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THE
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•nan.
MUJIC TRADE
V O L . x x x v i i i . No. 14. miMei Erery Sat. ly Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Maiisen Aw.. Hew Tort, April 2,1904.
SINGING PICTURES THE LATEST.
Mrs.
Beatrice Meho Has Captivated Berlin in a
Unique Combination of Art and Music.
Mrs. Beatrice Meho, an American, is the
sensation of the day in Berlin and her "Sing-
ing Pictures" are the talk in the musical and
artistic centers.
At a recent recital most of the intellectual
elect of Berlin were invited.
The first song was Schubert's "Young
Nun," Mrs. Meho appearing in nun's costume
in front of a scene representing the outside
surroundings of a convent, painted by one of
the best scene painters in Germany—Herr
Harder. The illumination of the stage was
in keeping with the words of the song.
In her next song Mrs. Meho had changed
her nun's attire for that of a Grecian poetess
to sing Brahms's "Sapphic Ode." The back-
ground was a sun-bathed Greek landscape.
A profound impression was made by the
singing of Schubert's "Litany," Mrs. Meho
appearing in dark robes before a dreary land-
scape in sombre twilight. The effect was as-
tonishing, the ladies present silently weeping.
In one of the most delightful singing pic-
tures Mrs. Meho represented an Egyptian
ghawaze, or street dancing girl. In this cos-
tume, with an appropriate Oriental landscape
behind her, she sang Felitz's "Silk Garments
Spangled with Gold," posing and dancing at
intervals. The audience applauded franti-
cally.
This was followed by "Come," Mrs. Meho
appearing as a modern woman in an autumn
garden scene. The enthusiasm of the select
audience knew no bounds.
Mrs. Meho herself, her scene painter and
her manager have conquered Berlin, and
many think this novel entertainment will sup-
plant the ordinary concert.
Her theory is: "Music, words and fitting
scenery must all be given to an audience
where possible. Wagner did this in the
higher regions of opera. I intend to do it for
the song."
SAINT-SAENS'S NEW OPERA.
Dr. Saint-Saens's new opera, "Helene,"
was successfully produced last month at
Monte Carlo, with Mme. Melba as "Helene,"
M. Alvarez as "Paris," Mile. Haglon as "Pal-
las," Mile. Blott as "Venus," and M. Gehin
as conductor.
It is stated that Ignace Paderewski has
composed a pianoforte concerto in honor of
Lord Curzon, and that, in the course of his
Eastern tour he will play it at Calcutta.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
"MME. BUTTERFLY" WITHDRAWN.
CINCINNATI'S GREAT FESTIVAL.
Composer Puccini Will Rewrite the Opera, Which
Does Not Meet with His Approval After Pro-
duction.
A Splendid Programme Outlined and an Impres-
sive Array of Artists Engaged—The Thomas
Orchestra Engaged.
After three representations at La Scala,
Milan, Signof Puccini has withdrawn his
new opera, "Mme. Butterfly," and it will not
be given this season, as expected, at the
Teatro Costanzi, Rome. Much was expected
of this opera, but it did not come up to ex-
pectations—at least of the audiences who
heard it in Italy. Puccini manfully admits
that he considers the second act too long and
too dull, and that the opera throughout can
be greatly improved upon. He intends prac-
tically to rewrite it. It is worthy of note in
this connection that the first verdicts of Ital-
ian audiences have not always been safe ones,
inasmuch as "Norma," "II Barbierre," "Tra-
viata" and other operas met with a decidedly
jchilly and adverse response) on their first
hearing. Yet these operas afterwards became
universally popular.
The sixteenth biennial musical festival will
be given in Cincinnati on May n , 12, 13 and
14, under the direction of Theodore Thomas.
The programmes are models of what they
should be on such occasions, and while they
contain nothing absolutely novel, there is
much that is of importance, old and new. On
Wednesday evening, May n , Bach's B minor
Mass will be given, preceded by his B minor
suite for string orchestra and flute. On Fri-
day evening, May 12, Edward Elgar's "The
Dream of Gerontius," preceded by the inci-
dental music and funeral march from his
"Grania and Diarmid" and followed by
Strauss's "Death and Transfiguration" and
Berlioz's Hymn, Op. 26, is to be heard.
The last concert, on Saturday evening, May
14, will be devoted to Beethoven's Missa
Solemnis, in D major, and his Ninth Sym-
phony.
The orchestral concerts on the afternoons
of the 12th and 14th offer many interesting
things. Elgar's "Variations," Op. 36, and
march, "Pomp and Circumstance," for or-
chestra, will be on the programme of the 12th.
On the 14th Bruckner's ninth symphony,
Brahms's Rhapsody, Op. 53, for male chorus,
alto solo and orchestra; Elgar's "Sea Pic-
tures," (songs with orchestra). Strauss's
"Till Eulenspiegel," are among the pieces to
be performed.
The soloists include Miss
Muriel Foster, Mme. Schumann-Heink, Miss
Agnes Nichols, Mr. William Green and Mr.
Watkin Mills.
HOFMANN TO PLAY HERE NEXT WINTER.
Josef Hofmann cabled Mr. Henry Wolf-
sohn this week that he would accept his offer
for a five months' tour in the United States
and Canada next winter, beginning in No-
vember. Hofmann, who is now touring
through Holland, goes next week to Russia
for ten concerts, and late in April and part
of May is to give twenty concerts in Great
Britain, returning to London for the season
there, when he is to play at the Richter con-
certs and in recitals. After his London sea-
son Hofmann will not be heard again in pub-
lic until he revisits this country. When Hof-
mann was here two years ago he played one
hundred and thirty-five concerts under Mr.
Wolfsohn's management during the season
of five and a half months.
MRS. ANKIE GREEN PARKER IN THE SOUTH
Mrs. Ankie Green Parker, who made such
a position for herself in New York City dur-
ing the short time that she was in the Metrop-
olis, is in Florida, where she is rusticating for
a time. Mrs. Parker will return to New
York in time for the new season, as she left a
class that in size and enthusiasm is a trib-
ute to her remarkable ability, which is not
less attractive than her very exceptional per-
sonality. Perhaps in this as much as in any-
thing else lies Mrs. Parker's success in teach-
ing, as no one can know her without under-
standing that her influence is as valuable as
her instruction.
REISENAUER'S LAST RECITAL.
Alfred Reisenauer, the pianist, is now
touring the West and will return here for
the last concert of the season, given by the
Arion Society, on Sunday evening, April 10.
During the same week he is to play two re-
citals in Philadelphia and one in Washington,
returning to this city for his farewell in Car-
negie Hall on Sunday afternoon, April 17, at
3 o'clock.
CAMPANARI TO TOUR.
Giuseppe Campanari, baritone, of the
Metropolitan Opera Company, is to make a
concert tour with the Theodore Thomas Or-
chestra. Early in June he will go to Italy,
where a number of operatic performances
rnve been arranged for him. In October he
is " make a trans-continental concert tour
at
.;d of his own company.