Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-30
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE PRESENT ADJUSTMENTS OF THE
PEOPLE OF GOTHAM.
Depressed Concert Market-Gossip About
Actors and Actresses Throughout
the Land-Stage Notes
Rosalind May, the regular New York
correspondent OF the SUNDAY UNION, writes

Rosallnd May, the regular New York
correspondent OF the SUNDAY UNION, write:
as follows:
Everybody is on tiptoe of expectation
regarding the opening of Italian opera
next week. 1t will be the event of the
season here, and the crowning success Of
Mr.. Abbey's most successful venture
Judging by orders for seats that come
pouring in not only from the city, but a
long radius round about, metropolitan per-
formances will prove serious of financial
and artistic triumphs. German opera goes
out with 'Siegfried' at this weeks matinee,
and will for several reasons be continued
next year. 1t is somnolent in effect to
papas and grandpapas who, sometimes
lugged thither against their will, can nod
in the rear of boxes. 1t is good to talk by
as forming monotonous background, and
lastly, it is cheaper, since German singers
sing at far less cost than the children of
sunny Italy, who, wanted everywhere, are
high-priced in proportion. The last of the
series of four concerts given by the
BOSTON ORCHESTRA,
Under the leadership of the now famous
Nikisch, took place this week and drew a
house of music lovers. Each time that
Mr. Nikisch appears he impresses more
deeply the fact that he is an artist of rare
and original ability. His personal ap-
pearance also goes far in winning the
hearts of his audiences, since all are af-
fected by his dignity, artistic bearing and
remarkable grace. Gossip says he is a
menace to the mental peace of Boston fair
ones, but there is not a trace of the fop in
him, though, indeed, he must confess to
comparative youth, since dark hair in
some confusion about pale, thoughtful
face is untinged by gray. Dark, speaking
eyes betray sensitive soul. He is thin,
of medium hight, and must be gifted with
extraordinary memory, as he leads without
notes through an evenings programme.
And her company were accorded warm
welcome on last Monday night at the
Broadway Theater. The audience was
brilliant and filled the house, conspicuous
in box being Mrs. Cleveland, who looked
charming as ever in pink and gray bro
cade, made with deep points back and
front, filled in with shirrings and ruffles of
pink crepe. She wore no bonnet, and her
high dressed hair was confined by gilt
dagger. No jewelry.
"But returning to the subject matter
woman, and an artist so intelligent and
engaging as Rhea, shows such continued
inaptitude for speaking the language of
her adoption. Such defect, together with
voice of sufficient strength, but pitched
always too high, must mar what is other
wise most attractive portrayal of the
beloved Empress. The play itself is open
to criticism in more points than one, and
has been severely though not unjustly
commented upon by local critics. There
is much to attract, however, since apart
from Rheas fine appearance, intelligence
and grace, the piece is a rare study of
Empire costumes, and the young actresses
who take the parts of Pauline and Hor-
tense Bonaparte are exceptionally pretty
and act we'll. Any actor assuming the
role of Napoleon deserves sympathy, and
VIM. Harris does not fall SO far short as
might be imagined. But who can portray
the Man of Destiny 1t might be possible
to Booth, but his physiognomy is unlike.
The task had best be let alone, at least for
the present"
DEPRESSED CONCERT MARKET.
There is striking similarity in the
attitude of the public relative to concerts
in the various great musical centers of the
country. Chicago appears to be in a
frame of indifference like New York and
Boston, and through the same causes, as
the following quotation indicates "Some
time ago the American Musician published
an interview with William Steinway, in
which that gentleman stated that the
public of the leading musical cities of En-
gland and Germany were concert-tired. A
confirmation of this statement comes from
Berlin. Otto Lessmann, editor of the
Auegemetne Musk Zeitunq of that city, in
the issue of January 24th, says: For
months to come every evening has one,
or often, several concerts, and in view of
this fact one can only admire the courage
with which concert givers reckon on an
audience. No one seems to expect any
longer receipts worth mentioning con-
certs in Berlin are for most artists lust
what advertisements in the papers are
and have to be paid for as advertisements.
Most concert givers are rejoiced if they
Cdu ulSpOSe among unelr 1rlenuS or rela-
tives or acquaintance of tickets enough to
Tighten in some degree the expenses which
they have to bear. The public seems 10
have lost all desire to buy concert tickets,
except of course in certain first-class af-
fairs, and such a revolution has taken
place that the public, in most instances,
thinks it is making sacrifice when it is
asked to 60 to any concert. If this goes
on as it has been doing shall not be sur
prised if some day the announcement of
concerts in the journals arc followed bv
advertisements of people who will offer to
go to concerts for larger or smaller fee,
and thus spare the concert giver the dis
tressing sight Of an empty hall. Even the
quartet evening of Joachim, De Alma,
Worth and Hausmann ON the 18th of this
month attracted only moderate audience
to Sing Akademie.'
"This description of the musical situa-
tion in Berlin is equally true of New
York, where concerts are bewildering,
both in number and character, and quite
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