Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-30
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Reception of German and Italian
Opera at the Metropolis
IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEXT.
The Revival of Gilbert and Sullivans
Popular Productions.
ANOTHER RECITAL BY OTTO HEGNER

The close of the season of German Opera
at the New York Metropolitan brings the
usual counting up OF results, with a view
to the future policy of that leading musical
institution of the country. According tc
the figures given by that most able and re.
liable critic, Mr.. H. E. Krehbiel, of the
Tribune, the 81 performances of operas
by Wagner brought in S121, ,56S 20 as
against SS3,076 by the 80 performances Of
other composers works, making the differ
ence in average receipts favor Wagner by
S5l6 40 performance. These and other
results reckoned up leave no doubt that
much the same policy will be followed next
season. Great credit is due Manager Stanton
and Conductor Seidl for placing our
metropolis in line with, if not ahead of, the
operatlc centers of the Old World.
Last Monday Abbey's big Italian Opera
Company with Patti, Tamagno and the rest
stepped into the shoes of the Teutons. 1t is
a notable fact and one of much credit to the
healthy, liberal taste of the people that
alter spending over $500, 900 on the e. operas
in German they had subscribed
by the Thursday previous to its opening
S120. 600 for the four weeks season
of opera in Italian. The conditions are too
widely different TO institute any comparison
between the figures: none such is intended.
The gre IT fact is that the representative Amer
ican pub ic. cares enough for opera per Sc to
pay hunds ds of thousands of dollars for really
good performances, quite irrespective of
school, language and nationality
What then. will the public give for adequate
performances III its own language? The giving
of Wagner's operas in German before an En-
lsh-speaking audience is curious instance
of propaCandism in the face of one
nrinplDlpS intended q
be propagated. Full comprehension of
the words sung declaimed is of the very
essence of the approaching of Wagner's work
rightly. This is true of all true opera and is
one of the aesthetic principles of which every
body can see the Importance. The prerequisite
singers who can sing English intelligibly-
will come with increasing cultivation of the
field.
A promising attempt to popularize and make
permanent grand opera in English was begun
in New York last Monday at the Grand Opera
House. Martha" "Faust" Carmen" "Bo-
herman Girl" I'll Trovatore" "Maritana" and
The Euchautress" (Balfe) are to be sung
in succession, each running one week
Popular prices rule this English opera season.
which. while it cannot, of course, equal the
pomp and circumstance of its fashionable for
eign rivals, will, nevertheless, help materially
in bringing about demand on the part of the
people for grand opera in English at least as
good as that out of which the Carl Rosa Opera
Company coins so many pounds sterling each
season.
The great celebration in 1892 of the discovery
of America ought to bring about in some way
the discovery of the American composer, as
one Of the tour-century plants out of the new
soil y possibility in this direction lies in a
new opera being written by Mr.. Homer A.
Moore. the well-known operate baritone,
OF Cleveland, who sang in concert
here last week. Haying already penned several
operate scores, Mr.. Moore is now essaying the
theme Columbus with direct view toward
the Worlds Fair. He has submitted an out
contaminated IN tha
Committee, ard has met with hearty encourage
ment from them. His plans. in case the work
is definitely accepted. are large enough to as
sure its worthy production as prominent feat
ure Of the great celebration.
Whatever the outcome of this particular pro-
posal may be, IT is the plain duty of the man.
agement OF the fair TO make full. provision for
representing this nations original musical
work in the fullest and best way. 1t must be
planned early if at all. Good music is a bloom
of slow growth. even if the plant has had four
centuries OF existence
-.
Tie strong vitality of the Gilbert & Sullivan
operettas has been amply attested by the
crowded houses at the Grand Opera House
last week, gathered to witness the revivals of
"Pinafore, "Mikado" and Pirates of Pen
zance" by ]. Z. Duffs company.
1t is one of the great many disadvantages of
our whole system of star opera on wheels as
contrasted with the European opera by perma-
nent stock companies. that the American pub
lie is generally compelled to pass snap-judg-
ment on work. A troupe comes
along and gives an opera one or
two nights, maybe week; after that
the public is likely to have no further chance
to hear it again that season, maybe never has
another chance. Our opinions must therefore
be nothing but first impressions only-or at
most scattering impressions. The frame of
mind OF the opera habitue abroad,
who goes regularly and hears the same
work as often as he cares to
beauties grow on him-good things ALWAYS do
and be gets natural, complete. artistic view
OF the work. instead of the capricous. superti-
clal and sensational impression felt by the
American auditor
An operate revival with us is. therefore. in |
reallty only a remote approximation to the |
state OF AFFAIRS prevalent in older art centers. |
1t would be better if it were not regarded as
something phenomenal. 1t is what every opera |
worth giving at all should naturally have |
simply chance for people to judge it after |
several hearings.
The many favorable verdicts in mast
years rendered by Pittsburg's public upon the |
Gilbert q Sullivan operas were confirmed |
absolutely last week. On Mr.. Duff's |
has been lavished by the unanimous |
voice of the press. The extraordinarily |
large, well-balanced and well-trained chorus. |
the augmented orchestra. the superb stage |
setting, with the singing and acting of Miss |
Baudet, Miss Sears, Miss Post. Mr.. McWnliams |
Mr.. Bell and Mr. Bassett are the points desery- |
ing OF especial distinction. More of the same
kind Will be most welcome next season.
s+x
Dr. Hans Won Buelow made his American |
rentre with the New York symphony Society's |
public rehearsal on Friday afternoon. Apropos |
of his expected appearance here April %. the
following quartet of characteristic anecdotes
at least three parts fresh-wiil be of interest:
As proof of Won Buelow's unceasing efforts
1or the promotion of his art as well as of his |
noble and generous character may be cited the /
fact that when Richard Wagner was collecting
the tlparar a IA
without receiving cent of pay, travelled for a |
Mnole year with his famous orchestra through |
Europe, giving concerts in all the principal
clues, the entire proceeds of which were
donated to the fund for Bayreuth
During Won Bue !ow's visit to America last
year, LADY handed him a piece of music
which she had composed and on which she de-
sired to obtain the masters opinion. The COM
position was entitled "Oh, Lord. Hear NV
Prayer Buelow looked it through and wrote
under the title He may, if you stop SHINING
like this"
On one occasion when he appeared as soloist
In one of his orchestra concerts in Meininoan |
tne lncessant chatter in the first row SO an.
noyed him, that he stopped suddenly in the
middle of Beethoven Sonata and turning to
the ladies said with bow and smile II hone I
don disturb you, ladies'"
Buelow dislikes having any one present
when he is rehearsing his orchestra One of |
the ladies at the Court of Meinengen once oh |
talned admlttance to the concert hall, and Won
Buelow not desiring to insult the lady, resorted
10 the following eXpedient means to rid him |
self of her company: As soon as the lady had
settled herself in one of the boxes
rate rehearsal of the bassoon J,
md commenced beating time 1t SO
happened that this instrument had but one |
loIe to play every sixteenth bar, but Buelow
lept on beating time as il the whole orchestra
vas PLAYING BY the time the basson had
cached the sixth note. that is. the nnety-sixth
,ar. the lady, entirely disguised, left the hall.
md Buelow resumed hls rehearsal with the full
'rchestra.
~
The return recital by young Otto Hegner will