The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-12
LIKE a SUMMERS SIGH"
Willard Spenser Tells How He Came
to Compose "The Little Tycoon"

Willard Spenser Tells How He Came
to Compose "Ths Little Tycoon"
1t is not often that an opera is sung in
Savannah under the direction of its COM
poser and librettist Willard Sponsor, who
composed aud wrots "rhe Little Tycoon"
is as interesting talker as he is q successful
manager. While Mr.. Spenser does not
himself WELD the maestr o's baton, he has
given bis personal supervision to the Sc
lection of the cast, and always gives his
personal attention to the details of the per-
formances.
The story of the opera is an interesting
one, and shows what genius and pluck ca
do. That ian American always pans outn
was never better demonstrated than in MIR.
Sponsors case.
II was play ng some of my compositions
to little girl" said he, last night, speaking
of writing the opera. when she said they
reminded her of the stage l asked her how,
but she couldn't tell mo; she said it simply
suggested pictures to her. This was about
itself TO my mind of writing an opera"
Afterward Mr.. Speaser composed set Of
waltzes, called Esprit de Corps" which
was played by the Twenty Regiment
Band with great success. From that time
on friends made frequent suggestions to
him to write an opera which he finally did
MY idea in writing an opera was one Of
principle as much as anything elss. | had
heard "Pinafore.n aud thought how vastly
superior it was to the underwriting French
operas with which the public were then
being piled. Here is something l said to
myself, which America needs. Ii only pure
American opera could be written like thatl'
Acting on this principle, as well as the
solicitation Of my friends, set about the
preparation of my score. writing it bit by
bit, act by act. and wedding the music TO
the words. In thus way the opera was COM
pleted in 1882"
Mr.. Spenser had a contract with Mr.
McCaull, of comic opera fame, to produce
his opera in 1886, but the latter got hold OF
1.-The Mikado,n which had Just made Its
appearance, and, caught by the glitter OF
its collaborators' names, threw the Tycoon
over for its English contemporary, but
promised to produce 1t next year. This Mr.
Spenser would not hear of, however, and h(
took it to William M. Singerly, proprietor
of the Temple of Philadelphia. The author
sat down at piano and played the overture
when Singerly stopped him. How much
will it take to produce that operaP' he said
in his short, brusque way.
Ten thousand dollars" replied Mr.
Spenser.
"Ill spend twenty thousand on it"
And that was all. Its history from that
time on is well known. 1t had a two years
run in Philadelphia, when the Temple
Theatre was consumed by fire. Philadel-
phians are quoted as saying that if the
theatre hadn't burned down the opera
would be running there yet.
Love Comes Like a Summers Sigh" i:
considered the gem of the Tycoon" by
many, and it may be interesting to learI
from the lips of the author how it came tC
be composed:
II was fishing at picturesque place il
Pennsylvania on an ideal day-one of those
days that are so few, bright ant
sunny and full Of pleasure. an
an enthusiastic angler and make my
own hooks, lines and rything. and l wa
trying to snag a big fellow that
knew was in a quiet pool, and that hae
eluded me once or twice. The melody OF
Love Comes Like Summers Sigh" began
to run in my head, and took out an enve
lope aud wrote down the notes. played il
at the hotel when | went back, and every
body was soon whistling it and | knew il
would do. ! afterward made it the motive
of my opera, as you know"
"How did you come to inculcats that
heel and toep"
"Well, / hardly know. l practiced lot
of different steps in my room and finally
little by little, drifted on to that one
which seems to have aiken SO well. As for
the time, that just fits the words-that's al
| can tell you about il.