Music Trade Review
Issue: 1904 Vol. 39 N. 23 - Page 9
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
9
MISS JANET SPENCER.
HAVE LIBRETTISTS RUN DRY
THE RIGHTS OF SONQ.
Miss Janet Spencer hails from Boston, where
she studied with the best masters of that city.
After some very successful appearances in some
of our leading oratorio concerts, Miss Spencer
went abroad and spent several years in hard
work and serious study in London and Paris. She
returned to America two years ago, and has sung
with remarkable success in the
most important eastern concerts,
such as the New York Oratorio
Society, the Boston Handel and
Haydn Society, and others. After
the profound impression made
with the New York Oratorio So-
ciety in their Christmas per-
formance of the "Messiah/ 1 Miss
Spencer was at once re-engaged
by the same society for the first
American performance of Elgar's
"The Apostles," and has since
been heard in a number of im-
portant oratorios and other
works, such as "Hora Novis-
sima," "Elijah," etc., the eastern
press particularly commenting
on the organ-like and luscious
quality, as well as the power, of
the beautiful contralto voice, fine
diction, and artistic phrasing of
the young artist. Miss Spencer
will again sing for the New
York "Messiah" this season, De-
cember 29 and 30, 1904, and is
booked for a number of spring
musical festivals in the East, as
well as of some western festivals.
Of Real Humorous Ideas?—Worthy of Investi-
gation, Judging From Some Recent Produc-
tions Which Are Not Creditable.
May a London Student Sing With the Windows
Open?
In connection with the inability of some of
the recent musical comedies (so-called comic
operas) to retain the boards for any length of
MISS MARIE DE ROHAN'S DEBUT.
Miss Marie De Rohan, the prima donna so-
prano, whom Henry Wolfsohn will introduce
here in an orchestral concert in Carnegie Hall
on Tuesday evening, December 13th, when she is
to have the assistance of the New York Sym-
phony Orchestra, with Walter Damrosch, con-
ductor, is an American by birth and received her
early musical training in this city. It was upon
the advice of Anton Seidl that she went to Paris,
where she studied with Dr. Raoul Andre, with a
view to going upon the operatic stage. Later she
went to Italy, where she studied with noted
masters then followed her debut at Queens Hall,
London, under distinguished patronage. She was
later heard in important orchestral and oratorio
concerts throughout Great Britain and the Con-
tinent. European critics speak very highly of
the quality and range of her voice.
"MUSIC AS MEDICINE."
A valuable article by Gustav
Kobbe on "Music as Medicine,"
is contained in the current num-
ber of Good Housekeeping, which
also has a picture of the orches-
tra of attendants at the Manhat-
tan State Hospital, on Ward's
Island. Dr. Dent, the medical
superintendent of this hospital,
is so convinced of the efficacy of
the musical treatment of hired musicians having
given out, he has organized this orchestra from
among the attendants of the institution and thus
is able to continue the experiments.
CARUSO HAS A RIVAL.
The tenor, Caruso, has a rival in Alessandro
Bonci, who created a sensation in Berlin the
other day in "Rigoletto." One of the critics
writes: "Caruso "had a more victorious, heroic
air, Bonci more vocal mellowness and enchant-
ing euphony; one was the conqueror, the other
the flatterer. Bonci also was obliged to sing the
"Donna e mobile' three times."
ADELE AUS DER OHE RECITAL.
Miss Adele Aus der Ohe will give a piano re-
cital in Mendelssohn Hall on Monday afternoon,
January 9th, under the management of Henry
Wolfsohn. A programme of unusual interest is
announced.
SIR CHAS. STANFORD'S REQUIEM.
Sir Charles Stanford's "Requiem," which was
first produced at the Birmingham Festival of
1897, has just been announced for performance
at Dfisseldorf on February 23, 1905, under the
direction of Prof. Julius Buths.
D'ALBERT'S LATEST WORK.
Eugene D'Albert has completed a large patri-
otic choral work, "An den Genius von Deutsch-
land," which is to be produced at the Kaiser's
next birthday.
To sing with the windows open or shut was
the burden of a motion which came before Mr.
Justice Warrington, in London, the other day.
An interim injunction was asked for to restrain
a gentleman who is training for the operatic pro-
fession from singing with his windows open, and
to restrain him from singing after 11 o'clock at
night.
His counsel in opposing the application, said
that the gentleman was a most artistic person—
in spite of the fact that the other side had de-
clared that "our voice is more like the howling
of a dog than the voice of a professional singer."
The gentleman lived in a very small flat, and if
he had to sing with the window shut, it would
be like placing him in a box.
The other side, said counsel, had been in the
habit of making retaliatory noises by knocking
on the floor.
Finally Mr. Justice Warrington said that he
could not ask the gentleman to sing with the
window shut until the trial of the action, but
he would accept an undertaking that the music
be confined to fixed hours.
time, managers complain that its staleness or
failure to win public approval may be attributed
to the fact that librettists have run dry of humor-
ous ideas. Librettists retort that their ingenu-
ity is restricted by the necessity of fitting musi-
cal comedy stars with material for their nar-
row range of specialties, which, from piece to
piece, is always the same.
The latter probably comes nearer to the truth
than the former. With few exceptions the high-
priced musical comedy actors are merely variety
performers who have strayed from their legiti-
mate field. Every plot in which they play a
character must be constructed with a figurative
trap door through which they can conveniently
come forward and do their specialties.
There was hope for American musical comedy
as long as George Ade had ambitions as a libret-
tist. But the stigma that is coming to be at-
tached to th° name was too much for the young
western humorist. His recent success in the com-
position of legitimate plays has caused him to
abandon libretto writing for compositions that
give greater latitude to his satirical fancies and
observations of life, and for which there are com-
petent actors to portray his characters.
DEATH OF SIG. ROTOLI.
Signor Ausgusto Rotoli, a well-known composer
and teacher in the New England Conservatory of
Music, died at his home in Boston Saturday last
after a short illness. He was born in Rome fifty-
seven years ago, and for a long time was the
soloist in St. Peter's in the Vatican.
Sig. Rotoli's chief work was his "Roman Mass."
He was also the author of many songs. Many
favorite singers were taught by him. He had
been a resident of Boston since 1885.
WOES OF A STAGE MANAGER.
"While we all felt that we had troubles of our
own in the recent disastrous production of 'Bird
Center, 1 in New York,", said George Richards,
who had a leading part in the play, "the stage
manager's troubles eclipsed all the rest. Every-
thing seemed to go wrong for him.
"One of the many slips that happened was
when the piano heirloom, fifty years in the fam-
ily, was brought out. It proved to be a new up-
right of the most modern style."
M. SAINT-SAENS A CANDIDATE.
M. Camille Saint-Saens has been put forward
as a candidate for the directorship of the French
School in Rome, where young prize-winners go to
finish their studies in painting, sculpture and
music. The post is vacant, owing to the resigna-
tion of M. Guillaume. Seen on the matter re-
cently, M. Saint-Saens said that his friends and
colleagues have recommended him for the ap-
pointment, which he would accept as a great
honor, if it were offered to him. M. Carolus-
Duran, the painter, is also a candidate for the
post. If appointed, M. Saint-Saens would not be
the first musician to hold that post.
While Colonne is in New York conducting Phil-
harmonic concerts, his place in Paris will be
taken by Nikisch and Hans Richter.
Victor Herbert's cantata, "The Captive," was
sung on Monday evening at the Liederkranz con-
cert. Josef Hofmann was the pianist of the
occasion.
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
9
MISS JANET SPENCER.
HAVE LIBRETTISTS RUN DRY
THE RIGHTS OF SONQ.
Miss Janet Spencer hails from Boston, where
she studied with the best masters of that city.
After some very successful appearances in some
of our leading oratorio concerts, Miss Spencer
went abroad and spent several years in hard
work and serious study in London and Paris. She
returned to America two years ago, and has sung
with remarkable success in the
most important eastern concerts,
such as the New York Oratorio
Society, the Boston Handel and
Haydn Society, and others. After
the profound impression made
with the New York Oratorio So-
ciety in their Christmas per-
formance of the "Messiah/ 1 Miss
Spencer was at once re-engaged
by the same society for the first
American performance of Elgar's
"The Apostles," and has since
been heard in a number of im-
portant oratorios and other
works, such as "Hora Novis-
sima," "Elijah," etc., the eastern
press particularly commenting
on the organ-like and luscious
quality, as well as the power, of
the beautiful contralto voice, fine
diction, and artistic phrasing of
the young artist. Miss Spencer
will again sing for the New
York "Messiah" this season, De-
cember 29 and 30, 1904, and is
booked for a number of spring
musical festivals in the East, as
well as of some western festivals.
Of Real Humorous Ideas?—Worthy of Investi-
gation, Judging From Some Recent Produc-
tions Which Are Not Creditable.
May a London Student Sing With the Windows
Open?
In connection with the inability of some of
the recent musical comedies (so-called comic
operas) to retain the boards for any length of
MISS MARIE DE ROHAN'S DEBUT.
Miss Marie De Rohan, the prima donna so-
prano, whom Henry Wolfsohn will introduce
here in an orchestral concert in Carnegie Hall
on Tuesday evening, December 13th, when she is
to have the assistance of the New York Sym-
phony Orchestra, with Walter Damrosch, con-
ductor, is an American by birth and received her
early musical training in this city. It was upon
the advice of Anton Seidl that she went to Paris,
where she studied with Dr. Raoul Andre, with a
view to going upon the operatic stage. Later she
went to Italy, where she studied with noted
masters then followed her debut at Queens Hall,
London, under distinguished patronage. She was
later heard in important orchestral and oratorio
concerts throughout Great Britain and the Con-
tinent. European critics speak very highly of
the quality and range of her voice.
"MUSIC AS MEDICINE."
A valuable article by Gustav
Kobbe on "Music as Medicine,"
is contained in the current num-
ber of Good Housekeeping, which
also has a picture of the orches-
tra of attendants at the Manhat-
tan State Hospital, on Ward's
Island. Dr. Dent, the medical
superintendent of this hospital,
is so convinced of the efficacy of
the musical treatment of hired musicians having
given out, he has organized this orchestra from
among the attendants of the institution and thus
is able to continue the experiments.
CARUSO HAS A RIVAL.
The tenor, Caruso, has a rival in Alessandro
Bonci, who created a sensation in Berlin the
other day in "Rigoletto." One of the critics
writes: "Caruso "had a more victorious, heroic
air, Bonci more vocal mellowness and enchant-
ing euphony; one was the conqueror, the other
the flatterer. Bonci also was obliged to sing the
"Donna e mobile' three times."
ADELE AUS DER OHE RECITAL.
Miss Adele Aus der Ohe will give a piano re-
cital in Mendelssohn Hall on Monday afternoon,
January 9th, under the management of Henry
Wolfsohn. A programme of unusual interest is
announced.
SIR CHAS. STANFORD'S REQUIEM.
Sir Charles Stanford's "Requiem," which was
first produced at the Birmingham Festival of
1897, has just been announced for performance
at Dfisseldorf on February 23, 1905, under the
direction of Prof. Julius Buths.
D'ALBERT'S LATEST WORK.
Eugene D'Albert has completed a large patri-
otic choral work, "An den Genius von Deutsch-
land," which is to be produced at the Kaiser's
next birthday.
To sing with the windows open or shut was
the burden of a motion which came before Mr.
Justice Warrington, in London, the other day.
An interim injunction was asked for to restrain
a gentleman who is training for the operatic pro-
fession from singing with his windows open, and
to restrain him from singing after 11 o'clock at
night.
His counsel in opposing the application, said
that the gentleman was a most artistic person—
in spite of the fact that the other side had de-
clared that "our voice is more like the howling
of a dog than the voice of a professional singer."
The gentleman lived in a very small flat, and if
he had to sing with the window shut, it would
be like placing him in a box.
The other side, said counsel, had been in the
habit of making retaliatory noises by knocking
on the floor.
Finally Mr. Justice Warrington said that he
could not ask the gentleman to sing with the
window shut until the trial of the action, but
he would accept an undertaking that the music
be confined to fixed hours.
time, managers complain that its staleness or
failure to win public approval may be attributed
to the fact that librettists have run dry of humor-
ous ideas. Librettists retort that their ingenu-
ity is restricted by the necessity of fitting musi-
cal comedy stars with material for their nar-
row range of specialties, which, from piece to
piece, is always the same.
The latter probably comes nearer to the truth
than the former. With few exceptions the high-
priced musical comedy actors are merely variety
performers who have strayed from their legiti-
mate field. Every plot in which they play a
character must be constructed with a figurative
trap door through which they can conveniently
come forward and do their specialties.
There was hope for American musical comedy
as long as George Ade had ambitions as a libret-
tist. But the stigma that is coming to be at-
tached to th° name was too much for the young
western humorist. His recent success in the com-
position of legitimate plays has caused him to
abandon libretto writing for compositions that
give greater latitude to his satirical fancies and
observations of life, and for which there are com-
petent actors to portray his characters.
DEATH OF SIG. ROTOLI.
Signor Ausgusto Rotoli, a well-known composer
and teacher in the New England Conservatory of
Music, died at his home in Boston Saturday last
after a short illness. He was born in Rome fifty-
seven years ago, and for a long time was the
soloist in St. Peter's in the Vatican.
Sig. Rotoli's chief work was his "Roman Mass."
He was also the author of many songs. Many
favorite singers were taught by him. He had
been a resident of Boston since 1885.
WOES OF A STAGE MANAGER.
"While we all felt that we had troubles of our
own in the recent disastrous production of 'Bird
Center, 1 in New York,", said George Richards,
who had a leading part in the play, "the stage
manager's troubles eclipsed all the rest. Every-
thing seemed to go wrong for him.
"One of the many slips that happened was
when the piano heirloom, fifty years in the fam-
ily, was brought out. It proved to be a new up-
right of the most modern style."
M. SAINT-SAENS A CANDIDATE.
M. Camille Saint-Saens has been put forward
as a candidate for the directorship of the French
School in Rome, where young prize-winners go to
finish their studies in painting, sculpture and
music. The post is vacant, owing to the resigna-
tion of M. Guillaume. Seen on the matter re-
cently, M. Saint-Saens said that his friends and
colleagues have recommended him for the ap-
pointment, which he would accept as a great
honor, if it were offered to him. M. Carolus-
Duran, the painter, is also a candidate for the
post. If appointed, M. Saint-Saens would not be
the first musician to hold that post.
While Colonne is in New York conducting Phil-
harmonic concerts, his place in Paris will be
taken by Nikisch and Hans Richter.
Victor Herbert's cantata, "The Captive," was
sung on Monday evening at the Liederkranz con-
cert. Josef Hofmann was the pianist of the
occasion.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).