Music Trade Review

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February 5 th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
of attachment of the vocal cords—the thyroids in front and the arytenoids
behind.
The relaxors of the vocal bodies are the "thyro-arytenoids. These
muscles, styled the vocal muscles par excellence, on account of their intimate
relation to the vocal cords, run along the inner border of the vocal bodies,
one on either side. They likewise have the same points of attachment as
the cords, namely, the thyroids in front and the arytenoids behind (see Fig.
9). They relax the cords by drawing together the two points of attachment
of these bodies.
Mr. David Taylor, of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, engaged the
Boston Ideal Opera Company for a week of " Fatinitza," " Chimes of Nor-
mandy," and "Bohemian Girl." The performances were given at the
Brooklyn Academy of Music, commencing on Monday, January 24.
Miss Amy Sherwin, soprano, this city, was engaged to sing at the
Thomas-Joseffy concerts in Boston.
Herr Joseffy will give a series of piano recitals shortly, with elaborate
programmes, in which he will introduce a number of works not before
played by him in public.
The Working Women's Protective Union celebrated their seventeenth
anniversary at Chickering Hall on Tuesday evening, Jan. 18th. Mrs. Louise
Oliver, soprano; Mrs. G. W. De Lano, contralto; Mr. Henry E. Browne,
organist, and Mr. Caryl Florio, pianist, furnished the musical portion of
the entertainment.
The first united rehearsal of the different sections of the New York Festi-
val Chorus was held on Monday evening, Jan. 10th, and seems to have been
entirely satisfactory. About 650 singers were present, and Handel's " Mes-
siah " was sung. The second rehearsal will take place in about a week,
when Handel's Dettingen " Te Deum " aud Bubinstein's " Tower of Babel "
•will be studied.
Ambroise Thomas, who holds the position of director of the Conserva-
toire, Paris, has been promoted to the grade of Grand Officer of the Legion of
T is undoubtedly true that the ignorant crowd is in the majority. Intel-
Honor. In anuouncing the promotion, M. Jules Ferry, Minister of Public
ligent people can be found in the world, but their number is compara-
Instruction, pronounced a glowing eulogy on M. Thomas, praising him alike tively small. In matters of art and science this intelligent class comes to
as a composer and as the director of the great French national school of he front, and shows interest in matters which remain utterly unknown to
:ommon people, or those who, by instinct or education, have less refined
music and declamation.
Speaking here of refined tastes, we mean, of course, the capability
Gounod's new opera, " Le Tribut de Zamora," will probably be pro- astes.
everything which is really good and noble in art, and not
duced at the Opera in Paris about the end of February. The scenery and f f acknowledging
spending money and admiration for the sake of fashion and the longing to
costumes are far advanced, and will be ready before the time set for their shine
among the members of society. Italian opera has become an out-
delivery, and there seems no reason to doubt that the long expected and growth of this fashion—an unnatural plant on American soil—an artificial
much talked of opera will be brought out without further delay.
flower, which can only be kept alive by constant care of the gardener, while
refuses to do anything for its welfare.
The Revue el Gazette 3fusicale of Paris was discontinued on the 1st Nature
of
January, after an existence of about forty-five years.
Fashion has driven the Italian opera in America into the star system,
Madame Adelina Patti's engagement at Madrid, during which she met which ruins its prospects for ever. What is a star on the operatic stage?
with the greatest success, terminated on the 2d inst. From Madrid she Generally the name of a female singer, which is kept before the public for a
went to Nice, where she was to give two performances, all the seats for which ong while, to make it thoroughly familiar everywhere; and shoddyism clings
;o this name and believes in this star for one or two seasons, till the particular
were sold more than ten days in advance.
;aste is satisfied, till the aroma of the flower is used up, and the faded blos-
When the Mapleson opera troupe was in Boston two years ago, Miles. som is thrown away. A star on the operatic stage can never be of service to
Lido and Parodi were both ill. Dr. H. L. H. Hoffendahl attended them at art, nor to a legitimate opera season. We have seen it so often in America,
Col. Mapleson's request, and then began civil action against the Colonel to and see it once more this winter. Mme. Etelka Gerster came here two
recover for his medical services. The manager paid the bill under protest, years ago, and her sympathetic voice took. This sympathetic voice is gone,
and as soon as he returned to Boston this year began suit against the Doctor and she continues to sing on the strength of her reputation. And what does
to recover the money. He claimed that the women should have paid their she sing? A few operas, well worn and hackneyed, and she sings them
own bills. There was a long and exhaustive argument before Judge Par- again and again, and shoddyism applauds and pays liberally for seats on the
menter, on Jan. 12th, which resulted in a judgment for the Doctor, on the nights of her appearance. But the intelligent part of the audience feels dis-
ground that the j)laintiff by not defending the action in which he was gusted—not so much with Mme. Gerster, who has still her charms, but with
arrested was now debarred from recovering the money originally paid.
he monotony of the repertoh'e which is inflicted upon them by the manager
!
or the sake of the star, of fashion, and shoddyism.
" William Tell " has been brought out by the Strakosch-Hess English
We have always spoken against the star system, but now we are more
Opera Company.
opposed to it than ever. To have a good artistic opera season, we do not
Dr. F. Hueffer, the musical critic of the London Times, has consented want any star at all. Good artists who work honestly, and are able to
to write the analytical programme for the forthcoming season of the London help in building up a strong repertoire are much more valuable, and will
Philharmonic Society.
be always appreciated by those who take an interest in good operatic perform-
Another $2,000 is offered by the town of Paris for the best " symphony, ances. Alwina Valleria, whose picture we give above, is not a star, but an
with solo and chorus," by a Frenchman. It is evident by the rules that a xcellent artist. You could make her a star, but at the risk of ruining the
better part of her artistic abilities. Mile. Valleria is a conscientious artist
cantata, rather than a symphony, is meant.
of remarkable talent, thorough musical organization, and is a skillful singer.
It is said that the new opera house at Palermo will cost $1,000,000.
She is now in America for her second season, and has made friends
The orchestra of the Ideal Opera Company presented its director, Mr. verywhere; this is so much more in her favor, as she has never been
Sam'l L. Studley, with a handsome Christmas present, as an expression of starred, she had to depend upon her own merits, and managerial tricks did
the kindly feeling existing between them. Mr. Studley was also handsomely not come to her aid at all. We have spoken occasionally of her lack of
dramatic power; but this lack is of a physical character, and Mile. Valleria
remembered by the members of the company.
cannot be blamed on account of it. There being no dramatic prima donna in
The Swedish lady quartet have given several concerts at the Music Hall Mr. Mapleson's troupe, she is called upon to fill the gajj, and has to undertake
Brooklyn. The assisting artists are Miss Henrietta Maurer, pianist; Mr roles which are beyond her physical strength. But even in those roles she
Walter Emerson, cornetist; Messrs. Henry and Louis Mollenhauer, violon never fails; her musical instincts carry her safely over the bridge, and as no
cello and violin; William Denison, tenor; C. A. Jacobson, basso, and Pro dramatic part is without its lyric moments, Mile. Valleria always finds a
fessor John Goldberg, }^restidigitateur.
chance of gratifying her listeners. If we look over the repertoire which
Mile. Valleria mastered during her career in this country, we are actually
astonished to find such rare versatility in a prima donna now-a-days. Mar-
GOOD, IF TKUE.—Miss Clara Louise Kellogg has signed a contract to guerite in Boito's and Gounod's opera, "Linda di Chamounix "; Elvira in
sing in Paris, after her Russian engagement, for twenty nights—the salary t< Don Giovanni, Aida Michaela in "Carmen" and "Martha," roles of
be. 60,000f., so, at least, report says.
quite different character; she sings them all and saves the honors of Mr.
season. Without her the manager should have been lost this
CHORUS REHEARSALS.—Choral rehearsals of the Brooklyn Philharmoni Mapleson's
she is his stronghold, and enables him to produce some operas
Society are now held every Monday evening at the church on the corner o. winter,
beyond the old Italian stock operas in which Mme. Gerster appears.
Clinton and Pierrepont streets.
Now let us look at the difference between Gerster's and Valleria's future
BENEDICT.—Lady Benedict, wife of Sir Julius Benedict, has written in this
country. Mme. Gerster at the end of this winter's season will be
song which has been purchased by the contralto, Madame Patey.
out of fashion, and can he shelved as far as the American market is concerned.
BRISTOW.—Mr. George F. Bristow has written a new work for chorus, Mile. Valleria will be welcome here for many years to come, because she is
entitled "The Great Republic." The rehearsals of the work began on backed by the intelligent class of the American public, and is known as the
Monday evening, Jan. 10th, at Dr. Crosby's chapel, under direction of Mr. reliable artist, whose versatility can save the repertoire of a season from
P. S. Gilmore. Why not under the composer's own direction? He assist! monotony. If Mr. Mapleson could bring us some more artists of Valleria's
Mr. Thomas in chorus organizations, and for his own work needs an assistan stamp, our operatic affairs would be in a more flourishing state. True
artists are easily recognized in New York, and that Mile. Valleria is a true
himself. Strange!
Too TERRIBLE !—Our fears have not been unfounded. An artist by th< artist in the fullest sense of the word, nobody to our best knowledge and
name of Carrodus, (bye-the-bye an excellent violinist,) gave a violin recita belief ever doubted. We hear that her engagement with Gye, in London,
in London only two weeks ago. We hope that there will be no tendency necessitates her return to Europe in March. We are sorry to lose her, but
hope to see her again in America, next season.
among our local violinist to import this English, custom to New York.
I
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THE STAR AND THE ARTIST.