National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-04
FLoTow AND HIS NEW OPERA,
A Conversation with the Composer Of
Martha"-The Career Of Q Fayorits Of
Fortuns-New and Enchanting Melodies,

from the Berlin Tribune.l
No opera has ever been more popular than Flo
tow's martha" Since 1912 when Il FIRST appeared,
II has been performed upward Of ] 900 times, ct
all the great theatres Of the world; and It s still
q perfect gold mine for its composer, who derives
from II alone, aside from his other operas, N IN
come Of at least 20 900 forms year.
Frederick Won Flotow has always been favor.
tie child Of fortune. Although nothing more than
an amateur in ls4s, and, in effect, amsrs striplng
his FIRST operate venture "Alsssandro stradslls,"
proved 90 thorough 0 success that his name was
RANKED among the Hrst operate composers OF
Europe. At the age oftwsnty-thrss hs was hailed
% peer By Msysrbesr, Aaber, and Rossini, and
his beautiful opera rapidly made the tour Of the
world.
His nszt composition, "Martha,p msds him the
most popular Of his bfsthfsn among the opsratlo
composers OF Europe. 10 had two hundred sue
esssfui representation Of the Opera oemlqus, IN
Paris. and soon became fayofits with the opera
goefs OF the eiyiliEed nations. The young son OF
Q Msokienburg noelsman, whose patrimony sol.
sisted OF few sterile acres, saw suddenly flowing
Into his Golfers copyrights such % had not been
even paid 10 the renowned composer Of "Robeft 10
Disble" and "willIAm Tell"
remember seeing Plotow at the hrst perform.
anee Of "Martha" In his native city Of Rostoek, IN
Mecklsnburg. schwern. He was then . hand.
some youth, looking younger, Indeed, than he
really was. The applause bestowed upon him BY
his feliew.ctirens evidently delighted him beyond
measure. Ne pushed % rnu roots OF hts hair
when the enthusiastic audience called him, ct the
A few days ago saw him again. II was in his
beautiful chateau PrientiI, near Linz, In Aus
four years had produced In his appearance. He
looked like an old, broken.down man, although
he is but little over MY. HIS halr was entirely
white, and he was bent down like an octogsns-
rtan.
He recognized me BY my Mscklenburg dialect,
told me that he regretted nothing 50 much as that
he had left his dear native country and settled
"W6y do you not return to Mecklsnburg2" I
ventured to ask. 81 am sure everybody there
will receive you with open arms"
NS n9f SsI replied firmly ySu DO on not know
duced q ponderous epistle. 'rhis Is letter from
the Grand Duke Of Mecklenburg, Frederick
Of Grand Ducal Maitre de Chspelle, because
married the sister Of my divorced wife. oh |!
q. he, Hypocrisy of these fellows on their petty
burst not say anything on this painful subject.
Fer ten years past this event has cast
severely censursd for his second marriage. But
i what are the facts? When scarcely old enough
TO know his own mind Frederick Won Flotou was
was secretly afhanced 70 another. Their welded
/ life was uretched In the extreme. They parted
BY mutual consent: Flotoys present vile IDOL
ertheless he is ostrasiEed in sistocratie circles
,Ia,stn ~ ho1 nsanIs hsS ss.ac,ix ,-aat.d SIr,
haHs ~ s eas
| I.horinns arixtence IL have ION snccessas thsv
Hsr. ne ahoSa ali thIngs ~ go TorS ~ M
rsmittinG toll Tba scors Of Mana ,sxrota
several times before ! allowed 1t TO be played,
snhsaansnt oneras AnS no hss 80 H. ~
snIts Pscunfsriiy. i have no reason Ia eonnlsin.
for, although am not rich, am comfortRb ply sit
tnr. rnd sn sor sa-s n.st ~
ifss ~ Ssannoin ~, Rave S.centv hsS taissd
w. Tu e.t a5dsnt aamrsrs hsys co,nn,.ssis
os,raeIys6 n,ss h.ys nv ~ 49, RsgSsS
ready Tor the stage. i am ice % ~ 4 s quite
~. rsnsysr q pe,is ds.as ~ T.sse.r. H 4, ~
csn.s an 3 rsrman f.d,t.h,o ~ p.,i,, ~ ~
ssnss ths 1900 my. ~ n .cSIsoh.rs p.tas roe.
sad I, W,s,ns $500 ~ Fnn.aaa 1.an.
MI NJ not nsrrn, ~ nse,o1mann N R ~ Has