIC COMPOSERS.
pvISCUSSING
the development of
•--'
American opera in the Forum,
Joseph Sohn says: 'In advocating the en-
couragement of American operatic com-
posers, I do not by any means wish to im-
ply that subjects taken from American life
are to be chosen, or that a new style, es-
sentially American, is to be evolved. As
before stated, the development of art does
not lie in the direction of nationalism. Even
in Russia, where it is the logical policy of
the government to promote a distinctively
national art which shall draw its material
from Muscovite history, and where, for
several other seasons also, such encourage-
ment finds a certain justification, the com-
posers are by no means confining them-
selves to these subjects—as demonstrated,
for example, by Napravnik in his success-
ful opera, 'Francesca da Rimini.' The chief
fact to be borne in mind is that native com-
posers have an opportunity to obtain a
hearing- for their works; and, with the es-
tablishment of a permanent, well-organ-
ized operatic company in New York, Amer-
ican musicians also may become more
hopeful.
"It may well be then that Wagner's
prophecy to the effect that his successor
would come from America will be fulfilled,
and that we shall some day have a product,
not merely cosmopolitan, but universal,
and fundamentally human in the Wagerian
sense. Those who are either forever
'looking backward,' or merely contemplat-
ing art in the light of present political and
social conditions, confidently declare that
the Anglo-Saxon race is incapable of pro-
ducing a musical genius of the first order—
a statement frequently accepted as self-evi-
dent, although it is but a mischievous half-
truth. The fact is that the signification ot
the term 'musical' has undergone consider-
able modification.
ZELLMAN PUPILS IN CONCERT.
HE pupils of the Zellman Conservatory of
Music, of which Jos. B. Zellman is direc-
tor, gave a very delightful concert last Fri-
day evening which was attended by a large
and fashionable audience who expressed the
greatest appreciation of the very delightful
programme interpreted. The pupils individ-
ually, as well as the Cantata Singing Society
directed by Mr. Zellman, displayed the very
excellent training received at this Conserva-
tory.
*
Francesco Guardabassi, the Italian bari-
tone, who has been a prominent figure at
local private musicals for several seasons,
has been engaged by Mr. Heinrich Con-
ned for the Metropolitan Opera House.
T
ETTA EDWARDS, Vocal Instruction, Steinert Hall,
M RS. Boston,
Mass.
Pkno; jkauftctumt
All oar Instruments contain the full iron frame an4
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