The New York herald., 1879-10-07

prove interesting to tho public. conversationaliy
brought out the following facts.
"My recent voyage to Europe" he said. "has been
one of the most pleasant in my long experience as
an operatc manager. Times seem to have changed.
New people at work; another generation is at
the wheel. have travelled through the greater
part of Europe for the purpose of engaging artists
for IN brother. and / you that the business
prospects of the season never brighter.
Here the imprssario pressed the writer's hand
his breast in a manner that is only known to
those who familiar with his enthusiastic methods
when he pleasantly meanders around an idea.
"And what have been your chief discoveries. in
quired the writer.
"First among the artists whom have secured l
would place Mile. Teresa Singer. lady whom
believe will arouse much enthusiasm in the art
world.
"WhyY'
because she possesses brilliant voice. She is q
pure dramatic soprano of great power artist the
equal OF whom has not often in late years been
heard in America; warm. sympathetic and effective
As actress she is emotional and dramatic
These qualities have secured for her successes in
Rome Milan. Naples and Paris. I need not say
unless it be to add that regard her u most
important contribution to the of my
brothers season."
"What the other attractions Of Mile. Singer
that cause you to speak warmly of herr?
'Wel she has enormous physical power. is . fnc
looking lady; in fact. may say has o queen-like
presence"
"And how oldY'
(dr. Strakosch wInced.) "About twenty five
How long has she been singing on the stageY'
81 think about six years.
"will your be affected by the incoming Of
Mr.. Mapieson's Italian Opera Company
"No" (emphatically). "There is abundance Of
room in America for both organizations and no one
knows the fact better than Colonel Mapleson ahim-
SELF Each OF the organizations will afford attraction
to the public and neither will clash.
"Reverting to Nile. Teresa Singer. tell me- some
thing more"
"Well, found myself antagonized by other man
ayers. especially by the manager OF the Grand Opera
House. VINO was willing to give me 50.oOof il
would release her from her engagement. This
alone shows her monetary value. l was so afraid
that something might occur to interrupt our plans
tnat determined to wait and accompany the lady i'll
person. You have no idea how much she Is IN de-
mand on the other side.
'Of what does her reDertofre consist?
'.She has sung i'll Aida upward of three hun
dred and fifty times. In fact Verdi selected her for
TINS ,oe ort sne Is ravaoss bsr
Freischutx. Anna Bolena. 'Un Ballo in Maschera
and Faust She viii also sing in 'Mephisto-
..During your absence from New York and travels
in Europe you have had an opportunity to observe
musical and operate affairs. should like to have
..Not to speak too plainly. there has been quite a
revival in Italian opera in London and the Con-
tinent Gye has done good business this season,
and Mapleson would have been equally fortunate il
it for the fact that Nelson and Gerster
less unable to sing. owing to ulness-an
affection Of the throat-one Of those things. you
know, which you cannot always command"
care there any artistes coming to the front?"
"You can exhaust their number by counting the
fingers your hands. There are q few who have
before them possible future; there are others who
had better remain away from tho concert or dramatic
stage entirely: They will fail. The conservatories
full OF students, scores of whom Americans,
but, comparatively speaking. see no chance OF sue
for the majority. An exceptional may
crop ou. here and there. but heard little while
abroad that made feel ambitious in this direction,
and you know how gladly would avail myself of an
opportunity to produce successful American de-
butante."
"who are tho coming composers?"
"You again ask me a question which it is diff
cult to answer. In my Judgment however, you will
find that Boito the composer of "MepnIstophees." is
a worthy rival OF Gounod the composer OF Faust"
are favorites in Italy. No greater mistake be
made than in the supposition that italian music
will disappear. 1t is not possible"
"Why are you SO emphatic i'll making that last re-
markY
"Because during my visit abroad had occasion
to spend q few days with my friend Gaeyyart, tho
director of the Conservatoire at Brussels and
OF the most learned musicians OF our time. He
possesses musical library comprised OF nearly
thousand volumes of Italian operas.
There is nothing like it in Europe l went
these works carefully. and assure you that moth
ing could be more Interesting to a musician than
her record of musical progress for 500 years. You
can tsere see how the opera was born the changes
it has undergone and the footsteps that have been
copied by score OF composers who to-day We re-
gard originators. Bah!"
"Why that exclamationY'
because have that the Italians are the
masters OF all other nations in the art of compost
ton, the first to invent and the best to execute
opera. 1t 10 generally. although enormously. be-
Leved by those who have not studied tho history Of
which comprehends melody and counterpont. has
been cultivated chiefly in Germany. This is
a mistake. Long before the Germans cultivated
music, before Bach and Handel. the Italians
ahead of any other nation in their harmony
fact. the great German masters made their studies in
the Italian schools The present want of form III
the school is only step backward. saw this
with my own eyes while examining the works OF my
friend. The rectatve. interminged with few bits
of melody, is precisely representative of the
style that prevailed before it chan ged by Gina
and other eminent masters of his epoch Music
is undergoing a transformation. Melody is and al
ways must be its substratum Those who compose,
or pretend to compose, music without melody build
on sand"
''Do I understand from these observations tn at
the Italians cling to their old popular musicr'
Eyes; you cant beat it out OF their heads. Melody
with them has been enthroned 1t is a habit-a part
of their nature-and, so far AS Mr.. Wagner and his
theories are concerned it will be an uphill work to
attempt to make any converts. Neither he nor the
fanatics who follow him will ever be successful with
the Italians.
..ut how is it that there are no moro Italian sing
ersy"
'"rhat is a broad question. but many reasons
at work, some of which am enabled to answer.
Italy, in the last twenty years. has made enor-
nous social, literary and political stride In COM
of all kinds. III the arts OF finance. in agricu
ture, the change has been remarkable, and with
1t the habits of the people have changed
Forty years ago, when was there, the citizens Of
Italy did not occupy themselves they do now
There not that breadth OF comprehension and de-
sire to adapt themselves to conditions which
now every where observable. The consequence
that III climate where everything is inviting your
idle people became artists by nature. They breathed
atmosphere and read pictures in the skies that
made them unlike any other people in the world
'But how does this affect American visitors and
studentsY
"Thcy naturally catch much of the inspiration of
the locality, and by reason OF their enth usiasm
maintain the enthusiasm that carried them there.
Some of the students might as well have stayed at
home They will never be heard Of again. a few
q very few are promising"
"Who among the Americans would you enumer-
ate in the category of successY'
Naturally would place at the head the Patti
sisters, both of whom regarded abroad as citi-
of this country. Adelina still keeps her rank
as the lyric artist Of the age. thus far has
rival and Cariotta Patti. her sister singing in
New York. is. in my Judgment the queen OF the
concert realm. Her marvellous execution is worthy
OF the utmost admiration. Albani comes next. Keb-
logg has made q at Her Majesty's Theatre,
Ia mir rrppr ant tivpo of Anna art