Music Trade Review
Issue: 1905 Vol. 41 N. 9 - Page 3
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
REVIEW
THE
fflJJIC TIRADE
VOL. XLI.
No. 9.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at I Madison Ave., New York, Sept, 2, 1905.
MISS BESSIE ABOTT COMING.
The Young American Soprano Who Scored
Such a Success in Paris Will be Here in
December.
Much interest has been aroused in the an-
nouncement from Europe that Miss Bessie Abott,
the young American soprano, who for the past
two years has been a successful member of the
Paris Grand Opera, will visit this country in
December next. Miss Abott is known throughout
the musical world as a protege of Jean De
Reszke, the famous tenor, who first noticed the
possibilities in Miss Abott's voice when he heard
her sing at a concert on board a steamship on his
way to Europe. He became so infatuated with
her voice that he persuaded her to study for the
operatic stage. After considerable study with
Mme. Ashforth she was placed with the late
Fidele Koenig, chief-de-chant of the Paris Grand
Opera, with whom she studied mis-en-scene, and
also with Victor Capoul, second director of the
Opera.
On December 9, 1901, she made her debut in
Paris in the role of "Juliet," and her success
was instantaneous. The highest tributes were
paid her by the Parisian critics, and during her
subsequent engagement for a number of years
she compelled further eulogies from noted writ-
ers. She appeared in all the leading roles and
gala performances of the year. At the various
state receptions given by President Loubet to
visiting kings and princes she figured in many
elaborate programmes. Her tour of this coun-
try will be under the management of Henry
Wolfsohn, and it is not improbable that she will
be heard in the Metropolitan Opera House in
addition to numerous concert engagements
which she will fill with the leading orchestral
organizations.
THE SHAKESPEARE CYCLE.
The success of Grace Wassail's Shakespeare
Song Cycle, sung last season by Mme. Gadski,
David Bispham and others, has encouraged prom-
inent composers to turn to the finer poems for
material. Mrs. Wassail, it is said, is now pre-
paring another song novelty based on a series of
poems of the later-day bard whose epics might
lend themselves to music. In the Shakespeare
Song Cycle, only the sonnets of Shakespeare were
used. For the coming season London G. Charl-
ton is booking twenty-four performances of the
Cycle to be sung by David Bispham, Mme. Shot-
well-Prper, Mme. Katherine Fisk, and Kelley
Cole, with Mrs. Ethel Cave Cole at the piano, to
begin November 13. The vogue which this clever
work has achieved may make necessary a supple-
mentary tour in the spring when all of the artists
can be gotten together again.
NEW MUSICAL PLAY—"OMAR."
Charles Dillingham has purchased a new musi-
cal play entitled "Omar," of which he will give
a production in New York immediately after the
holidays. It is the work of A. N. C. Fowler and
Harry B. Smith, and presents a humorous story
surrounding the character of Omar Khayyam,
the Persian poet.
A NEW MAGIC OF MUSIC.
An
Experiment That May Become Useful Tn
These Days of Frenzied Finance.
There has been music for the weary and music
for the mad. Music has cured the ill in body
and restored the ill in nerve. It has converted
sinners at revivals and has found the consciences
of intending traitors to various native lands.
From Milwaukee comes now a sheriff's word that
orchestral harmonies have moved thirteen hard-
ened jailbirds to full confession of their crimes.
The importance ot this latest tribute to the
power of music cannot be over-estimated easily.
It opens the way to the banishment of the police
"third degree" and sets a new round in the lad-
der of civilization. We bespeak the early equip-
ment of a symphony band for No. 300 Mulberry
street. Then, in place of torturing sights and
sounds in a star chamber, we may have kind-
hearted detectives listening to the avowals
brought forth by magic, soul-moving chords.
Perhaps, too, it will be found that confessional
music will work without the accessories of jail
walls. The World suggests that experimentally
it. might be tried in the "higher-up" places of
government, insurance and finance—even at the
fountainheads of tainted money. The Milwaukee
discovery leads, indeed, to vaulting hopes of
miracles to come. He would be a creature un-
speakably low and mean who should hint that
possibly the sheriff's prisoners owned up in the
fond belief that then the band would quit.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
AMERICA ATTRACTS ARTISTS.
London Being Drained This Season of Notable
Instrumental and Vocal Artists—Some Rea-
sons Why They Visit Our Shores.
A desratch from London says: So many mu-
sical artists are going to America this autumn
that the drain on London will be very heavy,
and the London musical season must suffer in
consequence.
American agents are demanding the best talent
and have already booked tours for many well-
known English singers and German pianists.
"Nothing can stop this exodus," said one Amer-
ican manager, "because America will pay twice
the price offered by England for pianists, violin-
ists and singers, Britain in turn being willing
to pay a higher price than Germany. The last
country is the greater sufferer."
Among very many musicians leaving for
America are the pianists Raoul Pugno, Rosen-
thai, Reisenauer, Harold Bauer and de Pachmann,
and the violinists Marie Hall, Hugo, Herman
Marteau and Kubelik, the 'celloists Joseph Holl-
man and Elsa Rueger, and the singers Sembrich,
Emma Eames, Gadski, Plancon, Scotti, Caruso,
Ben Davies, John Coates, Muriel Foster, and
Kirkby Lunn.
"America gets the best musicians," said a
pianist, "because managers will pay startling
prices for stars. Of course, many of these costly
performances do not pay, but such a galaxy of
stars advertises opera and managers make up
the deficit on the less expensive ones. America,
GRAND OPERA IN ENGLISH.
while always looking for sensation, is really a
Col. Henry W. Savage announces that he in- music-loving country. The fact is due perhaps
tends to produce in English during the coming to the large German element that has been as-
season Wagner's music drama, "The Valkyrie." similated.
He promises that it will be given on a scale com-
"In my opinion, with all due regard to their
parable to that of "Parsifal," that attracted so greatness, the English are not a musical psople.
much attention last season. This will be fol- But America should not have our best artists.
lowed later by productions of the other dramas Something should be done to keep them at home,
of the "Nibelung" trilogy, "The Rhine Gold," for their absence means not only that we are
••Siegfried," and "The Dusk of the Gods." His deprived of good music, but that musical educa-
company will include prominent English-singing tion also suffers."
artists, and the chorus and orchestra will be
largely increased. The orchestra will number
CARUSO'S ENGAGEMENT.
forty men, and the performances will be con-
The Herald's European edition publishes the
ducted by N. B. Emanuel and Elliott Schenck.
Besides "Nibelung" operas, the repertoire will in- following: "Heinrich Conried, manager of the
clude "Tannhauser," "Lohengrin," "Rigoletto," Metropolitan Opera House, has had an interview
"Aida," "La Boheme," and "Faust." This, the here with Signor Caruso, who has been engaged
tenth season of the organization, will open in here for three successive seasons. During the
forthcoming season, which begins November 20,
Brooklyn on Oct. 2.
Caruso will sing 'Faust' and 'Carmen' in
French. Mr. Conried sails on Wednesday."
TO ERECT GREAT SINGING HALL.
The Germans are going to beat the English in
the one thing in which London has claimed pre-
eminence. For the contest of singing societies
to be held at Frankfurt in 1907, a hall is to be
built whioh will have room for 25,000 seats. It
will be the largest hall in Germany, larger even
lhan the Glaspolast in Munich. The cost of
building it is estimated at over $750,000.
When the theatres are in full swing this fall,
Victor Herbert will have six operas running at
various play houses in New York and on the
road.
ELSA RUEGGER COMING IN JANUARY.
The important European engagements of Elsa
Ruegger, the Belgian 'cellist, will keep her
abroad until the end of the year. H>r American
concert tour is to begin the first part of January.
Demands for her appearances on the Pacific
Coast make imperative a transcontinental tour.
It seems that the West is still appreciative of the
best in musical art, for Mr. Charlton announces
that the majority of his artists, including Mme.
Gadski. will include the Pacific Coast in their
season's work.
REVIEW
THE
fflJJIC TIRADE
VOL. XLI.
No. 9.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at I Madison Ave., New York, Sept, 2, 1905.
MISS BESSIE ABOTT COMING.
The Young American Soprano Who Scored
Such a Success in Paris Will be Here in
December.
Much interest has been aroused in the an-
nouncement from Europe that Miss Bessie Abott,
the young American soprano, who for the past
two years has been a successful member of the
Paris Grand Opera, will visit this country in
December next. Miss Abott is known throughout
the musical world as a protege of Jean De
Reszke, the famous tenor, who first noticed the
possibilities in Miss Abott's voice when he heard
her sing at a concert on board a steamship on his
way to Europe. He became so infatuated with
her voice that he persuaded her to study for the
operatic stage. After considerable study with
Mme. Ashforth she was placed with the late
Fidele Koenig, chief-de-chant of the Paris Grand
Opera, with whom she studied mis-en-scene, and
also with Victor Capoul, second director of the
Opera.
On December 9, 1901, she made her debut in
Paris in the role of "Juliet," and her success
was instantaneous. The highest tributes were
paid her by the Parisian critics, and during her
subsequent engagement for a number of years
she compelled further eulogies from noted writ-
ers. She appeared in all the leading roles and
gala performances of the year. At the various
state receptions given by President Loubet to
visiting kings and princes she figured in many
elaborate programmes. Her tour of this coun-
try will be under the management of Henry
Wolfsohn, and it is not improbable that she will
be heard in the Metropolitan Opera House in
addition to numerous concert engagements
which she will fill with the leading orchestral
organizations.
THE SHAKESPEARE CYCLE.
The success of Grace Wassail's Shakespeare
Song Cycle, sung last season by Mme. Gadski,
David Bispham and others, has encouraged prom-
inent composers to turn to the finer poems for
material. Mrs. Wassail, it is said, is now pre-
paring another song novelty based on a series of
poems of the later-day bard whose epics might
lend themselves to music. In the Shakespeare
Song Cycle, only the sonnets of Shakespeare were
used. For the coming season London G. Charl-
ton is booking twenty-four performances of the
Cycle to be sung by David Bispham, Mme. Shot-
well-Prper, Mme. Katherine Fisk, and Kelley
Cole, with Mrs. Ethel Cave Cole at the piano, to
begin November 13. The vogue which this clever
work has achieved may make necessary a supple-
mentary tour in the spring when all of the artists
can be gotten together again.
NEW MUSICAL PLAY—"OMAR."
Charles Dillingham has purchased a new musi-
cal play entitled "Omar," of which he will give
a production in New York immediately after the
holidays. It is the work of A. N. C. Fowler and
Harry B. Smith, and presents a humorous story
surrounding the character of Omar Khayyam,
the Persian poet.
A NEW MAGIC OF MUSIC.
An
Experiment That May Become Useful Tn
These Days of Frenzied Finance.
There has been music for the weary and music
for the mad. Music has cured the ill in body
and restored the ill in nerve. It has converted
sinners at revivals and has found the consciences
of intending traitors to various native lands.
From Milwaukee comes now a sheriff's word that
orchestral harmonies have moved thirteen hard-
ened jailbirds to full confession of their crimes.
The importance ot this latest tribute to the
power of music cannot be over-estimated easily.
It opens the way to the banishment of the police
"third degree" and sets a new round in the lad-
der of civilization. We bespeak the early equip-
ment of a symphony band for No. 300 Mulberry
street. Then, in place of torturing sights and
sounds in a star chamber, we may have kind-
hearted detectives listening to the avowals
brought forth by magic, soul-moving chords.
Perhaps, too, it will be found that confessional
music will work without the accessories of jail
walls. The World suggests that experimentally
it. might be tried in the "higher-up" places of
government, insurance and finance—even at the
fountainheads of tainted money. The Milwaukee
discovery leads, indeed, to vaulting hopes of
miracles to come. He would be a creature un-
speakably low and mean who should hint that
possibly the sheriff's prisoners owned up in the
fond belief that then the band would quit.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
AMERICA ATTRACTS ARTISTS.
London Being Drained This Season of Notable
Instrumental and Vocal Artists—Some Rea-
sons Why They Visit Our Shores.
A desratch from London says: So many mu-
sical artists are going to America this autumn
that the drain on London will be very heavy,
and the London musical season must suffer in
consequence.
American agents are demanding the best talent
and have already booked tours for many well-
known English singers and German pianists.
"Nothing can stop this exodus," said one Amer-
ican manager, "because America will pay twice
the price offered by England for pianists, violin-
ists and singers, Britain in turn being willing
to pay a higher price than Germany. The last
country is the greater sufferer."
Among very many musicians leaving for
America are the pianists Raoul Pugno, Rosen-
thai, Reisenauer, Harold Bauer and de Pachmann,
and the violinists Marie Hall, Hugo, Herman
Marteau and Kubelik, the 'celloists Joseph Holl-
man and Elsa Rueger, and the singers Sembrich,
Emma Eames, Gadski, Plancon, Scotti, Caruso,
Ben Davies, John Coates, Muriel Foster, and
Kirkby Lunn.
"America gets the best musicians," said a
pianist, "because managers will pay startling
prices for stars. Of course, many of these costly
performances do not pay, but such a galaxy of
stars advertises opera and managers make up
the deficit on the less expensive ones. America,
GRAND OPERA IN ENGLISH.
while always looking for sensation, is really a
Col. Henry W. Savage announces that he in- music-loving country. The fact is due perhaps
tends to produce in English during the coming to the large German element that has been as-
season Wagner's music drama, "The Valkyrie." similated.
He promises that it will be given on a scale com-
"In my opinion, with all due regard to their
parable to that of "Parsifal," that attracted so greatness, the English are not a musical psople.
much attention last season. This will be fol- But America should not have our best artists.
lowed later by productions of the other dramas Something should be done to keep them at home,
of the "Nibelung" trilogy, "The Rhine Gold," for their absence means not only that we are
••Siegfried," and "The Dusk of the Gods." His deprived of good music, but that musical educa-
company will include prominent English-singing tion also suffers."
artists, and the chorus and orchestra will be
largely increased. The orchestra will number
CARUSO'S ENGAGEMENT.
forty men, and the performances will be con-
The Herald's European edition publishes the
ducted by N. B. Emanuel and Elliott Schenck.
Besides "Nibelung" operas, the repertoire will in- following: "Heinrich Conried, manager of the
clude "Tannhauser," "Lohengrin," "Rigoletto," Metropolitan Opera House, has had an interview
"Aida," "La Boheme," and "Faust." This, the here with Signor Caruso, who has been engaged
tenth season of the organization, will open in here for three successive seasons. During the
forthcoming season, which begins November 20,
Brooklyn on Oct. 2.
Caruso will sing 'Faust' and 'Carmen' in
French. Mr. Conried sails on Wednesday."
TO ERECT GREAT SINGING HALL.
The Germans are going to beat the English in
the one thing in which London has claimed pre-
eminence. For the contest of singing societies
to be held at Frankfurt in 1907, a hall is to be
built whioh will have room for 25,000 seats. It
will be the largest hall in Germany, larger even
lhan the Glaspolast in Munich. The cost of
building it is estimated at over $750,000.
When the theatres are in full swing this fall,
Victor Herbert will have six operas running at
various play houses in New York and on the
road.
ELSA RUEGGER COMING IN JANUARY.
The important European engagements of Elsa
Ruegger, the Belgian 'cellist, will keep her
abroad until the end of the year. H>r American
concert tour is to begin the first part of January.
Demands for her appearances on the Pacific
Coast make imperative a transcontinental tour.
It seems that the West is still appreciative of the
best in musical art, for Mr. Charlton announces
that the majority of his artists, including Mme.
Gadski. will include the Pacific Coast in their
season's work.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).