Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1906 Vol. 42 N. 22

Page 3 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
fflJJIC TIRADE
VOL. XLIf. No. 2 2 .
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, June 2, 1906.
SOMETHING ABOUT MUSICAL LIONS.
Studies of the Artistic Temperament by the
Manager of Many Famous Singers and
Musicians.
Henry Wolfsohn chatted the other day about
the celebrities whom, in the course of twenty-
five years, he has brought over for the enter-
tainment of tne American public. Joseffy, Wil-
helmj, Caesar Thompson, Marteau, De Pach-
mann, Aus Der Ohe, Josef Hofmann, Schumann-
Heink, Pugno, Sarasate, Richard Strauss are
among them.
"I have been asked many times," said Mr.
Wolfsohn, 'if I had any difficulty in getting
these world famed artists to come to America,
and I have to laugh whenever I answer. In
the experience of a quarter of a century there
are only two names that occur to me as belong-
ing to celebrities who even hesitated.
"Both of these were afraid of the long ocean
voyage. One was Joachim and the other Hans
Richter. Distances in Europe are short; an ar-
tist can travel from one city to another and
fulfil his engagements without loss of sleep and
without becoming irritated by the thousand and
one little things that rasp the nerves here.
Considering what they have to endure, even
now, and wnat they used to put up with here
twenty years or so ago, it is a marvel that
tne American dollar has proved so potent.
"The artist thinks a great deal of his condi-
tion and his personal comfort, and it is quite
right that he should. You can't subject a fine
machine to the same usage that you could a
locomotive.
"Rubinstein was one of the first European
celebrities that ever came to this country in my
day. Naturally, when he returned he was asked
that ever original question, as to how he had
enjoyed the tour, and he replied that the best
thing about it was the knowledge that he had
made so much money that he would never have
to come back. He lived up to the privilege
gained.
"There is a distinct change, if not in the at-
titude toward America, at least in the remarks
concerning it. You no longer hear the artist
inveigh against the fact that we have no art
atmosphere over here and that everything is
sordid and commercial. It is possible that they
have waked up to the fact that when an artist
deliberately turns his back on the country where
art atmosphere simply permeates the place and
comes over here to play or sing for filthy lucre,
abhorring the nation and its customs, he is
more sordid and more commercial than the
people who are simply, endeavoring to get the
best talent that the world affords for their
education and treating that want with com-
mercial foresight.
"We have to-day the best artists and the most
appreciative audiences in the world. My own
experience is that we are more critical and
more just in our criticisms than any other
country.
"Take, for example, the case of Berlin. There
is a city that gives sometimes 800 concerts a
season, and the participants get good press
notices and are always loudly applauded. I
know for a fact that if many of these same con-
certs were given in America the people would
rise and leave the place. They would not be
bored by mediocre talent of that kind for a
moment.
"Even in London the celebrated ballad con-
certs that are one of the features of the season
could not succeed with us unless they put more
of the real thing in them. As they are now,
at every concert there are thirty or so num-
bers and perhaps one or two stars at the most.
"Many of the singers and instrumentalists are
never heard of again. Where they come from,
where they go to nobody knows or cares; but
what is heartrending is the fact that the ma-
jority of the participants are allowed to bore
people who love music and should have the
best, especially at places like that. There is
too much mediocrity in art; what we need is a
weeding out!
"I believe the foreign press is to blame for
much of this so-called talent. It is the truth
that a musical agent cannot depend at all on
the press notices of a foreign country. As a
general thing they are fulsome, superlative and
nauseating in their praise, and their denuncia-
tions are equally mistaken.
"In America you do not have that condition
of affairs. There is no musical critic whom you
could buy it you wanted to, and especially in
the larger cities criticisms are just and based
on thorough knowledge of the arts.
"I should say, roughly speaking, that there
are probably 700,000 artists in the world clamor-
ing for recognition, and of these there are
not more than seven or eight that make big
money. By big money I mean from $1,500 to
$2,000 a night.
"Among the latter is, yes, Josef Hofmann,
who has the double attraction of being a genius
as well as one of the few child wonders who
have really fulfilled predictions. My own ex-
perience is that the child wonder is a musical
blunder.
"The trouble is that he gets his success too
soon and is consequently, when the charm of
his youth and innocence is gone, absolutely de-
ficient in the qualities that go to the making
of an artistic career. He must have something
besides musical talent, he must have the ex-
perience and the knowledge of life that pro-
duce temperament. If these qualities are de-
manded in geniuses, it is very evident that
when the talent is of the mediocre variety, they
are absolutely essential.
"In engaging stars, many things have to be
taken into account. An artist's personal ap-
pearance goes for a great deal.
"He must know how to come on a stage, how
to leave, for he must appeal. If he sets his
audience on edge in the beginning, no matter
how well he plays or sings, he will be a failure.
I have had that experience over and over.
"Engaging stars is a gamble. You have abso-
lutely nothing to work on. You cannot depend
on press notices, you cannot depend on hearsay,
you cannot even depend on the audiences of the
past, for they are notoriously fickle. I have
made many blunders, not so many now as I
used to, but when I was more inexperienced
I took greater chances.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
"One thing that has to be taken into account
now is the improvement in the musical educa-
tion of the public at large, and in consequence
the difficulties of making successful tours with
but the very best known talent. Nearly all
cities of any size have a series of orchestral
concerts, and for these season tickets are large-
ly sold. At these concerts the most celebrated
singers appear, and when an artist attempts to
travel on his own account he has that competi-
tion."
Speaking of the chances and changes of the
artist's life to the "Sun," Mr. Wolfsohn said:
"It is not generally known that the first ap-
pearance of Fremstad as a star was a mere
matter of chance. She was engaged on a con-
cert tour with Scalchi by Seidl, and the latter
was tremendously advertised. Nobody had heard
about Fremstad; she was one of the seconds in
the race for honors.
"But at the last moment, in one of the big
Western towns, Scalchi fell ill and Fremstad
had to take her place. Her success was as-
sured then, and any one who heard her that
night, as I did, could not be surprised at any
future fame that comes her way."
THE PRODUCTION OF MME. BUTTERFLY.
Henry W. Savage has selected as conductor
for his production of Puccini's "Madame But-
terfly" Walter Rothwell of Paris, Berlin and
Bayreuth, who, it will be remembered, occupied
the conductor's desk in Mr. Savage's "Parsifal"
production last season. Joseph Sheehan will be
in the cast. Mr. Savage will confine his ef-
forts in the grand opera field the early portion
of the coming season to the production of
"Madame Butterfly." In this presentation the
opera will have a separate and distinctive pro-
duction, and as the libretto of this composition
has been furnished by John Luther Long and
David Belasco, this collaboration for the first
time in many years, of American librettists with
such a distinguished foreign composer as Puc-
cini, naturally incites a wide interest in mu-
sical circles.
WILL DR. MUCK BE SELECTED.
Reports from Europe are to the effect that Dr.
Karl Muck has been engaged as conductor of
the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This is abso-
lutely denied by Henry L. Higginson and may
be due to the fact that premature announce-
ments are against the interests of the organiza-
tion. Indeed, it may be that there is nothing
in the rumor.
RICHARD STRAUSS TO CONDUCT.
"Hofkapellmeister" Dr. Richard Strauss, of the
Berlin Opera, has been engaged to conduct the
"Tannhauser" performances at the Wagner-
Mozart festival to be held in Munich from Aug.
2 to Sept. 7. Among other engagements is that
of Rudolph Moest, of the Hanover Royal Opera.
In the eleven years of its existence the Pitts-
burg Orchestra management has expended more
than $200,000 above receipts from the public;
636 concerts have been given; 320 in Pittsb \v$
and 216 in other places.

Page 4 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
show the trend of thought to a certain extent.
The New York State Music Teachers' convention
is also one of the most important events in
the country. While it hardly reaches further
than New York State it is so important that
where he was at the head of the violin de- the influence is really far reaching. This will
Practically the only music in the country at
present of any great importance are the sum- partment of the Chicago Musical College, of open June 25th at Geneva, N. Y., and it will
mer concerts or the musical festivals and con- which Dr. Florence Ziegfeld is the director. last until the 28th. There will be several im-
ventions. The festival idea is spreading with Sauret's place will be filled by Hugo Herrmann, portant soloists, as is always the case.
utmost rapidity which is proof of what, such one of the most noted and capable violinists
June 30 to July 5th the Northeastern Saenger-
good example brings about as the Worcester that has ever appeared in this country. It is fest will be held in Newark, N. J. The solo-
and Cincinnati festivals. The benefit is not de- also hinted that Harold Bauer is to be con- ists wiil be Maud Powell, violin; Mme. Schu-
rived from the concerts alone but there are nected with that institution, but as yet this mann-Heink, contralto; Corinne Rider-Kelsey,
both before and after effects.
Before—indeed has not been verified. To return, however, to soprano; Frieda Stender, soprano; Campanari,
a whole year beforehand—the local musicians thejestival the Southern Music Teachers' Asso- baritone; Daniel Beddoe, tenor, and Edwin
are interested in working up the choral num- ciation will hold their annual convention in Grasse, violin. This does not represent one-
bers and in interesting the people in general, Gainesville, Ga., from June 12th to June 14th. half the festivals going on in all sections of the
while during the festival days the musical en- The Ohio Music Teacher's Association will meet country, but it does show the great activity dur-
thusiasm is at a high pitch and receives the in Cincinnati from June 20th to June 22d. ing the summer months.
sort of impetus which keeps it alive and grow- Perhaps the mo?t important of all these sessions
ing. These occasions give the opportunity to is the festival of the Music Teachers' National
Speaking of summer music it is in order to
bring artists of note before a public which Association, which will be the twenty-eighth
otherwise has not as yet the power to stand annual meeting of this body of teachers. They note that Arthur Pryor's band begins a two
on the musical situation alone and would not will meet at Oberlin, Ohio, from June 26th to weeks' engagement June 17th, at Willow Grove
Park, Philadelphia, Pa. Walter Damrosch and
undertake the importation 01 so many even dur- 29th. The character of this year's session will
ing an entire season. Of course it must not be be totally aifferent from those held a year be- the New York Symphony Orchestra will return
supposed that these are all financial successes, fore, as instead of the usual order of music to Ravina Park, just outside of Chicago, where
they made such a pronounced success last sum-
because this is very far from the cas:e, but the time will be given to addresses by some of
even a deficit which grows smaller from year the greatest educators of this country- There mer. They open June 23d. The same day as
to year is encouragement to those who know will be an illustrated lecture by Albert A. Stan- the opening concert at Ocean Grove, N. J., un-
how intensely necessary and beneficial these ley, University of Michigan, "An Opera of the der direction of Tali Esen Morgan. When it
comes to "continuous performance festivals"
Seventeenth Century" (Cesti's "II pomo d'ora") ;
annual meetings are.
perhaps the palm may be yielded to the Ocean
"Some
European
Musical
Association,"
by
O.
G.
The thirteenth annual May festival of the
Grove scheme which runs at least six weeks
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor took place Sonnovk, musical librarian of the Library of
or more. There are any number of oratorio
May 10th, 11th and 12th, when the Choral Congress. There will be a discussion upon "The
Study of Music in the College," by H. Dike productions and orchestral concerts, and prac-
Union and the Theodore Thomas Orchestra of
tically all the soloists availab e are heard at
Chicago collaborated.
The soloists for the Sleeper, Smith College, A. A. Stanley, University
of Michigan, and Abram Ray Tyler, Beloit Col- some time or another under these auspices.
three days were Charlotte Maconda, Lillian
This year Mr. Morgan is training a children's
French Read, Grace Munson, Isabelle Bouton, lege. This will be followed by "Music in the
festival chorus of over one thousand voices, to
Frances Caspari, Glenn Hall, Elison van Hoose, Secondary School" and "The College and the
be ready for the public August 9th.
Secondary
School,"
by
Leonard
D.
McWhood,
G. Campanari, Herbert Witherspoon, Gwilym
Victor Herbert's orchestra begins its engage-
Columbia University. George C. Gow, of Vassar
Miles, William Howland, Fred Killeen, vocalists;
ment
at Willow Grove Park July 8th, and
College,
will
give
a
paper
on
"Unification
and
Brahm Van den Berg, pianist; August Schmidt,
Souea, with his band, is due there August 12th
"The Beautiful in
organist, and Frederick Stock and Albert A. the Educational System."
Stanley, conductors. It was a magnificent ar- Music" will be discussed by T, de Laguna, Uni- to September 3d, after which it will go to Pitts-
tistic success, but there was a heavy financial versity of Michigan; John C. Griggs,. of Vassar burg for the Exposition to be held in that city
College, and Peter C. Lutkin, Northwestern Uni- from September 17th to 23d.
loss.
versity. The last day will present Frank Dam-
rosch, who will discuss "The University of
New York has gone "opera mad;" this does
June 12th, the Illinois Music Teachers' con-
Music, Its Aims and Possibilities," in which he not mean exactly the people who desire to wit-
vention will meet in Peoria, and the session
will be joined by Willard Kimball, of the Uni- ness the performances, but rather those who
will last until June 15th. This will be one of
versity of Nebraska; and Thomas W. Surette, wish to exploit opera. The assured organiza-
the most important assemblages, as the soloists
the well-known lecturer on musical topics will
tions are, of course, Conried's Metropolitan
are of exceptional importance. They include
read a paper on the subject of "Culture Courses." Opera Company, Hammerstein's
Manhattan
Emil Sauret, violin; Julie Rive-King, piano;
It will be, therefore, understood that the think- Opera Company and Henry W. Savage's English
Arthur Speed, piano, and Ernest Perabo, piano;
ing side, the intercourse which will be of the Grand Opera Company. Then we are threat-
Frank Wagner, 'cello; Alexander von Fielitz,
utmost benefit to the great teaching forces of
ened with a tour of the San Carlo Opera Com-
composer; John B. Miller, tenor, and Hans
this country, will be the principal features of
pany, of which Henry Russell is to be director.
Schroeder, baritone. The occasion will be nota-
this meeting and the topics are sufficient to Ten weeks of this season the company will be
ble for Sauret's last appearance in Illinois,
in New Orleans, and there will be twenty-five
weeks in the other cities of America. In addi
tion to Nordica and Alice Nielsen, Russoll
steadfastly adheres to his promise to present
Schumann-Heink with this company, while
Henry Wolfsohn, her manager, states absolutely
that Mme. Schumann-Heink is not a member
of the San Carlo Opera Company nor has any
New Edition for* IViixed Voices
contract been signed by Mme. Schumann-Heink
outside of the Conried Metropolitan Opera Com-
pany. Among the interesting engagements with
SPECIAL OFFER TO THE MUSIC TRADE
the latter organization none is more fully de-
A new edition of War Songs is in preparation, and will be issued about August first.
served than that of Rita Newman, whose suc-
cesses with the Savage Opera Company were so
The refrain of each song will be arranged for mixed voices, although if desired the songs
pronounced. Miss Newman is a San Francisco
may be sung throughout by a solo voice.
girl in which city she has always been a great
Until the first of August copies will be offered to the general public, to ensure a wide
favorite, socially and artistically. Miss Newman
and instantaneous introduction, at 25 cents each, postpaid, for cash with order.
left for Europe where, in addition to prepar-
The retail price will be 50 cents.
ing her costumes, she will study her roles with
Jean de Reszke.
TO THE TRADE the price will be 20 cents in any quantity, and all orders received will
Other operatic promises are those which will
be dalivered transportation postpaid. If you receive orders to be sent by mail please send
enlist
the services of Leoncavallo, the Italian
them to us with your own label, and we will forward and pay the postage ourselves.
composer, who will come with much the same
Remember this offer positively expires August first, 1906, but War Songs will sell for
sort of company as Mascagni. The arrange-
ever, therefore be wise and order a large supply, which you can sell at regular rates, after
ments include an orchestra of sixty-five mu-
sicians from La Sca'a Theatre in Milan and
the advance offer is withdrawn.
about eight soloists. The tour will open in New
York April 8th, in Carnegie Hall, and the opera
selected for the opening is "I Pagliacci." These,
however, will be given in oratorio form without
Orders may be sent to Oliver Ditson Company, Boston; C. H. Ditson & Co.. New York,
costume or scenery. It is said that this is
or J. E. Ditson & Co., Philadelphia, whichever is most convenient.
financed by John Cort, who will also hring
TIMELY TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS.
WAR
SONGS
OLIVER DITSON COMPANY, Boston
Calve; back next year fo-r concert tours.

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