The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-12

I am convinced that the old land Of song is /
still the best ground for operatic study, un-
less the German school be preferred. be-
lieve, too, that Milan is yet the worlds great
emporium Of operate music, and the great
market place of artists. Compared with
Paris, it ID an awfully dull place, but so
much the better for the real student. Music
Is tia business of large part of the popuIa-
ton and the pastime of the rest. Babies
drink In melody with their mothers milk
street ganlins whistle the airs of the great
operas and are quite ready to criticize La
Patti. The butcher boy stops to read a
paragraph In II Monde Artistico, ere he
wraps up your meat in it. Fish wives are as
familiar with musical as piscatory scales.
Living is far cheaper here than in Paris
pianos and operas cost less, while
the terms of teachers and accompan-
lists are, to say the least, reasonable
As for masters, ''their name is legion"
At their head still stand Lamperd and San
Giovanni. The first is now old and teaches
less than formerly, residing for much of his
time at his country place on Lake Como CT
at Nice Many of his pupils follow him, for
enthusiasm for and faith in the grand old
maestro have no more died out than the
uT6 u keAllUS anu L1lO pt1oS1OA u LILO sun
Tor melody. San Giovanni holds his own
as a delightful instructor and a consummate
musician, full of delicate fancies and grace
eul combinationsl and changes-a veritable
master Of style.
Among the best known teachers are two
English ladies, Madame Fillippi, the wife of
the celebrated musical and DIR amatic critic,
Filippo Filippi, and herself a distinguished
artist; and Madame Boetti, one of the must
cal family of Dolby. Not only is this
lady successful teacher, but most
witty and interesting conversational,
and I am told that she is good
and faithful friend and protectress of young
girls placed under her care, and heaven
knows that English and American girls
often need such advisors and helpers.
Milan Is a clean and airy city, but the
climate, though hot in summer, is cold and
damp in winter. Alpine winds sweep over
It. If the student prefers the gayer, cosier,
more picturesque and interesting city of
Florence, she will find there that admirable
maestro, Vannucini, charming and most
Rmiable man. My daughter was for soma
time his pupil, and honors him greatly.
There is always in inter pleasant English
and American society in Florence. What
It Is in Milan 1 cannot say from experience,
having onIy spent some weeks of the "dead
season" here. Italians of the better class
are exceedingly agreeable, If you do not
expect too much of them-too many grand
and beautiful qualities. They are, in fact
with few noble exceptions, sadly degen-
erate race, living on the ghostly patrimony
Of their ancient Sreatness-glad in the tat
ters of their old romance and poetry.
Brave they are yet That much OF the old
Roman character remains with them, but
they are as conceited as the French, though
10 a more chilolike, less supercilious way.
They think their language the only fit
tongue for heroes, muses. and deities; they
think the sun rises, the stars shine, the moon
rides in splendor for ''dear Italy," and that
all ether lands are but the ragged edges of
the universe.
The common people, though amiable and
sympathetic, are too commonly disingenu-
Gus and unscrupulous-especia in plan
ming and plotting against the ''filthy lucre''
Of the stranger within their gates This ra-
pacity is not peculiar to Milan or Florence.
Italy is poor country. Its chief produc-
tons are papal encyclicaIs, priests and iron
clads, none of them very productive in their
turn. the entire country has to subsist on
foreign tourists and artists. It is the same
the world over where whole communities
live thus directly on their fellow-men.
have been subject to as thorough plumber
ing at certain American watering places,
only it has been done in more open, dash
ing and slashing manner.
Owing to the lack of Italian opera, houses
in France, pupils of italian professors there
are mostly obliged to come to Italy to make
their first operate ventures and gain their
FIRST practical stage experiences. Their
teachers, if faithful to their duty and pos
sessed of influence, can arrange these mat
tors for pupil of talent. Madame Mar
cheese, am told, never fails her charges
In this time of trial. Shea launches
the barque of their fortunes from
a respectable dock, with all colors flying.
Without some such backing the would be
dSbaGt0nte will find that coming to Italy Is
s'conaing to grief" She may be drawn into
business association, before she knows it,
with some Of the vilest and most viIlainous
specimens of degenerate Italians. When
brigandage was suppressed by force of arms
In Italy the brigands merely laid aside their
carbines, plumed hats and velveteen suits,
put on seedy civil dress and become dra-
matte agents and inlpreSSari. These "biT-
banti," as they are called here tmeaning
scoundrels) live like so many cannibals, on
young singers. TheyEprefer the Americans,
as the most tender and sueeulent. Since
we came to Milan we have heard some
appalling stories of the way certain Milanese
SpspreSsari have victimized our young
country women, deceiving them by Illegally
executed contracts, wheedling money out of
them for first expenses, sending them off to
distant towns, where they found no opera
company awaiting them, and in some cases
90 opera house; in short, robbing them in
way to make an old-fashioned highwayman
blush. These wretches have been exposed
again and again, but there seems to be no
law to punish them and no public opinion
TO condemn them. In this proud birth-land
Of art there is little respect or
protection for artists. Audiences are,
am told, far more caprieious, exacting and
unmerciful than in France, England or
Germany. They seldom make allowances
for a debutGnte, however young or timid.
Woe be to her, especially if she fail to please
the gods of the gallery Our noble AIbani
IVES Kissed off the stage of the Scala for the
rhine Of holding on to certain notes beyond