New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-01


to our vocal societies who possess high tenors-and
as l had just heard this executed twice in the
preceding concours," l was becoming rather IA
miar with it. Such a close competition | have
never seen. When the committee preceded TO
vote, not soul left the hall, while the 800 men,
bers of the two clubs every one knew it would
be one or the other crowded to the front of the
stage in dress-coated anguish, waiting for the
verdict never was so puzzled IN
all my hfe.' said Arthur Pougin t.
me, as he prepared to vote. At last the
vote was announced by the vice-president The
Paris society had eight votes and the provincial
seven. " The Enfans de Paris have won the prize,
but but the society roised the roof with their
shouts while the faces of the Others began vslbly
to lengthen. But said the vice-president, the
contest has been so equal that the Minister OF the
Interior orders me TO award another prX dhon'
neur' TO the society of Tourcoing" 30 there was
picnic for cricksick, after all, and both socieues
left the palace singing songs of triumph and way
ing their banners.
The next night, by appointment called upon
NJ Massenet. He was seated at the piano, playing
some selections from EscarmOnde," when en-
tered and this led me to speak of his operas
q" Which do like best? father always loves
the last child most, and prefer Esclarmonde' to
the Others now at least but am at work on a
new opera. of the dramatic school, to which
M Rjehepin is furnishing the libretto, and hope
IN do my best work in that Which OF my works
is best known in America ?" When in reply to
this 1 spoke of the delightful Scenes P1tto-
resques," he sat down again at the piano ana
nlavea the mart where the cracked village bell Is
imitatcd nv muteG tones of the horn. He asked
if had received my tickets TO Esclarmondc,"
and then SPOKE enthusiastically of Miss Sybil San
derson the young Californian, who is singing the
leading role.
1T was written for her, and is dedicated TO her.
and it fits her like glove. 1t is difficult to find
a heroine to suit part. DO you recall how many
fat monsters you have in 'Traviata'? Well,
when Miss Sanderson sings 'Oui, ie suis belle, ct
desirable land Massenet hummed the phrase at the
piano., one feels that it is in place The com
mass is difficult, for it lies largely in the rich,
deeper notes, and then goes to extreme heights;
when Miss Sanderson sings in alt the Tour
d'Efel note some of the critics have called it, it
is not a squeak or screech, but sweet and pure
tone You will see and hear tonight"
| then asked about the progress of American
music abroad, and found, as l had expected, very
| little known about it, NJ. Massenet Of
knew Van der Stucllen, but of Paine he knew moth
| ing definite Mcdowell he spoke of enthusiast
cay, and said I" His music is genuine and sponta-
neous.' Chadwlcks scores he had read through
little and that about all
| Speaking of these, he suddenly asked: Where
did they study?" Then he burst forth vehemently
" You must make them study at home. Nationality
is necessary in music. Every composer must, after
| he has acquired the rules, become himself l had
Swedish pupil last year just like that He
wanted more and more of me- Finally / said !:
You have it ALL I can do no more. Go to your
| country; become inspired by it and compose lie
| is be ginning to do now. Look at two different
men. Greg went home and developed nationality
| in his music: Gade became a reflection of MeDdels
sOhn and Hitler"
| But we are too cosmopolitan a race to have
definite musical characteristicsbs L suggested.
whereupon, still most impetuousy, NJ MaSsent
said: No! You have grand views. / have
never been there, but / have seen pictures of
Niagara; your great forests your vast plains,
| they must be set to music, and, then, your
women, so beautiful, they would inspire any COM
| poser. What poets have your
| L told him.
Then you have everythingl See how some
! styles of music in Germany have stood still be-
cause of the lack Of poets. Since Heine-nobody.'
Whom have you in France?'
Coppee, Richepin, and others, but we could use
more also"
After this the conversation became more gen.
eral in scope, but the composer expressed strong
desire to come to America soon, and told me that
he enjoyed conducting almost well comp0s-
ing. Before / went away Nj. Massenet gave me
a card reading: "Admettez NJ Louis c. Elson
Sur la Scene, 3 Aout" and desired me to look
him up on the stage at the opera after the third
| act
OF ESclarmonde" l surely need not spealI
| IL has been reviewed weeks ago in your columns,
| but l may emphatically say that the two who
made the libretto ought to be killed 1t is weak
in plot and the words handicap the noble music.
After the third act l went back of the scenes and
found the composer again. pleasant greeting
and an introduction to Miss SanderSon followed.
The singer is a charming American girl, apparently
unspoiled by her success most beautiful in APP
pearance, and gifted with a phenomenally high
voice She introduced me to her mother, and
spoke with delight of her part in the opera. But
| i have played it thirty-nine times already" she
added, and the novelty is wearing Off / am
studying Manon with NJ. MasSenet and hope to
achieve something with that" The cal-bcll soon
sent the singer to her post, and me away from the
stage and in wandering in the may passages
which were to lead me back to my fauteuil | got
| into another greenroom, where the whole corps
de ballet were assembled. ! gazed upon the crowd
of nymphs. butterflies angels and pretty little
demons, and found that the French ballet dancer
averages much younger than the MapieSonan
chorus girl But what / said to the demons and
what they said to me must forever remain a
mystery. l. Z. L.