Music Trade Review

332
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THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
June 5th, 1882.
"Now, you know that Levy is a much finer cor- At that time it was nobody but Catharine Lewis.
netist than Arbuckle or Liberati; you know it, but Now Dora enjoys a share of public applause, and
you are a friend of Arbuckle, and you will not if she keeps on, studies diligently, and takes a
few lessons every week "on the quiet," as they
admit it."
"I beg your pardon, Miss, I never spoke to Mr. call it, she will soon command a large salary and
Arbuckle but once since my dreary existence be- be at the head of a Dora Wiley Opera Company.
That is the way it must be done; and if Dora,
gan, and that was to ask him when his friend,
George Colby, would be in. I believe Mr. Ar- does not make the great mistake of supposing
that she knows it all, she has a splendid future
buckle does not know me."
"You cannot—no, you cannot—tell me that, before her.
for you told a lady friend of mine that Mr. Ar- Much more than Rose Temple, who sings ac-
buckle had a much more delicate tone than Levy, ceptably, but carelessly, and acts indifferently.
OME people's impudence cannot be endured; and I know he has not. But I admit that Mr. Ar- She does not feel interested in her role, and there-
fore does not make it interesting.
buckle puts on quite a lot of airs."
it absolutely verges on insolence.
Possibly Eugene Clark is the cause of it. He'
"Well,
Miss,"
said
I,
"that
is
just
what
he
The persons I refer to tell me their opinions
makes a maudlin effort himself, and with his>
about artists, singers, and instrumental performers; should do."
about operas, oratorios, and their performances; She left me, but I remained as one petrified, sluggish and indifferent style of singing and act-
about composers and eompositions,—while they and it took me quite a while before I realized ing 1 have long since lost all patience.
He came near losing "Patience" when he was
know nothing about these matters, except what the cause of her sudden departure.
playing.
His Grosvenor never amounted to much.
*
*
they have gathered by experience. And while tell-
*
But
Rose
Temple must change her method, or
So
I
am
doomed
to
episodes
of
that
kind—epi-
ing me all these things they know that they know
nothing substantially about them, and they also sodes innumerable. Occasionally these people she' will soon regret it.
know that I know that they know nothing about get off some excellent remarks, quite inadvert- Pauline Hall, who sings Fiametta in the Ger-
ently, I can assure you. One I remember, who mania "Mascotte," is a charming and graceful
them.
Is not this a glorious state of affairs? But I told me that when he heard the Standard Quar- actress and a pleasant singer. She makes more
will astonish you when I tell you that they will tette playing Pizzicato, it sounded as beautiful as of the "ourang-outang" song than any other
Fiametta I have heard.
dispute on musical subjects; yes, they will go so the music of the Spanish Students.
far as to deny principles that are tacitly under- I thought the analogy was excellent, although Such small parts are often the opportunities
what he told me and what I meant were two dis- which clever singers seize iipon to work up-
stood by all cultivated musicians.
ward s.
Facts are only facts when they have experienced tinctly different things.
them, and theories are only true when they endorse One of them told me that Belle Cole had a so- Emma Pressy used to sing in the chorus at
prano, another, that she had a mezzo-soprano, and Ford's Opera House, Baltimore, when operettes
them.
were given there. In the singing lesson scene in
"What is Wagner?" said one of them to me the a third, that she had a contralto voice.
"Le Petit Due" she sang better than any one
She
might
have
had
all
three
kinds
of
voices
other afternoon.
else, and now is cast for small but important
"A man, a composer," innocently answered I. once upon a time.
"Well, I mean, what is ke; what is he good But each one was sure of his premise, and no roles in the Hess Acme Company.
argument could prevail in either instance; and to Had she made no effort when that opportunity
for?"
this day each of the three individuals believes she presented itself, she might be lingering at her old
"Good for!" said I, "good for many things."
"Well, you know what I mean. How much has the peculiar voice he refers to. I cannot help homestead to-day.
* *
it, but I differ with each of them.
good has he done with all his big operas?"
Luck, as they call it, has something to do with
*
"My dear sir," answered I, "my lunch will get
Speaking of Belle Cole, I am reminded of all this, no doubt; but if these artists always
cold if you keep me here any longer; excuse me,
depended on luck, they would surely remain
another rather robust singer, Abbie Carrington.
some other time."
With this, I made an effort to get away; but it I have often regretted that she did not secure behind, while others who depend upon their
the best vocal teachers, as she is endowed by na- pluck would go ahead.
was in vain.
The plucky ones are far in the van to-day, even
"Look here," said he, "I am sure that a great ture with a powerful vocal organ which could
many things he wrote are stolen from other com- have been cultivated to a higher degree than it if merit is not a superabounding quality.
But I did not care to begin philosophizing. I
has been.
posers."
"Well, sir, if you are sure, I am happy you are One fault she possesses which she should try to only wished to present a few examples of young
sure," said I, and, with a supreme effort, I es- get rid of, and that is the habit of making facial and ambitious girls who have, in a comparatively
contortions while singing—a habit which will soon short time, made great strides on the operatic
caped.
stage.
Now, I am anxious to know what I am to do to degenerate into grimaces.
Some one will say to you, that I have neglected
But
what
is
the
use
in
criticising
these
amiable
get rid of such people. They will catch me un-
ladies? They will do just what they please, and one great feature in referring to this subject—fa-
awares and fill my ears with their opinions.
voritism.
A very excellent matron met me, and told me we cannot change them.
that her daughter was'now taking her finishing Emma Abbott has been criticised more severely But I answer, that a manager's greatest favorite,
than any other female vocalist, if one dare to call although pushed forward with herculean effort,
quarter from Signor Grecco.
"Grecco, Grecco," I said, thinking at the same her that in a musical journal; yet she persists in can only succeed temporarily.
time that he was finished long ago. But her ap- committing exactly the same blunders season after Thursby is Maurice Strakosch's great favorite,
and was so when he had her here after her first
season.
plication of the word puzzled me.
European success; but, in spite of all his energetic
And
so
they
all
do.
Very
few
of
them
will
listen
"Finishing quarter,"' said I, "what is that?"
"She is through then," smilingly answered the to advice or kindly receive suggestions; but if management, she did not make a lasting im-
lady. "Through with her piano lessons. Oh, they would only pursue the course Mrs. Zelda pression.
you ought to hear her now. She plays the hard- Seguin followed, and heed every word, accept Emma Thursby will soon be here again. She is
est pieces with variations and trills. Next season every bit of advice, and consider every good propo- a very amiable lady, and her friends will be pleased
I am going to have her play at a recital at Stein- sition offered respecting the voice and its preser- to see her, aud hear her, too.
vation, they might be able to retain their voices, I hope her voice has acquired greater sympathy
way Hall, and I will send you a ticket."
since she has been breathing the air of the Medi-
"Spare me—" but before I could finish she as she has retained hers.
terranean and the Pyrenees. That quality has been
Let
it
be
remembered,
that
Mrs.
Seguin
will
broke in:
"Yes, I will spare you two. You know we are soon be a middle-aged lady, ancL^t how resonant, lacking with her.
Miss Henrietta Beebe has also returned, and,
^^k
all musical at home, and my daughter is very fond pure, and true her voice is.
of Mozart's sonatas; none of us like those pieces If you tell a lady now-a-days^IRt she does not according to a rumor I heard, is going to sing
by Rubinstein and other such writers. Why don't pursue a proper course in the treatment of her this Summer somewhere, but I could not ascer-
you come to the house when we have a musicale?" voice, she will get angry at you; and if you tell tain exactly where.
I excused myself on the score that fate did not her that she has no voice, she will be apt to get She is a very accomplished ballad singer, having
caught the peculiar spirit of that class of songs.
ordain that my time should be devoted to pleas- mad.
ant visits like that one would surely be. Then, be- I would like to tell some of them what I think, I would like to hear her sing songs by Molloy,
wailing my unutterable misery, the good woman even at the risk of losing their friendship. •
Bishop, and that class of song writers.
* *
left me.
They are not often sung here, and when they
Her daughter, however, soon waylaid me, and Dora Wiley is getting on famously in the "Mas- are, let a capable singer do them justice.
decided to make me a convert to her belief in the cotte," and who would have thought it a year
NIOHTSNTTTZ.
following way:
ago?
S