Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
bulk of the performances consist of these past year might, however, deserve a place be accepted, if appropriate. The only real
old and tried works. They constitute at one time or another in the repertoire of difficulty would be to lay down some kind
over the whole civilized world the bulwark the theatre.
of general principle as to the nature of the
of operatic repertoire everywhere.
works which should be included. One
In New York the principal peculiarities A MONG the distinguished artists who thing, at least, is clear—that there could
of taste are the small number of operas ** are scheduled to entertain us next be no question of admitting topical or
that are really popular and the absolute re- season is Fritz Kreisler, the Austrian obviously ephemeral music. But such
jection, without a hearing 1 , of everything violinist. He is not entirely unknown in matters as these could safely be left to the
unfamiliar. Of the thirty operas approxi- this country; for, some years ago, he made discretion of a competent committee, and
mately that make up the repertoire through a tour of the United States playing in the with tact and good sense it ought not to be
the world, New York cares for fewer than largest cities in conjunction with Moriz difficult to arrive at a working arrange-
any other city and never has them varied Rosenthal. His success was unusually ment. The music when purchased would,
by any novelty. It would be interesting brilliant although at that time he was but wherever practicable, be handed over as a
to many persons to know how small a num- sixteen years of age. He is now in the gift to a public free library, from which it
would be borrowed in
ber of operas at the Metropolitan may in
the same manner as or-
reality be counted, upon to draw large audi-
dinary books. I believe
ences through their own popularity. Of
that there are already
course many are performed that have no
several cases in which
such power, but that is due to the fact
public libraries have
that it would be impossible, even in New
started musical depart-
York, to go on repeating the small number
ments, if only to a
of operas that are really liked here. Their
slight extent; and I
popularity would soon be exhausted.
trust that no technical
difficulties would arise
1VJEW York's distaste for novelties may
to prevent the operation
*
in a measure be excused by the fact
of the plan."
that very few works composed during the
J*
past twenty years have made any lasting
impression anywhere. It is said that the
A T the annual con-
Paris Grand Opera House has not pro-
^* vention of t h e
duced a single success during the last score
Music Teachers' Nat-
of years. And that theatre is required by
ional Association, held
the rules of its existence to give two novel-
in Des Moines, la., last
ties by French composers every year.
week the following of-
This is done regularly. But after a few
ficers were elected for
perfunctory performances, they disappear
the ensuing year: Pres-
from the repertoire. The Opera Comique
sident, Arthur L. Man-
has the same experience with nearly all the
chester, Cam den, N. J. ;
new works of native composition that it
vice-president, Dr. M.
produces. It rarely happens that one of
L. Bartlett,Des Moines,
them survives long enough to pay the ex-
la. ; secretary, Thomas
penses of the performances. vSome of the
A. Beckett, Philadel-
Italian and German works given there
phia, Pa. ; treasurer,
have met with real success, such as Puc-
Fred. A. Fowler, New
cini's "La Boheme" and Humperdinck's,
Haven, Conn.
The
"Haensel and Gretel." Massenet's "Cen-
meetings were in many
drillon" has been the most recent French
respects the most suc-
work to find any extended favor, except
cessful ever held by
Charpentier's "Louise."
this organization. The
In Italy Puccini and Leoncavallo are the
various
papers r e a d
FRITZ KREISLER.
two most successful composers of the day, maturity of his art judging from his suc- were of more than ordinary interest, live
although Umberto Giordano has met with cesses in Europe where, especially in Ger- and pertinent topics were discussed by
apparent success with his opera " Fedora," many, he has won a position among the eminent musicians, and the musical exer-
founded on Sardou's play. Giacomo Puc- foremost violin virtuosi. He will make cises—vocal and instrumental—on the
cini has also found some degree of fortune his reappearance in this country early in afternoons and evenings were participated
in the use of another of Sardou's plays, for November and is already engaged for in by artists celebrated throughout the
his " La Tosca" has been in rehearsal at many important affairs.
country.
Covent Garden for some time with Mine.
The report of Arthur L. Manchester,
Ternina and M. de Lucia in Ihe leading I T has been suggested in connection with chairman of the committee on education,
roles, and it will also be produced here * the free libraries now so generally pat- appointed by President Gantvoort last
next season. So will Puccini's " L a Bo- ronized in this, as well as other cities, that year in Cincinnati, was of special interest.
heme," and these two works of the young a musical department be added. This It recommended the organization of a na-
Italian school will be the only novelties could be brought about best, no doubt, by tional school of collateral musical educa-
heard. In spite of the great number of a system of organized donation. "The tion, for the purpose of furnishing courses
operas sung every year in Europe, there great advantage of such a plan," said an of instruction in such branches as musical
are few that would be worth the trouble advocate of this movement, "would be its history, biography of musicians, acoustics,
and time entailed by the production of simplicity. It would be necessary in each pedagogy, etc. Such a school, it was sug-
novelties at the Metropolitan. The reper- town or suburb concerned to have a small gested, would exert a large influence
toire there could be varied in much more committee of voluntary workers. There throughout the country, and be the means
interesting fashion. But the probability is should be no occasion for heavy working of adding many hundred names to the
that for some years to come New York will expenses; the committee would simply roll of members of the association. A
have to be contented with the operas that receive subscriptions from persons interest- suggestion to include courses in piano and
are liked by the majority, and not the few ed in music and expend them in buying singing, was promptly rejected as an in-
the minority would like to hear. Some of scores of such works as they considered de- justice to the teachers who go to make up
the more notable works sung during the sirable. Gifts in kind could, of course, also the membership of the association.