Music Trade Review

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Aug. 5th, 188 r.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW
183
the able and energetic conductor of the Teatro Re- and Leander " and "La Regina del Nepal," is that
gio; and yet it cannot be said that it met with any- of the rising Italian school. This school, though
thing like an enthusiastic reception. It is true that largely influenced by Gounod and—as regards dra-
Italian audiences are extremely capricious, and that matic continuity, declamation, and treatment of
an opera which may prove a total failure in Turin the vocal subjects by the orchestra—by Wagner,
AT HOME.
may achieve a brilliant success in Milan, or vice yet stands on its own independent ground, for
H. Clarence Eddy opened the series of concerts
versa; as was exemplified in the case of Boito's while fully admitting extension of form in harmony
" Mefistofele," which, though almost universally and instrumentation, it cultivates and upholds mel- in connection with the normal course of the Her-
accepted, is only just beginning to make its way in ody as after all the first requisite of opera, and thus shey School of Musical Art, in Chicago, on the
Milan. But as regards the opera under notice, it the music, instead of becoming a heavy "intellect- afternoon of July 15th, with an organ recital, play-
is not so much the music as the libretto that caus- ual tempest," is generally clear and intelligible. ing Bach's Prelude and Fugue in A minor, Hen-
ed disappointment. The latter is by Signor Tom- For Mirtza, the heroine of his new opera, Bottesini selt's "Ave Maria" (arranged by Archer), Chopin's
massi, and although no libretto has probably ever found an excellent and sympathetic exponent in etude, in C sharp minor (arranged by Haught),
been got up more elegantly and niore lavishly—for Signorina Turolla, whose one great fault is her vi- Listz's Symphonic Poem, "Orpheus," Mendel-
even the leading musical subjects are given—it by brato, and who, but for this, gained almost unani- ssohn's B flat Sonato, Lux Morceande Concert, or
no means atones for the inherent weakness of the mous applause as the heroine of " Hero and Lean- the Prayer from "Der Freischiitz," and Shiele's
drama or for the absence of poetical merit. The der," which she sang in Rome during the season Concert Satz in C minor.
dramatic action, which is spread over a prologue before last. The other leading and more or less
and three, happily short, acts, may be told in a few thankless parts of "La Regina del Nepal" were Mr. S. G. Pratt's opera " Zenobia" will be pro-
words.
not rendered equally well, but the ensembles and duced in October, with Annie Louise Cary and
the orchestra gave proof of excellent training. A Myron W. Whitney as soloists.
Giamshid, the King of Nepal, has been defeated first
performance is hardly ever a fair test of the The N. Y. Herald says: Mr. S. B. Mills has
in battle by Elbis, the general of the Persian army, success
and vitality of an opera in Italy; and already concluded his piano teaching for the season, which
and dies in the arms of his daughter Mirlza and his on the second
and third nights the new opera met is said to have netted him the handsome sum of
faithful minister Simar, who swear to avenge his with a much warmer
although this was $9,000. He is one of the most successful teachers
defeat and death. Both are led in captivity to Te- due exclusively to the inception,
music, and certainly not to in New York.
heran, where they are kindly treated by JSfekir, the the libretto. Yet it may
safely be affirmed that,
Queen of Persia, who at the same time rewards El- of the two operas, "La Regina
Nepal" and The New York Philharmonic Society will give
bis, her general, for his services by making him her "Hero and Leander," the latter del
is
not
only the six concerts and six public rehearsals next winter,
husband and king. Faithful to her pledge, Mirlza most successful, but also the best work Bottesini
as usual, at the Academy of Music, and it will also
resolves to stab the vanquisher of her father, but has so far produced.—Musical Times, London.
give one or two extra concerts to secure funds for
when face to face with him her dagger drops; and
the erection of the Beethoven Monument in the
in a subsequent moonlight scene in the palace gar-
Central Park. The orchestra will number from
den at Teheran she confesses her love to him, whilst
100 to 125 men. The Brooklyn Philharmonic will
ITALIAN OPERA IN ENGLAND.
he, with oriental weakness and treachery, promises T is not altogether true that Italian opera has give six concerts and twelve public rehearsals at
to restore her to her father's throne, and to that end
flourished in this country because it has had the Brooklyn Academy of Music with an orchestra
heads a conspiracy of the Indians in captivity at no rival.
by the aristocracy, it became a of about 100. In two of the concerts the Brooklyn
Teheran. Simar, however, finding himself de- fashionable Petted
pastime, and, as the artistic minority chorus will take part. The New York chorus will
ceived by Mirtza, to whose hand he aspired, prompt- could not support
another establishment, gradual- give two concerts and two public rehearsals at
ly reveales the plot to the Queen who surprises the ly it assumed the form
of a national institution, so Steinway Hall, at which some works unknown in
conspirators when on the point of executing their that the few attempts which
made from time this city are promised. Mr. Theodore Thomas
scheme. After the usual exclamations of horror to time to perform operas in were
the
language
of the will be the conductor of all of these organizations,
from the populace, and the Queen's reproaches for country in which they were written seemed actual-
as heretofore.
treachery and ingratitude, Mirlza has nothing bet- ly opposed to the sympathies of the English peo-
The Boston newspapers are already beginning to
ter to do than stab herself with the identical dagger ple. That the rage for lyrical works sung by
which was originally intended for Elbis, whilst this vocalists of all nations to Italian words has now express their satisfaction at the prospects of a good
excellent general evidently gets off cheaply, for, as declined can scarcely admit of a doubt; and, as musical season next winter. The Harvard Associa-
is to give five concerts, the Philharmonic So-
is usual in such cases, the jealous Queen contents the
first practical proof of this fact, we hail with tion
ciety promises eight concerts and as many public
herself, apparently, with the death of her rival. " II pleasure
the
announcement
of
the
advent
of
a
Ger-
rehearsals, and the new orchestra under Mr. Georg
faut toujours chercher la femme."
man operatic company.
Henschel will give twenty concerts, each preceded
It would be difficult to say of which opera this Years ago we remember having heard " Fidelio" by a public rehearsal. There will be in all, there-
libretto savors more strongly: of " L'Africaine," represented by German artists who in their own fore, sixty-one public performances of orchestral
of "Aida," of the "Heine de Saba," or of the "Roi country might have ranked as third-rate, and, al- music alone, by local organizations, an abundance
de Lahore"; at all events the conclusion is irresis- though there was not a " star " in the whole com- to which Boston is altogether unused ; and as it is
tible that Bottesini might have done better than pany, never shall we forget the effect of the ensem- intended that all of these concerts shall be of the
waste his talent on so hackneyed and worthless a ble, not only upon ourselves, but upon the entire first class, there is indeed good cause for rejoicing.
subject. Of course the drama affords ample scope audience. The earnestness and genuine pathos The composition of the orchestras will be nearly
for spectacular display, which on the Italian stage thrown into the " Prisoners'Chorus " drew tears identical in all these series, so that unusual unan-
of the day, as elsewhere, is more than ever a source from all; and yet, with what is termed a first-rate imity in the playing ought to be secured.
of attraction, and an indispensable requisite of suc- Italian company, we have often heard this same
cess. However, in the case before us, even this piece received without the slightest recognition,
The Weiting Opera House building, one of the
profuse oriental splendor, and such seductive and on several occasions even with laughter.
finest structures in Syracuse, N. Y., was totally
moonlight scenes as that of Mirlza being pictur- The "Meiningen Court Company " have shown destroyed by fire on the morning of July 19th.
esquely suspended in a modern hammock from the us how attention to perfection of detail and uni- The loss is estimated at $398,000, upon which there
palms in the palace garden at Teheran, do not formly good acting can infuse a new life into the is an insurance of $270,000. Half a dozen persons
make up for the dulness of the story or the wretch- drama ; and we may hope that the German oper- were injured by falling walls. This is the third
ed verse which the author has patched thogther.
atic artists with whom we shall make acquaintance time within 25 years that buildings on this site
Bottesini is by no means the only composer who next year will prove to us that something better have been burned.
has set good music to an inferior libretto ; but he than well-worn Italian operas, inadequately repre- Mr. Aug. Spranger, one of the musicians of
might have taken a lesson from similar errors com- sented, are ready for us when we require them.
Bach's orchestra in Milwaukee, Wis., was pros-
mitted by Schumann in his "Genoveva," or, to There can be no reason why we should not have trated on the afternoon of July 16th by sunstroke
quote an Italian and even more recent example, purely Italian operas sung by Italians, but we also in such a manner as to cause grave fears for his life.
by Ponchielli in the case of the " Promessi Sposi." want French operas sung by Frenchmen, and
It is the composer and not the author of the libretto German operas sung by Germans ; and if to these Charles A. Sieber, flour merchant, of 970 Eighth
who in such cases is invariably held responsible, and we add English operas sung by Englishmen, the avenue, appeared in the Yorkville Police Court,
often pays dearly for his want of discernment in the taste of the whole art-loving public of this country, July 16th, to answer the charge of having called
choice of a libretto. '' La Regina del Nepal " opens instead of that of a small section, will be amply George H. Davis, a music teacher, of Broadway
with a short prelude, as is usual and, it may be appealed to —Musical Times, London.
and Fifty-seventh street, a rascal and a scoundrel,
added, necessary in operas written in the first
and spitting in his face. Three years ago Davis
instance for Italian audiences, too impatient and
was engaged to give instructions on the piano to
A MUSICAL DODO.
talkative to listen to an instrumental prelude, much
R. THEO. THOMAS has been giving his Sieber's daughter, a miss of sixteen years. He
less to an overture, however well played. In the
views (in the columns of Scribner) on the made advances and proposed marriage. Sieber
first act Mirtza, to whom falls the lion's share of the musical education and possibilities of the New forbade him to visit the house, Sieber said that
opera, has a charming air," Soccorri la figlia captiva World. We do not intend, in this column, to debate Davis then wrote letters to the girl, which she
dolente," and, farther on, a most original and the question of the fixed or the moveable do, leav- handed over to him. He determined, to thrash
characteristic "bee" song, called "Canzone dell' ing the discussion of the matter to the unfettered Davis, but, considering his small size, showed his
Ape"—-"Ai primi rai del giorno," with ensemble. inclinations of our numerous correspondents. contempt by spitting in his face. Davis told Jus-
The first act, undoubtedly the best of the opera, is Nevertheless, the celebrated American musician is tic Wandell if Sieber would make him a public
brought to a close by a grand finale and ensemble rather hard on the plan which is at the bottom of apology, pay his counsel fee, and give $5 to the
which is highly effective, and shows Bottesini as a all the notations that we are aware of, including poor, he would withdraw his complaint. Sieber
master of dramatic composition. In the second act as a matter of course the ordinary five-line notation said that he thought that he was the aggrieved
may be mentioned Mirtza's solo, "Ridato gia m' area of the civilized world. This plan is that known as party, and would do nothing of the kind. He
il soglio un nume arcano," which she sings rocking the moveable do, about which Mr. Thomas remarks was willing to abide by any dicision of the Court,
in the hammock, and is followed by Elbis' recitative that it shuts the door against a knowledge of but would have nothing to do with the complain-
and solo for tenor," Una fanciula figlia di Re," and absolute pitch, and only enables a pupil to sing a ant. The case was adjourned.
then by a love duet, remarkable for the swing and simple psalm tune in one key ; " and, further,
beauty of its climax, "Ai tuoi piedi 1' umile mio that it "is a makeshift invented by amateurs." The "Mateo" Band on the Plymouth Rock,
brando io depongo." In the third act are conspicu- We would have thought that the writer's experi- which sails between New York and Long Branch,
ous the opening scene for mezzo-soprano (the ence of choirs and choir training would not have is composed entirely of Italians. They play new
Queen) with female chorus and ballet, the con- allowed him to give such an opinion about a plan and very beautiful music.
spiracy scene, and the finale, with 3Ertza's&iv, " Ch' the knowledge of whieh is so essential to correct
Mr. George F. Bristow, the composer, has
io 1' oda ancora quel divino accento."
singing.—Musical Opinion and Music Trade Review, written a " Te Deum " in F for the Episcopal ser-
London.
vice which is admirably adapted for church choirs.
Bottesini's style, as exemplified both in "Hero
MUSICAL CHAT
I
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