Music Trade Review

THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
January 5th, 1881.
NOTHING, IF NOT MUSICAL.—Police reporters of daily papers rival their
brethren, to whom the musical department is intrusted. One of them
speaks of an encounter between a boarding-house keeper in Greenwich
A TKEAT.-—It is reported that Street and an itinerant musician, who played a brass trumpet! Did anybody
Mapleson intends to star Mme. Mary ever see a trumpet made out of wood ?
Louise Swift in England next season.
THE WISEACRE.—A Western monthly, speaking of our article on "Na-
If the English will feel satisfied, we
surely have no reason to object to it. tional Music," reproaches the writer with superficial acquaintance with the
subject, and gives as a proof the style of the Hungarians, Slavonic popula-
SWIFT.—Some critics say that tions, Russians, and others. We think that the writer of the article, pub-
Mrs. Swift's voice is not suited for lished in our issue of Oct. 20, is fully conversant with the subject, and have
oratorio singing. That it is not capa- only to add that all the styles mentioned by the Western wiseacre can never
ble of doing justice in opera, every- form a school, and never have done so. Certain national influences may be
body knows, then what is it good for, felt, as a natural course of education, as rythmical accents may be borrowed
and why has Mr. Mapleson engaged from different nationalities; but would anybody dare to call Liztan Hungarian
her ?
composer, or would Beethoven be termed as having written in the Russian
CORRECT, BUT FOR A FEW MIS- style because the last movement of his Seventh Quartette is founded on a
TAKES. — A London correspondent Russian theme? Every nationality has its characteristics, but the true and
writes, that Vizzani, the tenor, sang great influence rests on the three great schools of music. As they generally
the high C in the duel quartette of understand these things better and more thoroughly out West, they are wel-
"Faust" very badly. This quartette come to their special opinion-
is a trio, and the high 0 is a B flat.
CLOSE CALCULATION.—A German provincial manager enquired of a cele-
Otherwise the notice seems to be brated prima donna on what terms she would sing in his theatre. "Two-
.
quite correct.
thirds of the receipts," was the reply. " Good heavens, Madam! " exclaimed
FISCHER.—Monsieur Adolphe Fischer, the Belgian violoncello virtuoso, the manager—" in my theatre we have never taken so much !"
FOOD FOR THE UNDERTAKER. "—An enthusiastic Vienna correspondent
is now in his second season in America, and proves beyond doubt the most
elegant soloist on his instrument we ever had in this country. People say writes to a paper published in this city, that to hear the beautiful hornpas-
that special attractions of tender kind make his stay in New York pro- sage in the third movement of Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, as played
in the recent Vienna Philharmonic Concert, he "would be willing to stand
tracted.
THE CLIQUES.—Germany is especially rich in musical cliques. In a in a cold rain for three hours, without overcoat or umbrella." We think,
before trying the experiment, he ought to make arrangements with an under-
recent number of the Musikalisches Wochenblatt, published in Leipzig, Rubin-
stein's new opera, " The Demon," is severely criticized as undramatic, in- taker, and order a tombstone, with the inscription: " H e died from the
effective, and tedious. Now, the innocent reader may consider this verdict effects of a beautifully played hornpassage. Musical enthusiasm has killed
the result of an honest opinion. Not by any means. The Wochenblatt is Mr. him. Requiescat in pace ! "
HENSCHEL.— Our distinguished guest, Mr. George Henschel, has been
Wagner's paper, and there is no room in it for any favorable comment on
elected a member of the old London Philharmonic Society, at a meeting of
Eubinstein. If you throw a glance behind the scenes, you feel disgusted.
that Society on Nov. 22d. It seems that the Society needs some strong
Too MUCH ASKED.—Somebody advertises in the Herald that a young young members, after the resignation of some of the old strongholds like
gentleman of means, living in fashionable apartments, desires to engage Jules Benedict and Macfarren.
the services of a young, charming, and aristocratic lady as teacher on the
BY STEAM.—Max Maretzek went in September to Cincinnati in order to
piano, who is willing to give lessons at his rooms. The advertisement is
signed "Beginner." The young gentleman of means must be a begin- organize an operatic school connected with the College of Music. About
ner, indeed, otherwise he would have applied directly to a matrimonial four months after his arrival there the first pupils' performance took place,
agency, where he may find a lady according to his wishes, not only to teach and nothing less was given than Rossini's opera: " Cenerentola." The
operatic school in Cincinnati either does wonders, or—is a fraud ; a between
the piano in his rooms, but manners at the same time.
is not imaginable; but we are ready to believe that the institute does
Is SHE REALLY ?—Teresa Carreno was called not long ago "by all odds wonders, and are anxious to see some of the pupils on the operatic stage. A
the best feminine pianist heard here for some years." Without wishing in the school girl who, in three months' study, can be made ready to sing the part
least, to detract anything from Carreno's attractive powers, we must remind of Cinderella, should be engaged by an impresario for the next twenty years.
ourr eaders, that Mme. Julia Rive King has performed here two years ago,
" PROFESSOR."—In London they make a fight on the title " Professor,"
and we could mention a few more feminine pianists who may not equal Mme. as applied to musicians. They cannot have anything else to do. Here we
Carreno in beauty, but surpass her in talent.
are much more peaceable. Teachers of standing in America will not allow
APPRECIATIVE SYMPATHY. —Herr Bogoluboffski plays a lovely nocturne, any one to call them by the title, and the Vaillants and Prochazkas are only
which he has just composed. To him, as he softly touches the final note, too glad that the title came into existence, for it is their only pride and all
fair amateur: "Oh, thanks! I am so fond of the dear old tune!"—London they have to boast of. We consider every "professor" a nincompoop
Punch. Who is this an anecdote of in New York? We prefer to let our beforehand, and so do many others. " Professors" have played out in the
readers guess, for fear we may mention one name, and leave out others of large cities in America.
equal merit.
MAURICE.—Strakosch, while traveling with Emma Thursby in Germany,
AN OPINION.—Howard Reynolds, the cornet player, whom Major Pond made a new discovery of a wonderful singer in Wiesbaden, whom he imme-
brought to America last season, proved a failure here, and returned to En- diately engaged for three years, with the annual salary of $20,000—on paper.
gland. When Levy was asked to give his opinion about him, he put the The girl's name is Helene Rolandt. We are curious to know how much cash
glass to his right eye, smiled, and gave one look, which contained worlds of she would take for the $60,000 promised by the indefatigable Strakosch.
criticism. He did not speak a word, and was not asked to any more.
Is SHE A PIANO TEACHER?—We read in a Western paper: "Mile. Litta
KING.—A young tenor by that name is in town, and very few know any- has a sister that promises to become a fine pianist, and who is being educated
by the prima donna herself." Will Mile. Litta give up singing entirely, and
thing about him. Strange that a tenor voice can remain hidden so long.
devote her time exclusively to her sister's education? We should lose a
PROTEAN NATURE.—A contralto, Mile Amadi, appeared recently at Her singer and gain a pianist.
Majesty's Theatre, London. This lady changes her name and career at will.
FRAILTY, THY NAME IS WOMAN!—It seems as though Miss Blanche
She came to this country for the first time with Lydia Thompson, and later Roosevelt had not learned a wholesome lesson from her former disastrous
sang in Italian opera with Tietjens, under the name of Annie Beaumont. At experiences in operatic management. She talks too much, and does every-
the Gaiety in London she was billed as Annie Tremaine, and now she is thing in her power to ruin her prospects in this city. Before starting for
Mile. Amadi. But her real name is Mrs. Loveday, wife of a musical and Boston, to attend the rehearsals of Cellier's new opera, " The Masque of
dramatic agent.
Pandora," she said to an interviewer something about the finest chorus ever
ON REVIENT.—Mr. Franz Remmertz sang, last year, the part of Mephis- heard, costumes such as were never equalled in this country, the best music
topheles in Berlioz's "Damnation de Faust," and pleased the critics and the Mr. Cellier has ever written, and, to sum up her gushing delight in her own
public. This year we wanted to have something better, took the great Hen- words, " Everything is just going splendidly." Unfortunately for her, New
schel, and found out very quickly that " our own " Remmertz is far superior Yorkers no longer rely on managerial ecstacies, and prefer to wait till they
in conception and expression to the Anglo-German guest. The role at the can form their own judgment. Miss Roosevelt should have been less enthu-
second performance was sung by Mr. Remmertz. You see, the old saying siastic, and not run the risk of raising public expectations in other parts of
holds good; " On revient toujours a ses premiers amours."
the country to an unnecessarily high pitch.
POVERTY, OR SOMETHING ELSE.—There is much talk about Mr. Maple-
RIDICULED.—Dr. Blidge, in the London Musical World, ridicules the
New York critic who described Signor Campanini as the " Salvini of the son's coining money in all his enterprises, yet we are informed that the pay-
lyric stage." Here in New York nothing of that kind astonishes us, for we ment of a note for £90 bearing Mr. Mapleson's signature, and due on Nov.
are used to exaggerations either way; either something is praised to the skies, 16th, 1880, after a protest in London, has been refused in America, said
or condemned as a disgrace. The majority of our musical critics do not note having been presented by a well-known banking house down town.
balance merits and deficiencies, for the plain reason that they are utterly in- People who have money and do not pay their debts are dishonest, and as we
capable of listening to a performance with the musical ear necessary to form do not believe Col. J. H. Mapleson dishonest, we must consider him poor, in
spite of the eclat, which he likes to spread around himself and his company.
a sound judgment.
INDIVIDUALITIES.
THE NEW OPERA HOUSE AGAIN.—The architect of the new opera house
WILHELMJ.—It is quoted that Wilhelmj, the violinist, said he would re-
turn to his home on the Rhine next May. We believe that Wilhelmj now is busy perfecting the interior. This is all very nice, but first let us have
intends to do so, but there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. The the house, there will be plenty of time afterwards to perfect the interior.
charms of this country are too powerful for him, and he has calculated that The architect may do all in his power, but so long as the capital is not forth-
one dollar is equal to 4 mark 20 pfennige. He knows too well on which side coming, we have no hope for the new opera house.
WASTE OF MONEY.—They say it will cost the trustees of the Cincinnati
his bread is buttered, and we have no doubt that he will remain in America
College of Music $10,000 to prepare the Music Hall for opera. If there
till the last opportunity of making another dollar has vanished.
should be a real stage fit for the produ6tion of grand opera, the amount
GARDINI.—Our noble friend, Cavaliere De Carlo Gardini, seems to be would be ten times as much. But even the expenditure of $10,000 seems
tired of managing the affairs of his wife, and has taken the management of foolish considering the artistic benefit of one single week's opera.
the Moscow Italian opera next winter. The Doctor is used to that sort of
DISTANCE ENJOYABLE.—A man in Boston is desirous of forming a flute
business, and very clever. The very step proves how clever he is, for he
seems to be aware that his powers as a manager are more lasting than Mme. quartette, and advertises for accomplices. How the cats in the neighbor-
hood will delight iu the whereabouts of the quartette !
Gerster's attractions, and in carving his own way secures his future.