The bee., 1883-06-09
PUBLIC SINGING.
4 Great Singers Views on the Progress IN
the Power TO Appreciate Good Music Mnd'
by the American People.


4 Great Singers Views on the Progress In
the Power TO Appreciate Gooa MUSIC Mna'
by the American People.
Christine Nilsson, in short article
in the North American Reciea0 op
public singing, says:
In my Judgment, the American
people during the past twelve years
have made wonderful progress in the
power to appreciate good music. They
no longer accept a foreign artist
without question, solely on the
strength of a European reputation. 1t
Is true they will go once to see or hear
a person who has made noise abroad;
because they have money and probably
quito as much curiosity as other
people. But they will not continue to
patronize that which does Lot suit
their taste or commend itself to their
Judgment. So far as my observation
goes, the appreciation of good music in
the principal cities of the United
States is fully equal to that OF the
European capitals. 1t il evinced by a
deep sympathy which is felt at the
very beginning Of a performance. In
the Eastern and Middle States the
audience appear to have more dellb-
erate Judgment, a disposition
to consider and compare, be-
fore committing themselves to full
approval; but the response is hearty
and cheering when it Gomez. In the
West and South it is quicker In Its
expression. The musical cultivation
and Judgment of the Americans are
shown in prompt recognition of the
best passages they appear to realize
what is generally fine in the art. Mo
zart, Beethoven, Meyerbeer and Wag-
tler are as thoroughly understood here
as in European cities, and the expires
sion of appreciat on is stronger. Even
in small places / have been agreeably
surprised at the manifestations OF an
intelligent enjoyment of classical
tnt1sic.
This state of things is probably
owing to the fact that, in one sense,
there is so little proVincialism IL
America. The Americans are grt N
travellers and have unequaled facilltNjs s
for travel They think nothing ol
going from one end of the country t(
the other, whenever business, health
or pleasure demand it. And they re
move their homes from one section tC
another with almost equal ea,e. Ihey
are at home everywhere. Brothers
and sisters live in the most distan
parts of the land, and scarcely reallz'
that they are not near neighbors. Ih'
consequence is that one finds sub
stantially the same society, the same
institutions, tile same education anC
the same degree Of refinement II
Chicago or St. Louis or San Francisco
as in New York, Philade lphia or Bos
ton. 1t may almost be said that Their
is no intellectual metropolis; and thos
differences in dialect, which max
sharp distinctions between people o
neighboring counties and provinces II
Europe, are heIe entirely wanting.
The abundance of wealth in tn
United States, and the spirit of enter
prise that does not fear to invest in o.
! a large scale in any worthy undertak
ing, may be seen in the great nuuhe
of excellent halls and opera houses
where musical perform ances may D
rendered to the best advantage. l haT
been as we'll satisfied with the acoustl
effects of the rooms in which / hav
sung in America. as with those q
European cities. 1t was a surprls
and delight to find perfect gem OF a
opera house so far west as Denye
I The Academy of Music in Philadelphia
; I consider second only, in acOustI
properties, to the Grand Opera-hous
At Vienna, which is the finest IN th
;, | world