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THE MUSIC TRADE
11
REVIEW
Visit of Lhevinne to the White House Emphasizes How Much Mrs. Roosevelt Is Accomplishing
as a Patron of Good Music—Mrs. Mannes With the Kneisel Quartet—Senator Page's Bill
to Transmit Music—Gertrude Peppercorn's Arrival—The Chickering Series of Old Chamber
Concerts Awaited With Interest—Oscar Hammerstein to Produce Saint Saens' "Helene"—
The Mendelssohn Choir of Toronto to be Heard With the Pittsburg Orchestra at Carnegie
—Tretbar as a Publisher—The Filipinos Are Musical—How the Prize Fighter Is Remem-
bered While MacDowell and His Accomplishments Win Little Recognition.
ward listening in delight when a very tall man
sitting on the pulpit stairs rose up slowly. When
Father Taylor had come to the close of his
eulogy the stranger wanted to know whether a
person who died at one of Jenny Lind's concerts
would go to heaven. The old man glared at him
some moments—not many—then said: "A good
man will go to heaven, sir, die where he may,
and a fool will be a fool wherever he lives,
though he sits on my pulpit stairs."
*
*
•
•
Oscar Hammerstein will put into immediate
The interesting fact was recorded in last week's tions for the generation of music electrically the rehearsal Saint-Saens' "Helene," and the one-act
Review that Josef Lhevinne, the Russian pian- right to construct, use and maintain wires, trans- opera will be produced at the Manhattan Opera
ist, and his wife, were visitors a t the White mit dispatches, "consolidate with other corpora- House within a short time. Mme. Melba will
sing the role of "Helene," which was especially
House during their Washington visit, and played tions and appoint police."
for both President and Mrs. Roosevelt. The lat-
After he had introduced his bill, Senator Page written for her and which she created when the
ter was present at the Philadelphia Orchestra in reply to questions, said: "I thinn it was opera was first produced at Monte Carlo in Feb-
concert, and heard Lhevinne and the foregoing handed to me by John C. Rowe, a friend who is ruary, 1903. Dalmores will sing the role of
was the result.
These well-known musicians connected with Eaton & Lewis, attorneys for the "Paris," in which he appeared when the opera
were the recipients of many courtesies at the Electric Music Co." President Pro Tern. Raines was repeated in London during the summer of
hands of the President and his charming wife, referred all inquirers to Superintendent of Pub- the same year. When the opera was given origi-
and after their return to their hotel they found lic Works Stevens. Superintendent Stevens in nally at Monte Carlo, the part of "Paris" was
a magnificent bouquet of flowers from the turn introduced those seeking information to sung by Alvarez. Mme. Donalda will be the
White House conservatory. Of course, Lhevinne President Crosby, who, originally a West Pointer, "Venus" and Mme. de Cisneros will sing "Pallas."
played on the beautiful art piano which was pre- retired from the United States Engineer Corps This will be the strongest cast which has yet
sented the Nation by Steinway & Sons, and to become manager of Steven's Washington (D. been heard in "Helene." The opera runs for
which is always so much admired by visitors to C.) railway, gas and electric plants. President only an hour and a quarter, and there are but
the White House. It is interesting to note that Crosby said: "We seek to put music into every four characters in the production. As is well
Washington is now waking up to the fact that home in the State, and we hope ultimately to known, Saint-Saens composed not only the score
Mrs. Roosevelt is accomplishing much as a pa- bestow it upon every home in the country. All but wrote the libretto as well. The opera will
tron of good music. Various high-class musi- we ask is the privilege of putting up wires wher- be sung in French at the Manhattan Opera
cales have been given at the White House under ever we cannot secure them from other sources." House. Mr. Hammerstein's decision to produce
her direction, and she has succeeded in making "1 am not financially interested in this com- "Helene" is the outcome of the visit which was
drawing room musicales quite the fashion in pany," said ex-Senator Stevens. "I have had paid by Saint-Saens to the impresario when the
Washington. Now they are saying that never nothing to do with the introduction of the Page Manhattan opera season opened. During their
has there been before a mistress of the White bill. I, however, know President Crosby well and conversation Mr. Hammerstein agreed, at the
House who gave so much encouragement to mu- favorably. Whenever I can serve him, without composer's request, to produce "Helene" if pos-
sic. Moreover, she does this because she likes violating official obligations, I reserve the right sible during the current year. The premier of
the opera in this country, with a cast of prin-
music and appreciates it. No musical pro- to do so."
cipal singers such as Mr. Hammerstein will pro-
grammes are given at the executive mansion un-
* * * *
less they have had Mrs. Roosevelt's supervision.
Gertrude Peppercorn, whose arrival from vide, and with the opportunity afforded to hear
She is regarded as a most competent critic, and Europe, owing to illness, has been considerably Melba in the title role, will undoubtedly awaken
she has a distaste for any but good music. It is delayed, was scheduled to arrive in New York wide musical interest. ' At the request of M.
even said of her that she will not hear any but yesterday (Friday). She will be heard at a num- Saint-Saens, Hermann Klein has translated and
the best music. President Roosevelt probably ber of important musical affairs in the East adapted an English version of the manuscript
would not seriously lay claim to being as highly through the medium of the Knabe piano, with of "Helene."
• • * o
versed in music or as appreciative of it as Mrs. which she has been identified upon the occasion
Two interesting concerts are scheduled for Car-
Roosevelt. He has a fondness for popular mu- of her past tours of this country. Miss Pepper-
sic and the like. The old plantation songs, too, corn has an army of friends in the United States negie Hall on the evenings of February 12 and
13, when the Mendelssohn Choir of Toronto,
are favorites with him. No member of the who will rejoice at her return to this country.
the Pittsburg Orchestra, Emil Paul, conductor,
Roosevelt family, however, is without a good un-
* * • •
derstanding of music. Some of the children
The series of concerts of old chamber music and a number of notable soloists will be heard
have given it much study.
which will be given in Chickering Hall, Bos- in programmes that are of unusual excellence.
* * * *
ton, under the direction of Arnold Dolmetsch, are The Mendelssohn Choir of Toronto was organized
in 1894, along lines similar to the famous Henry
The Kneisel Quartette gave its fourth concert destined to prove among the most interesting of
Tuesday evening at Mendelssohn Hall, and a the many musical events which have occurred in Leslie Choir of London, England, and has since
large audience enjoyed a programme of exceed- the "City of Culture" this season. These con- been a most active and influential factor in the
ing interest. The principal number was Cassar certs, which are under the auspices of Chicker- musical life of the Dominion of Canada. At first
Franck's piano quintette, the piano part of which ing & Sons, will, in a measure, bring before the the choir confined itself to unaccompanied choral
was superbly played by Mrs. Clara Mannes, with public the remarkable work which this enterpris- work, but developed its programmes from season
an excellent understanding of the place the piano ing institution is accomplishing in the manufac- to season, and for several years past has had the
occupies in ensemble performances. Mrs. ture of harpsichords, clavichords, etc., after the co-operation of the Pittsburg Orchestra in
Mannes, like all members of the Damrosch fam- manner and design of the instruments of the all its concerts, much of its work now being
ily, is a musician of ability, and she brought out olden time. The first concert which will be of made up of choral novelties for voices and or*
the orchestral qualities of the Steinway piano English music of the sixteenth and seventeenth chestra. The conductor, A. S. Vogt, born in Can-
in a most entrancing way. It blended with the centuries, will afford opportunities for illustrat- ada, received his musical education in Germany.
strings most charmingly.
ing the tonal beauty of the instruments of that The membership is limited to two hundred and
* * * *
period, while the second concert, which will be twenty singers, and the greatest care is taken in
the selection of voices. Among the members are
In last week's Review reference was made to devoted to French music of the seventeenth and
many of the most prominent soloists of Toronto.
the bill introduced by Senator Page in Albany, eighteenth centuries, will show the evolution not
The New York concerts of February 12 and 13
only
in
the
domain
of
composition
but
also
of
conferring upon the New York Electric Music
will be preceded by four days of concerts in
Co., who are owners of the teleharmonic princi- musical instrument manufacturing. The final
Toronto (February 4, 5, 6 and 9), and one day
concert
will
be
devoted
to
the
music
of
Bach.
ple of producing music, quite as extraordinary
in Buffalo (February 11). The choir will not
privileges as those now exacted by the telegraph There is nothing more delightful than to hear
sing elsewhere this season in the United States.
these
instruments
played
by
such
a
master
mind
and telephone monopolies. It is said that Super-
• * * •
intendent of Public Works Frederick C. Stevens, as Dolmetsch. It takes one back to the olden
Charles
F.
Tretbar,
for many years with
days
when
the
aim
of
musical
instrument
manu-
because of his friendship for President O. T.
Crosby, of the Electric Music Co., has pledged facturers was not merely tone quantity, but Steinway & Sons, and who a year ago severed
his connection with that house to enter the mu-
himself to use his influence with the Legislature quality.
sic publishing business in Baden-Baden, has re-
* * * *
to put through the act. Should it become law
cently produced, in elegant style, four violin
any citizen in the State who pays the rate de-
Among Boston reminiscences are many of
compositions by Bruno Oscar Klein, which are
manded may sit at his home, press a button and "Father Taylor," the founder of the Seamen's
said to be very fine.
listen to opera or ragtime, transmitted to him Bethel. In his little book on "Father Taylor,"
• * * •
through hundreds of miles. The Page bill, Robert Collyer tells of one Sunday morning when
The Filipinos are a very musical people, and
though it contains scarcely four lines, grants to Jenny Lind went to hear the sailor-preacher.
the Electric Music Co. ail powers possessed by He was preaching on amusements and paid a although we sometimes talk of them as savages,
etc., yet a good grade of music is heard
telegraph and telephone companies, under the glowing tribute to "the sweetest singer that ever
in Manila. The Constabulary Band XX of that
general transportation corporation act. It alighted on our shores," and to her modesty
amends article 8 so as to bestow upon corpora- and charity. The sweet singer was leaning for- city, which is under the command of Lieutenant
W, H. Loving, compares with any organization,