New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-17
FrOm LIE Ft11rO.

From lie Figaro
Offenbacb was anything but all admrer OF Wag-
ner The following critical estimate OF hIm has
not so far as know. been published before !;
And to sam up my opinion III a few words, Wag-
ner would he the greatest OF all musicians II he
had not been preceded by Mozart, Gluck, Weber
the most mel0dic if Herold. llaleny Ahber Bolel-
diem etc. had never lived his genius wonld he
incompatible if he had not had Meyerbefer
is in open revolt against universal sui ana
delicate taste, may be thus defined, lrreconcilable
music ,
over hundred operettas) and he worked with a
facility rivallinP that of Schubert who is SAID to
made" at table III beer garden; lie ftgaro
gives ali instance of tins. In 1890, Arsene
Housaye. then the director OF the Com6dle
FrancaIse had engaged Offenbach rs conductor or
the orchestra Oae morning Alfred de Musset. who
was writing for the Maison de Moiere, came 10 the
director and said :" My dear fellow, now that you
have Ohenbach Won ought not 10 let such talent lie
idle Why don't You ask him to compose music Tor
the song OF FortuniOi don't know him or would
ask him myself" eff Won don't know him." said
Houssaye, a will introduce him. This is he,
In fact Oienbach was sitting in the dlrectorSs
Office. i am only too glad to be useful to You"
said the conductor to the poet Let us send Tor the
words at once" "Then you will compose this
musici p Certainly here, at once. Then we VIII
SEND for Deaunay to sing IT. FIVE minutes later
the words were brought, and Ohenbacb, looking
over De Musset's verses. improvsed a charming air.
winch he hummed over 10 the astounded author
"Send for POrtuniO,' SAID Honssaye, ana
came hnrrying in Bat as i'll luck would
have it, Dolaunay. whose voice III speaking rs OF
the softest and sweetest, deve loped tremendous
bass the moment he began TO sing An! thai Will
never do said Offenbach. He can speak the verses
but for Heavens sake don't let him sing them" and
the piece bad to be produced without the song. IL
WAS not lost, however, for Offenbach published IL
few wears later and it proved one of the most poDu-
lar things ever wrote. :. =,
The stories told of OAenbach's generosity, and
are numberless. One day as he was coming
home from his club he was accosted by little beg
gar, who asked him for few sous lie felt IN MS
pockets but trente ct qnarante had quite emp
tied them so going into the nearest store and asking
for some paper he inprovised little song. which he
signed and handing it to the child sad, Here
take this to -, the music publisher ana Keep the
He joked about everything. even his health
S ghsn to was America TSas i" ISIS one of his con-
freres said to him: You really ought
TO take care of yourself. You are not bali strong
enough TO undertake this trip, Ohr sald Oiieni
bach smiling. &" don't worry MY health Is so BAD
that haven't the strength to be ILL.,"
Bizarre and eccentric at all times. Offenbaeh was
never more odd and amusing than at the theatre
1 he morning of a rehearsal. he might be found st
home in the corner of - deep easy char. with his
feet higher than his head. wrapped no to his nose
in red silk dressing.g0wn trimmed WIN
fur keeping his eyes shut and avoiding all manner
of conversation to save his strength. At brea ist
time he would call his valet. and proceed to dress
half dozen monthfuls, keeping up HIS nervous
energy with n fearfnlly strong cigar. At III they
would Wrap him up in great cloak lined with red
dish fur nearly the color of his hair and whiskers
and shut up III a close coupe with fur robe about
his legs, lie would drive off to the theatre. Here
he always arrived with all sorts OF projects
in his head for modifying his piece. This is how
YOU must set this scene. want THIS Introduction
done in such and such way. Those verses IN the
second act "Ab Yes. They are charfningF
&" Well, am going 10 cut them cut" But they
will be encored =" don't care. They make the
scene too long 1 shall cut Them lie was the NOR
tai enemy of long scenes. and the most sue
made the action drag. No matter how
the director or the singers demonstrated,
be was iDexorable, and in the end generally right.
The rehearsal once begun. Offenbach would disap'
pear In his fur cloak, from which his face would
gradually emerge wearing smile that grew broader
he would spring up. and 1ourshing his cane. would
cry out Very good, my children. but u isn't that
at all ~ and rushing the stage would turn 1t
topsy -turyy in a moment. Like Gilbert he man
aged his own stage and arranged ali the grouping,
entrances and exits himself. Once up, he
good while. He interrupted every instant. :" That
isn't IT all Come here, will you never told you
10 do that, it's detcstable Come, begin over
AGAIN everybody At last half out OF breath. lie
would take off his fur cloak, and put on the first
overcoat lie could lay his hands on, generally that
of one of his colisbOrateurs, MaIlhac or Halevy.
From that stage on. matters in the rehearsal put
his movements, Ofenbach became fairly
tmrible running about jostlng the chorus. shaking
them by the arms. walking about WIN theIn
and Going through the same motions as thcy' Dea
inc Time ali the time with his stick and marking the
rhythm with his fact tall at last iairiv worn oni-