The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-27
OFFENBACE.
Interview with the Popular
Composer.
His Motives for Visiting the United
States.
PROGRESS OF MUSIC IN AMERICA

PARIS, March IL. 1876.
Having occasion to call upon Ofenbach recently in
relation TO some business with which had been in
trusted bya friend, took the opportunity OF talk
ing to him the subject OF his projected trip to
America found him quite expansive in regard TO 1t,
u having evidently offered TO his mind perspective
OF great social and professional enjoyment Before
enter the particulars OF conversation, which
OF very interesting character brief description
OF the popular composer and OF his surroundings may
not be unacceptable to your readers
Onenbach lives in modest but comfortable apart
ment on the fourth loor of house the Rue LATTE
and when the visitor enters his rooms be at
that the occupant or artistic tastes and refine
menI The walls covered with choice specimens
OF the ks OF the most esteemed modern
French artists, most OF them being tributes
OF admiration and friendship to the livcest and gayest
OF modern lyrical writer's and to the genial and
amusing Of social companions In his rooms the soft
and uxurant OF armcnars and sofas Of every
conceivable form and material invite tho visitor TO
drop into them, while the light, reduced and tempered
by curtains and hangngs OF the endcrest hues Is OF
that subdued and mysterious character which piqucs
ones curiosity and induces exploration OF the OBJ
OF the room where countless art treas.
ures in tho form OF bronzes bibeos Ito half
cealed. But no time is given for the qualification OF
ones curiosity Tor the OF the io9s is not
visitors air their patience in his antechamber AL
though man is moro occupied, and although his
work Is OF a nature which, perhaps, less than any
other is susceptible of interruption ;nasmuch as It de-
Ponds upon the Inspiration OF the moment, there are
few who are msrc accessible. Owing to his long
nection with the theatre nothing disturb him,
and he passes from occupation to another with
facility and gayety which envabe
was fortunate enough the day | called to ind him
~ hte A.a.
tunity OF talking him undsturbed for she best part
of hour. He had some sheets OF blank music paper
before him. but smoking cigar and evidently
not much disposed for work. He shook hands cor
daily with me, and in reply to my Tor intrud
ing on his time hc answered me gayly that he was
rather glad OF the interruption for he had had one OF
his usual attacks of govt and had not yet been
able settle down seriously to work. To look at him
cannot help wondering at the prodigous amount
OF labor he has gone through His slight, fra figure
and delicate physical conformation generally seem in
compatible with severe and continuous application.
Although his nftythird year he light airy and
vvacious young OF twenty, and the buoy
ancy of his temperament and hopeful nature WILL as
in the OF Charles Mathews, enable him TO pro-
serve this juveniy OF appearance long after the
reality has passed away. His Teutonic complexion and
blonde hair aud mustache contribute course to keep
up the Illusion, and seen In company with one Of his
daughters he might easily be mistaken for her brother
having concluded my business with him said
"Mr odonbach, now that have terminated the affair
that brought mo here. perhaps you will pardon my
indiscretion In asking you II this projected trip OF yours
to the United Staes is new idea and suggested solely
| by the business proposition made you in connection
with the Ccntonnialf''
"Oh, dear, nol' he replied. til Is many years since
formed the desire, and, indeed the nation to
visit America Having seen almost every other great
country, 1t was natural should feel about
which, although only century In growth, is already
rvaling the nations OF the Old World, not only po
ltcal and social advancement but In every branch OF
art There is example in the worlds history OF
similar progress Barely century ago there was
everything TO create, and now told by those who
have visited the country and who, know, are not
gwen to exaggcration there IS TO be found there not
only maturity In all that goes to make up high
state Of civilization but degree OF wealth. refinement
and intelligence that but few OF the Older nations
boast Of If my professional engagements had per-
miltcd of t can assure you would not have waited
until now TO realize my long formed determination to
visit your country"
LAS you have touched that point, may ask how
IL is that the interest Of your profession itself you
aid not deem It advisable make the trips / am
sied that In pecunnry point OF view tho results
would have amply compensated your
'No doubt Of IT, and II had had only my engage
ments as a composer to Interfere with my movements
could easily have arranged to absent myself from Paris
for a few months But You know what the RESPONSE
bihtics OF theatrical director In my they
only involved pccuniary considerations but my ar
should superintend the production OF my pieces
All the latitude OF movement that could give myself
was absence OF n few days at some place whence
could DO recalled IN four and twenty hours"
"May ask II you have bestowed any attention on
the progress OF music in the United States and you
are able TO form any opinion as 10 It's actual condition
and prospects,"
already observed 10 extraordinary but II seems to
me that al present IL has arrived ut stage OF
raientssement tsuspensionl This is due TO several
causes. II is needless for mo to tell you that opera
costly amusement and that 10 prosper u requires
other encouragement and support Than that afforded By
the hrkle favor Of fashion In America II receives no
aid Of any kind, either from the State from the mu
ncpalty and is Jeff entirely 10 It's own resources AS
II count with any degree OF certainty the
season subscriptions which Europe enable the
director TO form his calculations for the period his
gagcments likely run. IL follows that tho
mprosario who undertakes 70 produce opera under
proper conditions In New York or any other OF your
large cities does so at enormous personal risk-a risk
In fact, which no ordinarily prudent man s justified IN
mourning The consequence Is that in nine out
OF ten he Is unable to fulfil his engagements with for
eign artists and hence the difficulty that found
persuading singers OF acknowledged merit 70 accept
American engagements What inducemcnt is there for
them In fact to brave the pers and dcsoGremens OF
long voyage and then 10 lind themselves involved
in law suits TO enforce the fulnment Of their con-
trdctsf They can earn nearly as much money In
PARIS or London without being subjected TO any OF
these annoyanccs Remember that am hnding fault
with situation that Is entirely false and not with
individuals maintain that no operate director
hope TO attain reasonable compensation for his Efforts
great obstacle TO The successful decentralization OF opera
among you, II may use The term " that you have
no national or State conservatoIre whence as In
Paris, al operate director obtain the elements
which excellence OF ensemble In musical repre-
scntaton. You readily imagine how diflcut 1:
would be for the Grand Opera 10 maintain is high rep
utaon had It not at its command the schools Of art
which the government has fostered with the direct
view OF multiplying its resources. In iact all the
| French artists who have attained fame and for
tune within the past quarter OF century have
| been educated and trained al the CONSERVATION"
las you the acknowledged creator OF OPERA
boHGc IN France | should be glad 10 learn from you
particulars regarding the origin and history OF
4
artiscaly fruitful and so profitable TO YOUR
| self personally"