The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-20

OF a Wagner description. that is to say II con-
tains mass OF recitatives and plenty OF har-
monte effects but very few melodies. This sort
Of music the French do not like, az n rule. But
the snactacle is gorgeous. 1t is described as n
perfect orgie Of coors. lights. and costumes from
beginning to end. The baritone Lassalle and
tho new Polish dira, Mile. Josephine Retzkc.
produce quite sensation in the parts Of Scin,iid
and sta. Mile. RcHke il rapidly growing to
fame. She is only twenty-five years old, made
her debut In Paris little over a year ago, and
the musical world declares already that since
the time Of Cruvei such n voice has never been
heard. She was born In Wilanovo. the former
residence Of King John Sobiesky. Her studies
were made at the Conservatory OF st. Peters
burg under the PROFESSIONALLY Of Nine. Solomon
and her first debut at the Malibran Theatre
in Venice. Marguerite. in Faust" was her
first part Subsequently she sang at the Fcnice
in Robert le Diabc" and Somnambula."
Halanzicr heard her in the spring OF 1876, and
at once engaged her for the Paris opera. She
has already appeared in Hamlet. Wilhelm
Tell" the " IIuRucnots" and the Juivc. ." and
promises TO eclipse Patti, Lucca, and Nilsson
put together
Jules Masscnct Ia also young-about thirty
five. He is n Savoyard by birth. has studied at
the Conscrvatoiro Of Paris, and gained the
prize Of Rome His first productions were
played some eight or ten years ago by Arban
at the Casino Cadet. Subsequently Pasdeloup
gave some Of his works at the Concerts POpu-
ldres. His first opera was Don Caesar de
Bzan." produced at the Opera Comique. The
next was Marie Magdeleine." produced at the
Odeon. Viardot- Garcia made in it her last APP
pearance in public This opera was afterward
given at the Opera Comque with Miolan- Car
Ia. ~
ago the great attraction at the concert of the
Cirque OF the Champs Elys6es. Massenet. like
most Savoyards. is a very timid and retiring
sort of q person. Few people have ever seen
him. He lives at Fontanebeau, and receives
nobody except his publisher Hartmann and
his ibretto writer. Louis Gallct. He is said to
be an interchangeable worker. writing his pro-
ductions several times over before he consents
to give them to the public.
While Mile. Rctzke captivates Paris. Patti and
Nilsson enchant London. and Lucca stirs the
clumsy. sleepy population Of Munich. Nilsson
sings alternately with Titiens at Her Majesty's
Opera Housc-the new one-under the direction
Of Mr.. Mapleson. Patti is Mr.. Gays star at Co.
vent Garden. She has Mile. Albani for lieuten-
ant The dread OF being compelled to pay heavy
damages for breach Of contract made Patti go to
London, notwithstanding her reported resolu-
tipn nol W uppCuT III I-uRlduu vi
till the recollection Of her domestic trouble
should have passed away Mr.. Gay assumed n
threatening attitude. and the dira appeared
again before the English public on Tuesday
last. Her reception was exceptionally enthusi-
astc. The Londoners seemed anxious to as
sure her that they did not care either about her
want OF affection for the Marquis de Caux or her
excess Of affection for Ncolini SO long us she
could still sing as well as ever.
The Salon this year is generally pronounced
to be richer in quantity. but poorer in quality.
than for some years past. The department Of
sculpture appears to be very fine. however.
There are several superb works. One is an
alto-reievo of Marin. representing the Genius
OF Arts. and intended to replace the equestrian
statue OF Napoleon III. at the Louvre. An
other. of somewhat opposed tendency. repre-
sents q Titan given up TO birds OF prey. 1t is
called Cesar" and Is meant to represent the
collapse of the empire. There is always a
crowd around this group, and the political dis
cussions suggested by it run very high. Among
the favoritc pictures are Jean-Paul Laurens's
Austrian stan Viewing the Body Of Marccau."
Daubigny's "Moonrise' Bernie Bcllerourt's
Combat in a Trench" Detaillc French Gem
era and stan Saluting IruSsian Prisoners"
and Frmn Grari's Performing Bears"
Portraits abound, Hcaly's picture OF Gnmbetts
being pronounced one Of the best GustaVc
port has an admirable Christ Cnnd"mned,'
pear m the character Of sculptor Ii said 10 be
an utter failure.